I had this issue with my group, starting in KOTS. I was just starting to DM again, so I didn't notice it at first. I started really "working" on it when they got their second daily powers at level 5, and I think I had it "solved" well before they got to level 9 and another daily.
My strategy was three-pronged.
First, the guy running the ranger was more willing to use a daily. He would afterward point out that HE had used one to save the party, so it was someone else's turn. This strategy was a bit of guilt for them, and it got them to feel like people who were using dailies were giving up a bit more resources to help. That way, it made the others feel like they needed to pull their own weight.
Second, when an opponent unleashed a really nasty power, I would often let them know (sotto voce) that it was a 'once only' power at some point. Monsters don't really have dailies, per se, but this cemented the idea that it was important and cool to use your one shot powers when you had the chance.
Finally, I (as DM) specifically pointed out how many dailies the PARTY had, and how many encounters they usually faced. I told them:
"You guys all have two daily attack powers. That's ten daily powers. You almost always face 4-6 encounters, and have never faced more than 8 without an extended rest. That means that, in each encounter, someone should be able to throw out a daily, and you, as a team, will still have 2-4 more for a tough fight. If you see a situation that looks good for using one, call it out. The group can let you know if they need it."
That led to more teamwork, and better and more interesting (as well as more frequent) use of dailies. I really think the "teamwork" aspect of this was what was the most important. When we see a big rush of baddies, and the wizard whispers "Want me to toast 'em?", everybody is really amped up, and it makes the wizard player feel good to be the guy who knocks 30 hit points off every opponent at the start of the fight. Everyone else knows that the wizard has now kind of made his contribution, and now they all feel like they are obligated to chip in.
It also meant that the dailies were used better, as well as more often. Sometimes someone would offer to use a daily, and it would get vetoed, often because someone else had a better idea, or because it could be more effective after someone else repositioned the field, or made the enemies more vulnerable.
If none of that works, you might even see if you can get a party member, or perhaps an NPC accompanying you, to remark on it. "Master wizard, you could have summoned a Fiery Wall to contain and burn the Trolls. Why did you put your companions at such needless risk? Are their lives less important than your spells?"
My strategy was three-pronged.
First, the guy running the ranger was more willing to use a daily. He would afterward point out that HE had used one to save the party, so it was someone else's turn. This strategy was a bit of guilt for them, and it got them to feel like people who were using dailies were giving up a bit more resources to help. That way, it made the others feel like they needed to pull their own weight.
Second, when an opponent unleashed a really nasty power, I would often let them know (sotto voce) that it was a 'once only' power at some point. Monsters don't really have dailies, per se, but this cemented the idea that it was important and cool to use your one shot powers when you had the chance.
Finally, I (as DM) specifically pointed out how many dailies the PARTY had, and how many encounters they usually faced. I told them:
"You guys all have two daily attack powers. That's ten daily powers. You almost always face 4-6 encounters, and have never faced more than 8 without an extended rest. That means that, in each encounter, someone should be able to throw out a daily, and you, as a team, will still have 2-4 more for a tough fight. If you see a situation that looks good for using one, call it out. The group can let you know if they need it."
That led to more teamwork, and better and more interesting (as well as more frequent) use of dailies. I really think the "teamwork" aspect of this was what was the most important. When we see a big rush of baddies, and the wizard whispers "Want me to toast 'em?", everybody is really amped up, and it makes the wizard player feel good to be the guy who knocks 30 hit points off every opponent at the start of the fight. Everyone else knows that the wizard has now kind of made his contribution, and now they all feel like they are obligated to chip in.
It also meant that the dailies were used better, as well as more often. Sometimes someone would offer to use a daily, and it would get vetoed, often because someone else had a better idea, or because it could be more effective after someone else repositioned the field, or made the enemies more vulnerable.
If none of that works, you might even see if you can get a party member, or perhaps an NPC accompanying you, to remark on it. "Master wizard, you could have summoned a Fiery Wall to contain and burn the Trolls. Why did you put your companions at such needless risk? Are their lives less important than your spells?"
