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<blockquote data-quote="I'm A Banana" data-source="post: 4248408" data-attributes="member: 2067"><p>A failure chance isn't necessary to achieve a low-magic setting or ruleset. There are many ways to make magic rare and special without having a chance of failure. </p><p></p><p>It shouldn't have a failure mechanic because this generally leads to two outcomes (depending on if you have combat or not)</p><p></p><p>#1: IN COMBAT: If you fail to use your ability, you've wasted your turn. If you succeed in using your ability, its often quite powerful in comparison to what everyone else does. This is swingy combat: either you're useless, or you're uber. This is has been a problem with "Save or Die" mechanics, a problem with Spell Resistance, and a problem with immunities. </p><p></p><p>#2: OUT OF COMBAT: "I roll my magic check...I do it again...I wait to recharge...I roll it again..." This leads to repetitive "rolling until you succeed."</p><p></p><p>Both problems can be solved locally (which is especially true in the latter case), but you could opt to not have those problems in the first place, while still keeping the overall level of magic very low indeed, by dispensing with a universal failure mechanic.</p><p></p><p>As a player, I like to use my turns to accomplish something (even if it's significantly less than I hoped to). Not to <em>try</em> to accomplish something. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>You're right. That's why I'm using my preference (and, I'd wager, this preference matches a general preference in the world at large) for non-binary gameplay to judge all systems, D&D included.</p><p></p><p>The genre and level of magic doesn't even enter into it. This is purely a gamist consideration: It's not fun to use an ability (presumably purchased with scarce character resources) that you might never, depending on the vagaries of chance, actually be able to use.</p><p></p><p>There's more than one way to skin the low-magic cat, and a failure chance is, in my view, a rather messy and ineffective way to skin it. The cat's still twitching, the hide's getting damaged, it's not a fun experience. </p><p></p><p>....that metaphor is a really poor one, but I hope you get the general gist of what I mean. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="I'm A Banana, post: 4248408, member: 2067"] A failure chance isn't necessary to achieve a low-magic setting or ruleset. There are many ways to make magic rare and special without having a chance of failure. It shouldn't have a failure mechanic because this generally leads to two outcomes (depending on if you have combat or not) #1: IN COMBAT: If you fail to use your ability, you've wasted your turn. If you succeed in using your ability, its often quite powerful in comparison to what everyone else does. This is swingy combat: either you're useless, or you're uber. This is has been a problem with "Save or Die" mechanics, a problem with Spell Resistance, and a problem with immunities. #2: OUT OF COMBAT: "I roll my magic check...I do it again...I wait to recharge...I roll it again..." This leads to repetitive "rolling until you succeed." Both problems can be solved locally (which is especially true in the latter case), but you could opt to not have those problems in the first place, while still keeping the overall level of magic very low indeed, by dispensing with a universal failure mechanic. As a player, I like to use my turns to accomplish something (even if it's significantly less than I hoped to). Not to [I]try[/I] to accomplish something. You're right. That's why I'm using my preference (and, I'd wager, this preference matches a general preference in the world at large) for non-binary gameplay to judge all systems, D&D included. The genre and level of magic doesn't even enter into it. This is purely a gamist consideration: It's not fun to use an ability (presumably purchased with scarce character resources) that you might never, depending on the vagaries of chance, actually be able to use. There's more than one way to skin the low-magic cat, and a failure chance is, in my view, a rather messy and ineffective way to skin it. The cat's still twitching, the hide's getting damaged, it's not a fun experience. ....that metaphor is a really poor one, but I hope you get the general gist of what I mean. :D [/QUOTE]
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