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Message: <blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 5536200" data-attributes="member: 3400">From my point of view, the only really important balance element a game cannot do without is spotlight balance (or at least spotlight opportunity - the player should have the option to decline the spotlight as desired). Why? Because that's the only form of balance that really treats a diverse group of players fairly.If all of the balance is managed at the mechanical level, there's no control for player ability or personality. The better or more dynamic player will achieve substantially more than other players who aren't as good at holding their own in similar ways. The game becomes a star vehicle for them and not an ensemble driven story. But as a DM, I can work toward balancing opportunities so that all my players get their chances to shine, be the center of attention, and be cheered on by their peers. And RPGs have been great for that because I can emphasize that they're cooperative within the party, not competitive.Maybe I've come to this stand in part because I did a lot of Superhero gaming in my salad days. And there are ways to run games in which a supergroup has Thor and Hawkeye together and each has something to do.</blockquote>