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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Al" data-source="post: 949548" data-attributes="member: 2486">The problem was one that only became apparent using twinked-out characters, prestige classes and feats (GSF).  The major issue I have with it is similar to that of dcollins'- the core rules are being rebalanced (underpowered) in order to remedy supplements.  The core rules were already balanced, the supplements were not.  However, rather than fix the supplements, WotC downgraded the core rules in order to try to bring the supplements into line.Need statistics?  Okay, here goes.  We shall use the DMG standard characters- they are benchmark standard characters and should always be used to try to estimate balance, otherwise it devolves into a slanging match of whether the character used is appropriate or not.Level 1: DC 13 for top spell.  Average save (all saves, all classes): +2.24.  That's about a 50/50 chance to save.Level 6: DC 16 for top spell.  Average save: +5.45.  Again, about a 50/50 chance to save.Level 11: DC 19 for top spell.  Average save: +7.3.  Marginally less than 50/50 to save.Level 16: DC 24 for top spell.  Average save: +11.4.  About 40/60 chance to save.Level 20: DC 27 for top spell.  Average save: +14.1.  Again, about 40/60 chance to save.At top-level, therefore, the average person has a 40% chance to save against an average spell.  Was it particularly broken to reduce that chance to 30% for one school?  If a wizard used a given school half of the time (pretty specialised), and it was a save negates type spell (optimal for SF), then he has increased his offensive capabilities by one-eighth at the cost of a feat.  Broken?  Hardly.  A fighter can increase his offensive capabilities by one-eighth with a feat (Weapon Specialisation, assuming average damage 16 or less- i.e. at most levels) or more under certain circumstances (Whirlwind Attack, Great Cleave).  The point is this, then: is it worth taking a feat, which at its *optimal use* (top level, school taken for half of *all* spells, all of which are save negates, appropriate usage) under the new rules increases effectiveness by 1/16th?  I think not.  The new Spell Focus is feeble.</blockquote>

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