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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5343528" data-attributes="member: 61155">For myself, as others have said, I'd find a more mechanically precise effect (or at least some of those suggested thus far) to make the power more limited and less flavorful. I know, I know - one can still potentially use it in creative ways. Though that relies, in my mind, even more on DM fiat - whereas having a flavorful use written into the ability does not.  To give an example, I find <a href="http://www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/power.aspx?id=1217" target="_blank">Ghost Sound</a> a more flavorful power than <a href="http://www.wizards.com/dndinsider/compendium/power.aspx?id=8224" target="_blank">Distract</a>. They are similar in concept - both are small abilities given as something of a 'bonus' to the appropriate class (Wizard and Psion, respectively). With one, you create a small fake sound. With the other, a small mental distraction. And yes, Ghost Sound is written in terms of flavor, while Distract is written to be mechanically precise - it makes the target grant Combat Advantage to the next attack against it.  Now, both of these can similate the other one. One could use Ghost Sound to try and spook an enemy and gain CA, if the DM allowed it. One could use Distract out of combat to try and confuse a guard while you sneak by.  But despite this, I'm much more likely to see the first attempted than the second. Maybe that isn't everyone's experience, but it has certainly been mine - it can be hard to encourage players to creatively use powers when all they see listed in front of them are the pure mechanics of them. But powers that have some of that flavor built in? I've seen the same players take those and run with them.  Anyway. At least for me, an Instant Friends that just said, "You automatically succeed at a Diplomacy check" would be a relatively dull option, and more likely to be chosen solely for mechanical potency than for roleplaying flavor. I find the limitations on the current version to be acceptable enough to prevent abuse or confusion, and thus I like a power that has a significant amount of built-in flavor. Others disagree and feel the power is too vaguely worded to be balanced, and while I disagree with that assessment, I can understand the concern.</blockquote>

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