This is a Rant [Meta-thread]

[Darrin Drader]

I make the statement that a game mechanic we are all familliar with is absolutely broken! Not only is it poorly designed, but power gamers with certain class/feat combinations have way too easy a time dealing massive amounts of damage against anything they happen to encounter with the use of this game mechanic.

I suggest that the designers were under the influence of intoxicants when creating this game mechanic, and furthermore suggest that DM's that allow their players to use it have no concept of game balance.

End lengthy, long-winded rant (2,000+ words) by pointing out that the last thread of this nature went 11 pages before the moderators were forced to shut it down, so let the flamarity begin!

 

[Mark]

Careful, D. Don't want this thread getting closed like the last one...

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I make the statement that a game mechanic we are all familliar with is absolutely broken! Not only is it poorly designed, but power gamers with certain class/feat combinations have way too easy a time dealing massive amounts of damage against anything they happen to encounter with the use of this game mechanic.

I suggest that the designers were under the influence of intoxicants when creating this game mechanic, and furthermore suggest that DM's that allow their players to use it have no concept of game balance.

End lengthy, long-winded rant (2,000+ words) by pointing out that the last thread of this nature went 11 pages before the moderators were forced to shut it down, so let the flamarity begin!

You didn't check the latest erratta, did you?

 

[Mark Chance]

I counter by explaining that the feature isn't broken, and that any game feature is exploitable by powergamers more interested in a computer-game-style format than True Roleplaying. I make a few veiled statements that seem to question your intelligence for holding the opinions you hold, but I always end each such statement with either /jk or a .

 

[Ciaran]

I post a blatant plug for my poorly written PDF supplement, claiming that it completely fixes the aforementioned mechanic when, in fact, it has only the most tangential relationship with said mechanic, and is in any case so shoddily written that no DM in their right mind would have anything to do with it. I follow this with a thinly veiled personal attack against [insert well-known poster here], whose far superior PDF actually does solve the problems with the mechanic in question, in hopes of discouraging people from purchasing his product.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

I go, "Twitch, twitch".

(apologies to Baraendur)

 

[orbitalfreak]

I counter by explaining that the feature isn't broken, and that any game feature is exploitable by powergamers more interested in a computer-game-style format than True Roleplaying. I make a few veiled statements that seem to question your intelligence for holding the opinions you hold, but I always end each such statement with either /jk or a .

Counters the counter by stating that "True Roleplaying" and "Powergaming" are not mutually exlcusive concepts. Places an angry smilie mad: ) to show extent of anger at people who suggest otherwise. Anticipating the fallout that this arguement will produce, closes with a pithy comment such as "Dons his Armor of Fire Resistance (25)"

*edits* fixes mad to mad: )

 

[Remathilis]

Mentions that gaming group has used X rule for a long time, and is only really broken when used by a dual-wielding half-elf ranger/bard. Cites numerous examples, only some of which are relevenant, and ends with a brief discussion of last weeks game session, which involved said rule once.

Adds YMMV.

 

[Silver Moon]

Debates joining current thread, not wanting to incur the wrath of the Moderators. Decides it looks like too much fun to stay away from.

Mentions that gaming group has used X rule for a long time, and is only really broken when used by a dual-wielding half-elf ranger/bard.

Quotes Remathilis and points out that the rule is also broken when applied to a Derro Psion/Songweaver, but that it would work particularly well with a Gibberling Paladin.

States that Gary Gygax himself considered adding this rule back in 1974, but rejected it as being too complex to implement. Attempts to support that statement by providing a link to the longest Gygax Q&A thread on this board, figuring that nobody will actually read through the entire thing for verification.

Decides to hold off on mentioning any unrelated side topics until this thread reaches at least page two.

 

[Kweezil]

[Lurks, reads the thread through, skimming the long paragraphs, lurks a bit more and decides to post to bump a pitiful postcount.]

Comments on how the problem is a only a problem if you let it be a problem. Then interjects with a pointlessly long post about how he gets around the problem in his own games, including all sorts of detail no-one else finds interesting.

[Edit: fixes a typo]