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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rogue Agent" data-source="post: 5796628" data-attributes="member: 6673496">I'd give you XP for this, but I've got to spread it around.The 15MAD only works in campaigns where the game world is static, unchanging, and unresponsive.There is this one, narrow type of campaign that allows the 15MAD to happen. But the number of ways in which you can AVOID having a static, unchanging, unresponsive, and (if I dare say it) boring campaign is almost limitless: NPCs that will hunt down the party. Random encounters. NPCs who will reinforce their positions, set-up traps, or call for allies. NPCs with proactive goals they'll go out and achieve if the PCs let them. NPCs who will kill the hostages. NPCs who will pack up their stuff and go somewhere else if the PCs give them time to escape.And that's all just variations on the theme of "unexpected combat threats". If you diversify you campaign so that it's more than just combat-combat-combat-combat-combat, you'll force the spellcasters to diversify their toolset.And the important thing here is the word "if". You don't need to actually hammer the PCs every single day: You just need to leave them with the expectation that today might be a day they get hammered and they'll start leaving a little something in the tank to deal with it.Get the spellcasters to hold back 20% of their spells "just in case" and invest another 20% of their spells in non-combat utility (that may or may not come in handy that day) and you'll have put a major shift in balance even before you look at the actual behavior patterns that result: If you're thinking in terms of managing your resources, then maybe you don't blow through three fireballs on the first encounter. Maybe you just weaken 'em up a bit and then let the fighters do their job.And suddenly the spellcasters realize that their spells are actually a lot more effective and go a lot farther when they're using them intelligently and in concert with the other party members.</blockquote>

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