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<blockquote data-quote="Tony Vargas" data-source="post: 5806590" data-attributes="member: 996">That's the last option.&nbsp; The house-cat killing a 1st level wizard is an exaple right out of older D&amp;D.&nbsp; The balance formula back then was to have wizards start out very, very weak at 1st, become viable somewhere between 3rd and 5th, and take off around 9th or 12th and just go crazy, culminating in Wish.&nbsp; And, there was certainly play beyond 12th even back in OD&amp;D.&nbsp; I clearly remember running AD&amp;D pick up games.&nbsp; Run a low level game, get lots of non/demi-human multiclass characters and fighters (especially specialized TWFers and Archers post UA/2e).&nbsp; Run a high level game, get lots of casters and maybe a guildmaster assassin with psionics.Heh.&nbsp; Not /every/.&nbsp; You still had to hold onto your spellbook.&nbsp; You still needed components.&nbsp; But, yes, each ed has made it easier and easier to cast spells.&nbsp; 2e was even a bit less restrictive than 1e (though, I rarely saw anyone use /all/ the limitations heaped on 1e magic-users, just like a rarely saw weapon vs AC adjustments used). And 4e makes basically no ods between casting a spell and using bow.The problem, as you say, is that 3e removed limitations from casting without bringing the power of casting down to a comparable degree.&nbsp; 4e at least brought both down.&nbsp; Yep, last option.&nbsp; Situational balance.&nbsp; Some of the time your magic is awesome, some of the time it's borked and you're a commoner in a pointy hat.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Tony Vargas, post: 5806590, member: 996"] That's the last option. The house-cat killing a 1st level wizard is an exaple right out of older D&D. The balance formula back then was to have wizards start out very, very weak at 1st, become viable somewhere between 3rd and 5th, and take off around 9th or 12th and just go crazy, culminating in Wish. And, there was certainly play beyond 12th even back in OD&D. I clearly remember running AD&D pick up games. Run a low level game, get lots of non/demi-human multiclass characters and fighters (especially specialized TWFers and Archers post UA/2e). Run a high level game, get lots of casters and maybe a guildmaster assassin with psionics. Heh. Not /every/. You still had to hold onto your spellbook. You still needed components. But, yes, each ed has made it easier and easier to cast spells. 2e was even a bit less restrictive than 1e (though, I rarely saw anyone use /all/ the limitations heaped on 1e magic-users, just like a rarely saw weapon vs AC adjustments used). And 4e makes basically no ods between casting a spell and using bow. The problem, as you say, is that 3e removed limitations from casting without bringing the power of casting down to a comparable degree. 4e at least brought both down. Yep, last option. Situational balance. Some of the time your magic is awesome, some of the time it's borked and you're a commoner in a pointy hat. [/QUOTE]

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