Mustrum_Ridcully
Legend
While I believe that 4E promotes group tactics more and rewards "build optimization" less, 3E already had a strong tactical component. That was part of the reason why it was already considered pretty miniature focused.
Typical tactical considerations in 3E:
- How do I get the Rogue into flanking position?
- Which enemies do we focus our fire on first (without it being overkill or non-synergistic, like having two characters making full attacks against him, and the mage then casting disintegrate or finger of death)
- How do we catch the maximum amount of foes in a fireball
- Which target do I trip (preferably the one everyone is standing around for free Attacks of Opportunities; or the one that has to many attacks per round)
- Who do I cast Enlarge Person on? (can be substituted with any other short-term buff)
4E builds upon these options and enhances them by giving more ways to reward movement and positioning. Leaders also have to make choices who to "buff" each round for which purpose, or determine which target is the most important to gain attack bonuses against.
But often the most important was not tactics, but more strategy or preparation before combat in 3E.
Which buff spells do I cast on which character?
- Bull Strength for Melee Fighters (unless they have Belt of Giant Strength)
- Barskin or Shield of Faith on front-liners
- Magic Vestment on whose Armor and Shield? (or at all?)
- Greater Magic Weapon on whose Weapons (or at all?)
- Mage Armor on the Monk (if available)
- Everyone eats his Heroes Feast to ensure immunity to poison and fear.
- etc.
One of the aspects that felt most like power-gaming was the big laundry list of spells cast before we went into real action. (Why am I using past tense? I am still playing in at least 2 3.5 campaigns!)
There was also operational issues on a larger scale then just encounter to encounter or daily resource management:
Who buys the Wand of Cure Light Wounds? (usually, the whole party from the first treasure we make, usually even before we buy better armor or weapons!)
When do we get our Wand of Lesser Restoration?
Let's scrounge some money for a Wand of Fireballs (more expensive then a Crossbow, sure, but still a little more satisfying - and useful - in play then it)
Typical tactical considerations in 3E:
- How do I get the Rogue into flanking position?
- Which enemies do we focus our fire on first (without it being overkill or non-synergistic, like having two characters making full attacks against him, and the mage then casting disintegrate or finger of death)
- How do we catch the maximum amount of foes in a fireball
- Which target do I trip (preferably the one everyone is standing around for free Attacks of Opportunities; or the one that has to many attacks per round)
- Who do I cast Enlarge Person on? (can be substituted with any other short-term buff)
4E builds upon these options and enhances them by giving more ways to reward movement and positioning. Leaders also have to make choices who to "buff" each round for which purpose, or determine which target is the most important to gain attack bonuses against.
But often the most important was not tactics, but more strategy or preparation before combat in 3E.
Which buff spells do I cast on which character?
- Bull Strength for Melee Fighters (unless they have Belt of Giant Strength)
- Barskin or Shield of Faith on front-liners
- Magic Vestment on whose Armor and Shield? (or at all?)
- Greater Magic Weapon on whose Weapons (or at all?)
- Mage Armor on the Monk (if available)
- Everyone eats his Heroes Feast to ensure immunity to poison and fear.
- etc.
One of the aspects that felt most like power-gaming was the big laundry list of spells cast before we went into real action. (Why am I using past tense? I am still playing in at least 2 3.5 campaigns!)
There was also operational issues on a larger scale then just encounter to encounter or daily resource management:
Who buys the Wand of Cure Light Wounds? (usually, the whole party from the first treasure we make, usually even before we buy better armor or weapons!)
When do we get our Wand of Lesser Restoration?
Let's scrounge some money for a Wand of Fireballs (more expensive then a Crossbow, sure, but still a little more satisfying - and useful - in play then it)
