How important do you think game balance is?

[Terath Ninir]

The designers at WotC think game balance is extremely important for a roleplaying game. How important do y'all think it is?

 

[der_kluge]

I'd argue that the WoTC designers don't think balance is all that important.

Order of the Bow Initiate, I'm looking at you.

FRCS is unbalanced, The Book of Exalted Deeds has some horribly unbalancing things in it, and the Miniatures handbook, if applied to the RPG are downright ludicrous.

 

[the Jester]

I voted 'extremely important', but I'd like to add the caveat that a good dm can often overcome an unbalanced ruleset. I don't usually find that it's worth the effort, and an unbalanced ruleset almost always ends up biting you sooner or later- something sneaks on through.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

In a perfect group, balance wouldn't be that important. In an imperfect group, balance is the only thing making the game playable. Since I cannot be guaranteed a perfect group, I consider balance important in a game system. Since the designers are making the game for all groups, I expect them to take balance very seriously.

If a group doesn't need balance, its very easy for them to make "fun" changes to a balanced system. If a group does need balance, its very hard for them to effectively change an unbalanced system to suit their needs. The default for a game designer should always be to make balance important.

 

[KenM]

IMO it depends on the group style of play. Balance is important in combat. But in a role play heavy game, not so much, IMO.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

It's extremely important-- the number one factor for ruined games in my play experience has been unbalanced characters, or the perception that the characters are unbalanced. (I've had one-on-one games ruined by balance issues.)

The rules need to be balanced and fair, or there's going to be problems.

 

[Terath Ninir]

I'd argue that the WoTC designers don't think balance is all that important.

So do you think balance is important? And, if it is important to you, and you feel they are failing at achieving game balance, does that hurt your enjoyment of the game any?

 

[Crothian]

Not very. Just as long as things aren't abused, its okay.

 

[Terath Ninir]

(I've had one-on-one games ruined by balance issues.)

How did that happen, anyway?

 

[BryonD]

I think you'll find that answers vary more with how people define balance than with how important they truly find it.