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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ahnehnois" data-source="post: 6293349" data-attributes="member: 17106">I think it's abundantly clear that the overall effectiveness of any given D&D character is determined by many things other than level. Choice of class, and choice of smaller-scale options are definitely among those things. However, other considerations, including ability scores, equipment, and how well a character's abilities match to the challenge at hand all are also important.To be concrete, is there any version of D&D where we can say we have two level 10 characters, specify nothing else about them, and know that they are equal? Of course not. Even if both characters are fighters with the same ability scores and equipment, that still isn't going to be true. Let alone if they are of different classes with different aptitudes and perks.To suggest that all these other factors are irrelevant is ludicrous. To remove them is unfeasible. Thus, trying to say that level represents some all-encompassing power measure is simply not true.I don't buy that at all. For one thing, as above it's obviously possible to create two 4e characters of the same level that are very different on some of the other points outlined above (equipment, context, etc.). However, even if we hold all of those things constant (for some reason), there are plenty of worthless powers in 4e books, and plenty of cases where one power is better than the other. And there always will be, as per the above notes about whac-a-mole exception-based design.On the whole, powers aren't very meaningful, because they're limited in scope compared with the spells of earlier edition. The playing field is smaller; the difference between picking the best and worst available powers probably isn't as big. But within that playing field, it seems obvious to me that imbalance runs rampant (and that's before you consider some of the actual mistakes like wacky skill challenges). And then there's the whole PC vs NPC thing.Nope. Not buying into this at all. (And that's without even addressing the looks like D&D part).</blockquote>

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