Magic Missile vrs. Displacement

[Lord Pendragon]

MM may not be truly broken, but it certainly has its share of cracks.

I can agree with this.

I believe I read somewhere that one of the designers actually thinks of Magic Missile as a 1 1/2 level spell. It's stronger than other 1st-level spells, but not strong enough to be 2nd-level. I don't have a problem with this, and I don't think it is detrimental to my game in any way. But I respect people who believe otherwise.

 

[LokiDR]

While yes, most spellcasters will take Magic Missile I guess one of the points where our viewpoints differ is that I don't see that has being unbalancing in and of itself. Barbarians almost always take 2-handed weapons. TWFs almost always dual-wielded short sword or daggers. There are going to be options that are more advantageous than others. Magic Missile is certainly a stronger option. Though I'd argue that other 1st-level spells such as Shield, Mage Armor are at least as useful. Indeed, when I was creating my latest wizzie, a Transmuter, I considered having her toss Evocation, but never even thought of Conjuration. Mage Armor was just too important.

TWF is better with dual short-swords, as you can specialize, and get the bonus twice. I have seen very scary barbarians of throwing axes, or even TWF. I have seen wizards and sorcerers give up either mage armor or shield. But I have never seen one without MM, at least the lived very long or was at all effective.

I agree with you that Haste wasn't/isn't broken. But I guess I just don't buy the idea that because a lot of characters want it, it's too good. Nearly every PC I've created has taken Dodge, and not a one has even looked in the direction of Run. I'm not sure that means that Dodge is a broken choice, just because a lot of people take it.

Do all of your friends take dodge? I think MM goes beyond personal preference to "just too good not to take".

I agree with the changes to haste. Haste may not have caused any person to get god-like power, but it was over used. No brainer choices should be taken out, as they discourage any other choice. Broken isn't the way to evaluate changes in the rules, overall balance is.

I feel the same way. Though it's thought-provoking to discuss our various viewpoints.

It may be interesting, but it mostly academic. MM won't be changed, the playtesters saw to that. I just wish that players of D&D would be so stuck on the past at times

 

[melkoriii]

EDIT
OK that was weird. I posted to another thread, yet the post got put in this thread???