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<blockquote data-quote="billd91" data-source="post: 4524916" data-attributes="member: 3400">And in 3x (or any previous edition) all characters had to be the same outside of combat? I find it interesting that you're basically taking the complaint that a lot of people direct at 4e--that it's combat focus to the detriment of role-playing--and throwing the same cannard at earlier editions.Characters have never been limited to their statistics, though their stats may&nbsp; inform the success they have at game-relevant tasks. Every character in every edition has had a lot of potential to be unique depending on how the stats are spread around and how the character chooses to present the character. Non-combat skill systems have added ways to give those different presentations some teeth over the years so that players can see actual, in game, benefits of their different development choices.You could always have played a fighter skilled as a blacksmith or a smooth talking military leader or samurai skilled at haiku and knowing something about history. That really hasn't changed, just the mechanics for representing such things has changed from time to time. From being basic background and fiat, to non-weapon proficiency, to skill ranks, and back to a mix of skill ranks and basic background and fiat, the ability has been there. Claiming that's new to 4e is really a non-starter.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="billd91, post: 4524916, member: 3400"] And in 3x (or any previous edition) all characters had to be the same outside of combat? I find it interesting that you're basically taking the complaint that a lot of people direct at 4e--that it's combat focus to the detriment of role-playing--and throwing the same cannard at earlier editions. Characters have [i]never[/i] been limited to their statistics, though their stats may inform the success they have at game-relevant tasks. Every character in every edition has had a lot of potential to be unique depending on how the stats are spread around and how the character chooses to present the character. Non-combat skill systems have added ways to give those different presentations some teeth over the years so that players can see actual, in game, benefits of their different development choices. You could always have played a fighter skilled as a blacksmith or a smooth talking military leader or samurai skilled at haiku and knowing something about history. That really hasn't changed, just the mechanics for representing such things has changed from time to time. From being basic background and fiat, to non-weapon proficiency, to skill ranks, and back to a mix of skill ranks and basic background and fiat, the ability has been there. Claiming that's new to 4e is really a non-starter. [/QUOTE]

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