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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MrMyth" data-source="post: 5434742" data-attributes="member: 61155">I think defining 'encounter' as 'combat' is one mistake you are making here. Similarly, providing mechanical structure for skill/scene/movement benefits does not prevent their use in less mechanical forms.  From what you seem to be saying, an ability that says, "You are skilled at negotiating! You gain +2 on Diplomacy checks!" is somehow more geared towards non-combat activity than an ability that says, "You are skilled at negotiating! You gain Smooth Words, an At-Will Utility power that, as a minor action, gives you a +2 bonus on your next Diplomacy check!" I'm not sold on that idea. Most players I know will still use that power when getting involved in negotiations outside of combat.  I'm not going to say you are completely wrong - the format can change someone's expectations for the power, and I think there is some minor attitude adjustments along those lines. At the same time, there are some benefits to the stricter mechanical format and context for these powers, rather than omnipresent bonuses or abilities that are vague or poorly defined.  My main objection is to the claim that this element of format somehow trumps other areas of the rules where the game encourages or advises creative use of abilities, or pursuit of non-combat goals or actions, etc.  Could 4E do more in this department to encourage creative power use, or selection of more non-combat elements? Probably. And, honestly, they are doing quite a bit of that these days, between the 'built-in' ritual abilities in Essentials (such as druids who can talk with plants 1/day), as well as articles in Dragon on creative power use or reflavoring abilities (and likely similar articles to come when they start adding their free gaming advice columns.)  But the fact they can give better advice doesn't inherently mean there is currently no advice at all, or that they are fundamentally worse about this than other games or editions out there.</blockquote>

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