Powers dropping out...

[Rechan]

[MENTION=18340]CM[/MENTION] it was stated that Fireball does a flat 5d6 damage. No increases.

Doesn't mean there won't be a greater fireball, etc.

 

[Dragonblade]

Fireball
Level: 5+
Range: Long
Area: Burst 3

Deals 1d6 damage per level of the spell slot it is prepared in.

This would be cool.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The first mention was not so frustrating... it sounded like a high level caster gets one ability where the lower level ones are folded in. This would actually be ok.

 

[Fanaelialae]

The way I'm reading it is that you have the option to trade in several lower-level powers for a single higher level power (which is quite different from powers simply dropping out). So you could have numerous low-level abilities (versatility) or one high-level ability (power). I don't know whether or not it will work, but it certainly sounds like an interesting approach.

As to the 5d6 fireball, I'm almost certain that it was mentioned that you could memorize it in a higher level spell slot in order to get more "oomph". It only doesn't scale with level if you continue to use the same level spell slot. Which actually sounds pretty well balanced, IMO.

 

[enrious]

Could one of you 4e players explain what this means to someone like me who never played 4e?

I gather that powers are like spells and combat maneuvers?

Please help me follow this along.

Thanks.

 

[Fanaelialae]

Could one of you 4e players explain what this means to someone like me who never played 4e?

I gather that powers are like spells and combat maneuvers?

Please help me follow this along.

Thanks.

It's just a formalized method for expressing an attack type or ability.

So, in 4e speak, all spells in prior editions are powers. 3e disarm would also be a (at-will) power.

 

[Ratinyourwalls]

Not cool WotC. Not cool.

 

[Dausuul]

Flavor it however you like ("My wizard brain can only hold so many spells---sorry Burning Hands but Fireball needs the space!").

If I never hear the phrase "flavor it however you like" again, it will be too soon. This attitude from the designers is for my money the single most irritating thing about 4E. Part of the job of the game designers is to provide flavor that makes intuitive sense and meshes well with the mechanics. I am aware that I can reflavor things as I wish; that is not an excuse for the designers to not do their job, any more than Rule Zero is an excuse for the designers to make broken rules.

</rant>

As far as this particular case, I didn't like 4E's handling of this, but I'll reserve judgement on 5E until we have a clearer picture of what they mean by it.

 

[Wormwood]

Not cool WotC. Not cool.

Fine. I'll bite.

 

[enrious]

It's just a formalized method for expressing an attack type or ability.

So, in 4e speak, all spells in prior editions are powers. 3e disarm would also be a (at-will) power.

Got it, thanks.

So as a way of translation, if you got the Magic Missile or Swing Wildly power at level 1, later on you'd lose them?