Possible Epic .....

[Eluvan]

Just a note on Epic Spellcasting - I agree that it may be impractical on a PbP board. But I do feel the need to step up and defend the much-maligned system. It *can* be abused, sure, but I think it also has a lot of potential for creativity and good things. For anyone who's ever read and enjoyed Sep's Story hour - can you imagine some of the epic level content being as good without the added fun of the epic spells the players and DM of that game come up with? I sure can't.

 

[Endur]

I really don't think you need epic spellcasting.

Wish and Miracle are already sufficiently powerful to do almost anything.

While Epic Spellcasting is a little more flexible, the potential for broken-ness is incredible.

While I agree Sep's story-hour is a good example, I really don't think the epic spell casting added anything to his story hour. Sep could just as easily have used wishes, miracles, or made a few more new 9th level spells.

And I agree with BS that mixing and matching PRCs becomes broken. I agree with BS that there should be a maximum of one PRC per character.

And thanks BS for the mention ... that was the character I was thinking of when I made the suggestion. Really -- inherent bonus books aren't broken. Lots more magic items that are more broken than inherent bonus books.

 

[Eluvan]

Well, fair enough.

For me though I think Sep's story hour, and in particular the discussion between him and Cheiromancer in the RG thread, were what convinced me that with the right players Epic Spellcasting could add a lot to a game. It's just crucial to keep the possibility of DM caveat hanging ever-ready, and closely monitor the spells going into your game. At Epic levels, 'balance' just isn't that applicable any more. So long as the game is enjoyable and everybody feels challenged and gets their chance to shine, things are working.

All that said, I still wouldn't dispute that epic spellcasting is probably more bother than you need for a PbP game.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

And I agree with BS that mixing and matching PRCs becomes broken. I agree with BS that there should be a maximum of one PRC per character.

It's something even I have done but others do it much better than I. (I still think gestalt would be less punishing but just as interesting.)

And thanks BS for the mention ... that was the character I was thinking of when I made the suggestion.

I actually figured as much. I would be tempted to dust off Bry just because of that. (If there is even a spot for me and if some of the UA rules are looked at seriously as LA at epic levels is very ugly.)

Really -- inherent bonus books aren't broken. Lots more magic items that are more broken than inherent bonus books.

No, I think their perfectly fine but they are the first items on any epic character's character sheet. (Which I'm fine with also cause then it becomes balanced.)

 

[Wrahn]

Base vanilla classes aren't balanced, a 30th level Wizard is so incredibly more powerful than a 30th level rogue the comparison is laughable. Prestige Classes begin to balance that, but, really, not by half.

A truly epic game allows one enough flexibility to create characters that I don't think going to the gestalt rules is necessary. Gestalt is best used when you have many bases to cover and not enough people to cover them, by the degree of interest here, I would say we would have the opposite problem.

Also about the Epic Spellcasting, again, I agree, it can be useful with a GM that is willing to take a look at what is being made and saying no for balance sake, but I come from a background of believing that the Hero System is the best system out there, which is like Epic Spellcasting on steriods.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Base vanilla classes aren't balanced, a 30th level Wizard is so incredibly more powerful than a 30th level rogue the comparison is laughable.

Well, not everyone sees it my way Wrahn, but few are rude enough to laugh at it... Thanks.

No doubt you’re right though. You're one of the ones to watch when it comes to completely broken junk. Still love the elephant’s mechanics though...

 

[Lord_Raven88]

Regarding Epic Spellcasting, it seems a waste to me to have an Epic spellcaster who is still stuck with the number of spells he can cast as when he was 20th level, I don't see why Epic spells can't be used, as long as the player can't create any custom spells before the game, that way if he wants to create a nifty new spells make him go thru the actual process of it.

Besides I think Epic spells are a little bit over rated, as it's perfectly possible to cast a enhanced intensified twinned energy admixtured 'orb of force' (720 pts of damage for each orb for a 30th level spell caster) that will pretty much kill anything (assuming you hit with a range touch attack, which is pretty easy), particularly as their is no save and no spell resistance allowed.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I don't see why Epic spells can't be used, as long as the player can't create any custom spells before the game, that way if he wants to create a nifty new spells make him go thru the actual process of it.

Considering most PbP games revolve around short periods of time you would never get the spell finished… The same goes true for most magical item creation.

 

[Endur]

Considering most PbP games revolve around short periods of time you would never get the spell finished… The same goes true for most magical item creation.

I vaguely recollect that there are some EPIC loopholes that allow you to cast infinitely powered spells with a research and casting time of 1 day.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I vaguely recollect that there are some EPIC loopholes that allow you to cast infinitely powered spells with a research and casting time of 1 day.

Yeah, your right, it was like 200 followers all casting the spell with you… That’s how the game we were in was ruined.