D&D 5E [+] Ways to fix the caster / non-caster gap

[Micah Sweet]

I'm not saying it can't and didn't happen, but it generally seemed to occur more in those who were "looking for problems" than those who were "looking for solutions".

If your power can't prone the ooze, suck it up. But also, figuring out how to describe a prone ooze isn't hard.

Nah. I'd rather just not play 4e. Which, after giving it a fair shot, was my choice.

 

[Vaalingrade]

If your power can't prone the ooze, suck it up. But also, figuring out how to describe a prone ooze isn't hard.

Apply weapon; stir vigorously.

 

[Micah Sweet]

How would a 5e PC be able to cast a 6th level spell equivalent at-will?

I don't follow this.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I don't know, but I hope you do when the PCs ask the NPC to teach this to them!

I hope God can explain to me how I can't code as well as some of my friends who have spent years working and practicing at it.

 

[TwoSix]

I don't know, but I hope you do when the PCs ask the NPC to teach this to them!

It's not something teachable. He's a magical prodigy born with a one-in-a-million gift, who has spent over 100 years refining his talents. NPCs are allowed to be special snowflakes, just like PCs.

If you want to retire your character and play this NPC instead, I'd allow it though.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It's not something teachable. He's a magical prodigy born with a one-in-a-million gift, who has spent over 100 years refining his talents. NPCs are allowed to be special snowflakes, just like PCs.

If you want to retire your character and play this NPC instead, I'd allow it though.

I very much don't want PCs to be special snowflakes either.

 

[TwoSix]

Nah. I'd rather just not play 4e. Which, after giving it a fair shot, was my choice.

And that's fine. You tried it, it didn't agree with you. There's plenty of games I've tried and didn't like.

 

[TwoSix]

I very much don't want PCs to be special snowflakes either.

Well, that's probably the distinction then. Everyone in my setting, PC and NPC alike, is a special unique snowflake.

The idea that every adventuring humanoid has to use some minor variation of exactly 12(13) power sets is something I've found horrendously off-putting even going back to when I started playing back in the 2e days.

Even as a teenager, I gravitated towards systems like the "custom class builder" in the 2e DMG, and I loved the flexibility in Skills and Powers.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Well, that's probably the distinction then. Everyone in my setting, PC and NPC alike, is a special unique snowflake.

The idea that every adventuring humanoid has to use some minor variation of exactly 12(13) power sets is something I've found horrendously off-putting even going back to when I started playing back in the 2e days.

Even as a teenager, I gravitated towards systems like the "custom class builder" in the 2e DMG, and I loved the flexibility in Skills and Powers.

Makes sense, but if I felt that way I wouldn’t use a class based system in the first place. To justify having classes to myself I need to connect them to the setting so that they’re representations of fictional concepts that exist in it.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Makes sense, but if I felt that way I wouldn’t use a class based system in the first place. To justify having classas to myself I need to connect them to the setting so that they’re representations of fictional concepts that exist in it.

They're just convenient game constructs to contain the abilities of an archetype (and also the Fighter) that people want to play out. It's not like Rogue is a job you go to university and fill out a job application for.