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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6027677" data-attributes="member: 42582">4e doesn't focus completely on balanced tactical combat. This is for two reasons. First, it doesn't focus on balanced combat. It is easy - and, judgingn from posts around here, common - to design combat encounters that will be unbalanced in various ways. What 4e offers is transparency for the GM as to how a combat is mechanically likely to resolve.Second, 4e doesn't focus completely on combat encounters. It has a core non-combat resolution mechanic - the skill challenge, discussed well on <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-horizons-upcoming-edition-d-d/326200-why-i-like-skill-challenges-noncombat-resolution-mechanic.html" target="_blank">this thread</a> - and also a range of core non-combat XP rewards (quests, skill challenges, time spent in meaningful freeform RP) which permit the game to move forward without combat being the focus.As for 3E, I don't see how it allows for non-combat play any better than B/X does. It has no scene-framing advice for non-combat challenges, no XP system for non-combat rewards, and no meaningful non-combat action resolution mechanics. It does have mechanics for paying for non-combat labels on your PC sheet (Craft, Perform, Profession) but the game doesn't have the mechanics to actually engage these in any meaningful way. It's social resolution is also notoriously weak.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 6027677, member: 42582"] 4e doesn't focus completely on balanced tactical combat. This is for two reasons. First, it doesn't focus on [I]balanced[/I] combat. It is easy - and, judgingn from posts around here, common - to design combat encounters that will be unbalanced in various ways. What 4e offers is [I]transparency[/I] for the GM as to how a combat is mechanically likely to resolve. Second, 4e doesn't focus completely on combat encounters. It has a core non-combat resolution mechanic - the skill challenge, discussed well on [url=http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-horizons-upcoming-edition-d-d/326200-why-i-like-skill-challenges-noncombat-resolution-mechanic.html]this thread[/url] - and also a range of core non-combat XP rewards (quests, skill challenges, time spent in meaningful freeform RP) which permit the game to move forward without combat being the focus. As for 3E, I don't see how it allows for non-combat play any better than B/X does. It has no scene-framing advice for non-combat challenges, no XP system for non-combat rewards, and no meaningful non-combat action resolution mechanics. It does have mechanics for paying for non-combat labels on your PC sheet (Craft, Perform, Profession) but the game doesn't have the mechanics to actually engage these in any meaningful way. It's social resolution is also notoriously weak. [/QUOTE]

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