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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ruleslawyer" data-source="post: 3454181" data-attributes="member: 1757">It's a nice idea!FWIW, I think that a generic token pool is fine, but I'd rather force players to choose a pool type. Your suggestion of allowing one pool to do anything actually makes the game more complicated, not less.The essential difference IMO between a rules-heavy system and a rules-light system is that a rules-heavy system provides a larger range of choices with a larger range of mechanical consequences. A rules-heavy system therefore allows for a wider range of descriptive mechanics: The barbarian has a mechanical consequence for raging that closely matches the description of raging (he hits harder, can take more hits, and is more resistant to mental influence, but can't concentrate and is worse at dodging blows), while the fighter excels at a range of combat techniques (bonus feats) such that he can parry, use particular weapons to great effect, and do cool stuff in combat. The rules-heavy system fails where there are too many different ways to achieve the identical mechanical consequence; this is something that gets me with the D&D modular spell, magic item, and PrC mechanics, because one ends up with ten different ways to achieve the same mechanical result (and worse, sometimes you get crazy stacking). OTOH, the rules-light system fails either when a) it fails to deliver a satisfactory range of mechanical or descriptive options; or b) it isn't actually rules-light because of inelegance (the latter is why I don't like C&C). Sorry to essay. In short, if your players will be happy having a single set of mechanical benefits and instead getting variety out of describing their actions in-game, I'd just go with a single set of mechanics (action, roll vs DC, result [success or failure]) and call it a day.Incidentally, I find allowing action points to be spent for extra actions to slow down play even more than spending them for benefits. If you don't, though, go for it!</blockquote>

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