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No ascending bonuses: A mathematical framework for 5e
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<blockquote data-quote="Dragonblade" data-source="post: 5782680" data-attributes="member: 2804"><p>Yes and no. DCs were static in 3e, but player bonuses and skills were not. Mike Mearls had a whole L&L column on the problems this could cause. Getting rid of ascending bonuses is an attempt to actually make static DC meaningful so the benefits they provide in terms of maintaining verisimilitude is not rendered moot by PCs with off the chart bonuses.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Uncommon even in 1e/2e. For the most part higher hit die monsters had a commensurately higher AC and deadlier attacks (more likely to have a save or die or spell abilities) in those editions. 3e/4e were the same. Pathfinder codified monster power level progression on a chart that actually fits pretty well with the 4e expected monster progression. 4e was just more obvious about it by flat out saying this monster gets this bonus. Whereas 3e tried to obfuscate things a bit by trying to justify the monster's stats with arbitrarily assigning it bonuses like a natural armor bonus to help it reach the expected baseline.</p><p></p><p>Regardless, getting rid of ascending bonuses actually helps the game get to a state where a monster's stats don't have to be inflated to challenge PCs of a given level.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The fighter wouldn't have off the chart bonuses or defenses but the wizard wouldn't either. I'm also operating under the assumption that the class power parity achieved in 4e would be largely maintained in 5e. Obviously, if you go back to high level wizards far outclassing a high level fighter in power then this system breaks down a bit.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dragonblade, post: 5782680, member: 2804"] Yes and no. DCs were static in 3e, but player bonuses and skills were not. Mike Mearls had a whole L&L column on the problems this could cause. Getting rid of ascending bonuses is an attempt to actually make static DC meaningful so the benefits they provide in terms of maintaining verisimilitude is not rendered moot by PCs with off the chart bonuses. Uncommon even in 1e/2e. For the most part higher hit die monsters had a commensurately higher AC and deadlier attacks (more likely to have a save or die or spell abilities) in those editions. 3e/4e were the same. Pathfinder codified monster power level progression on a chart that actually fits pretty well with the 4e expected monster progression. 4e was just more obvious about it by flat out saying this monster gets this bonus. Whereas 3e tried to obfuscate things a bit by trying to justify the monster's stats with arbitrarily assigning it bonuses like a natural armor bonus to help it reach the expected baseline. Regardless, getting rid of ascending bonuses actually helps the game get to a state where a monster's stats don't have to be inflated to challenge PCs of a given level. The fighter wouldn't have off the chart bonuses or defenses but the wizard wouldn't either. I'm also operating under the assumption that the class power parity achieved in 4e would be largely maintained in 5e. Obviously, if you go back to high level wizards far outclassing a high level fighter in power then this system breaks down a bit. [/QUOTE]
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