How many spells each day and each encounter do we truly get?

[Incenjucar]

If we assume 1/3 of your powers are encounter powers, and you get powers every two levels, that's just 5 or 6 encounter powers as a default, any of which may be inappropriate for an encounter.

 

[vagabundo]

I'm having a little trouble getting my head around it. I think I will need to see it in play. Maybe WOTC need to release some youtube vids.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I'm having a little trouble getting my head around it. I think I will need to see it in play. Maybe WOTC need to release some youtube vids.

What specifically do you have trouble with?

 

[vagabundo]

What specifically do you have trouble with?

I think I get the basic concepts, usually I can visualise combat in 3e, it is how I plan my encounters. I am having trouble visualising how this will play out, I need to run a 4e preview game so I get an idea of it.

Also not sure how the upgrades will work. At first I was surprised that you could usually only use encounter powers once/per encounter. I'm used to the wizard taking multiples of the same spell. I think choosing your roster of powers will be more important than 3e.

I guess the 3e pathways in my brain are unwilling to change directions.

 

[Engilbrand]

Don't some of the encounter powers have a little part that says "Recharge 5,6" and stuff like that? Does that mean that they can actually be used multiple times in an encounter?

 

[hong]

Don't some of the encounter powers have a little part that says "Recharge 5,6" and stuff like that? Does that mean that they can actually be used multiple times in an encounter?

Those are only monster-specific powers, IIRC.

 

[am181d]

What folks are not taking into consideration is that a 9th level at will power may be better than a 5th level encounter power. If characters keep getting new, better at will powers, they will continue to use them. It's true that 1st level at will powers may eventually fall by teh wayside, but the implication is that some of the later powers will be effectively be "your earlier powers on crack."

 

[eleran]

I think I get the basic concepts, usually I can visualise combat in 3e, it is how I plan my encounters. I am having trouble visualising how this will play out, I need to run a 4e preview game so I get an idea of it.

Also not sure how the upgrades will work. At first I was surprised that you could usually only use encounter powers once/per encounter. I'm used to the wizard taking multiples of the same spell. I think choosing your roster of powers will be more important than 3e.

I guess the 3e pathways in my brain are unwilling to change directions.

I apologize for being too lazy to find the link at this time, but check these boards for an adventure called Raiders of Oakhurst. It was written using the pregen characters from DDXp as well as some of the leaked monsters. Play thru it and see if it helps your head to wrap around a few things. Oh, and make sure to also download the rules quick start from WotC site. You'll also find the characters there.

 

[DreamChaser]

If we assume 1/3 of your powers are encounter powers, and you get powers every two levels, that's just 5 or 6 encounter powers as a default, any of which may be inappropriate for an encounter.

Well, by default with the pregens at least, 1/4 of a character's powers are per encounter (2 at will, 1 encounter, and 1 daily). These are adjusted for with the divine, arcane, martial uniqueness described above (though warlocks do not seem to have any of the wizard benefit). Additionally, at least 2 characters (half-elf & human) got bonus at will powers.

Rob Heinsoo said in his overview of the PHB (youtube video) that there comes a time when you stop getting more powers and start replacing old with new, upgrading to keep your abilities current, retraining yourself and letting old skills fall by the wayside.

So, if we assume that the balance remains the same as a character progresses (big assumption, I know) on average a character will have twice as many at wills as encounters or dailies. Perhaps a high level character will have 10 at wills and 5 each encounters and dailies. A cleric will actually have 8-10 encounters but will only actually have 6 for all intents and purposes (as presumably only one form of divine channeling can be used per encounter, ever). Wizards will prepare their dailies from a list of spells.

DC

 

[Lackhand]

Well, by default with the pregens at least, 1/4 of a character's powers are per encounter (2 at will, 1 encounter, and 1 daily). These are adjusted for with the divine, arcane, martial uniqueness described above (though warlocks do not seem to have any of the wizard benefit). Additionally, at least 2 characters (half-elf & human) got bonus at will powers.

Rob Heinsoo said in his overview of the PHB (youtube video) that there comes a time when you stop getting more powers and start replacing old with new, upgrading to keep your abilities current, retraining yourself and letting old skills fall by the wayside.

So, if we assume that the balance remains the same as a character progresses (big assumption, I know) on average a character will have twice as many at wills as encounters or dailies. Perhaps a high level character will have 10 at wills and 5 each encounters and dailies. A cleric will actually have 8-10 encounters but will only actually have 6 for all intents and purposes (as presumably only one form of divine channeling can be used per encounter, ever). Wizards will prepare their dailies from a list of spells.

DC

Complete, unfounded speculation: The switchover from "I pick new powers" to "I improve old powers" is the heroic/paragon switchover. This means people will have about 12 powers, maybe 15 or 20 depending on speed of acquisition, split between at will, daily, and per-encounter, which seems large enough to allow choices while being small enough to still exhaust.
I'd wager you get on the order of 1 daily power (maybe 3. Probably not 5.) and on the order of 3 per-encounter powers (Filling a variety of uses, with a variety of triggering conditions; probably not 1, probably not 7). As many at-will as they like.

The paragon/epic switchover, though... Just "bigger powers"?