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<blockquote data-quote="DEFCON 1" data-source="post: 8728149" data-attributes="member: 7006">That is a very valid point.&nbsp; You are correct that individual saving throws can result in more varied debilitating effects that most weapons can.&nbsp; While there are some magical weapons that can produce very debilitating effects, I suspect that a normal game won't seem them as often because presenting that weapon into the fight means that the PCs can claim that debilitating effect if they win the battle and take the weapon for themselves (which doesn't happen with spells-- PCs don't get to take the spells after they win, usually-- we'll disregard the 'Wizard gains enemy spellbook' thing for sake of this discussion).So higher level casters do get to give more varied effects to enemies than martial characters do.&nbsp; I am in agreeance.&nbsp; That being said... as the D&amp;D game has always seemed to prioritize magic over mundane weapon combat, I wonder if this is by design?&nbsp; Dragons, lichs etc. are all usually high-powered spellcasters, so doesn't that make them even more threatening?&nbsp; Because they can contribute these debilitating effects and not just pound away on hit points like large meatbags usually do?In other words... are high-powered spells meant to be scarier than normal martial attacks because they produce more varied effects and are harder to resist?Good questions.&nbsp; Don't know what the right answer is myself.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="DEFCON 1, post: 8728149, member: 7006"] That is a very valid point. You are correct that individual saving throws can result in more varied debilitating effects that most weapons can. While there are some magical weapons that can produce very debilitating effects, I suspect that a normal game won't seem them as often because presenting that weapon into the fight means that the PCs can claim that debilitating effect if they win the battle and take the weapon for themselves (which doesn't happen with spells-- PCs don't get to take the spells after they win, usually-- we'll disregard the 'Wizard gains enemy spellbook' thing for sake of this discussion). So higher level casters do get to give more varied effects to enemies than martial characters do. I am in agreeance. That being said... as the D&D game has always seemed to prioritize magic over mundane weapon combat, I wonder if this is by design? Dragons, lichs etc. are all usually high-powered spellcasters, so doesn't that make them even more threatening? Because they can contribute these debilitating effects and not just pound away on hit points like large meatbags usually do? In other words... are high-powered spells [I]meant[/I] to be scarier than normal martial attacks [I]because[/I] they produce more varied effects [B]and[/B] are harder to resist? Good questions. Don't know what the right answer is myself. [/QUOTE]

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