So why can ANYONE use rituals?

[Blackeagle]

Compared to other possible characters, esp. in a niche or focused way. It's fun to be notably better with, say, an axe than a sword, or to be able to really shine in a given situation.

Seems like 4e actually provides a lot more mechanical diversity based on type of weapon. 3e you had what, weapon focus and weapon specialization? In 4e they've got access to fairly different sets of powers keying off different ability scores.

As far as a chance to shine goes, there's a fine line between giving a character a chance to shine, and having one char be so good at something that the rest of the party just sits around while he does his thing. It's pretty clear that Wizards has decided to fix the latter, even if it impacts the former, but I think a specialized character will still have a decent chance to shine while others can still contribute.

Take skills for example. The gap between a fairly optimized skill and an unoptimized one is probably going to be about 8-10 points (skill training plus an optimized attribute versus untrained with a dump stat). Skill focus could add to that, but let's just assume 9 points for now. That's enough for the optimized character to be much more effective at using that skill, but not so much that the optimized character can't fail at any DC the unoptimized character can succeed at. The char with the unoptimized skill has a chance of succeeding, and can at least make an aid another check to help the optimized character. With skill challenges, Wizards has gone even farther along this line by bringing in other skills. Rather than just having the Diplomat make all the rolls, now the character with history can contribute something to the negotiation skill challenge.

Does this diminish the spotlight on the guy with the maxed out open lock or diplomacy skill? Maybe a little, but he's still going to be a lot better than the other characters and I think the tradeoff is worth it if it allows everyone to contribute at least a little something.

"Great" is by definition a relative term. If everyone is equal, no one is great.

See, from my perspective, it's not about making everyone equal, it's about making sure nobody is gimped. Better is fine, so much better that challenging one character means everyone else is ridiculously overmatched is not.

3x gave a lot of options for hyper-focus, even at low levels. 4e gives you two builds.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, but my guess is there may be more builds, or at least more customization within builds, coming down the pike. I guess we'll see when the martial splatbook comes out.

 

[hong]

Does this diminish the spotlight on the guy with the maxed out open lock or diplomacy skill? Maybe a little, but he's still going to be a lot better than the other characters and I think the tradeoff is worth it if it allows everyone to contribute at least a little something.

More to the point, he's better than the other characters, but he's also a LOT better than any other person who's significantly lower level than him. When you're 10th level in a world full of 1st level minions, you are a Big Deal. Later on, you'll be 30th level in a cosmos of 20th level minions, and you will still be a Big Deal. Just because you happen to hang out with a bunch of other 10th or 30th level people is irrelevant. D&D is and has always been about exceptional individuals who are miles more competent than the average joe, ruthless egalitarians notwithstanding.