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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jhaelen" data-source="post: 5207605" data-attributes="member: 46713">... because I don't like using a board and 'minis'. I prefer the pure mental challenge of keeping the positions of all pieces in my mind. It's much faster that way and avoids grind <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />Now, seriously, if I understand you correctly, you are basically looking for ways to improve powers to make their use more tactical?Then, I'll skip the chess analogy right away though and treat your question as if it was 'Why should you use your most powerful spell all the time?'One thing I can immediately think of is 'preparing the stage'. Translated into powers/spells, this means looking for combos. In D&D 3e and 4e there are several feats that reward using powers in a certain order, e.g. using a lightning power in round 1 will grant a bonus to using a thunder power in round 2. Or first cast an acid spell and then a fire spell to create a cloud of noxious fumes; i.e. allowing powers to synergize in interesting ways.Another reason could be diminishing returns: Some monsters have adaptable defenses, so spamming the same power over and over will have little to no effect after a while.The more variables there are, the easier it is to create conditions that make some powers situationally more favorable than others. In 3e this is mostly achieved by using a variety of enemies, each having different immunities and resistances. As in chess, positioning is also important.Borrowing from MMORPGs 'cooldown' mechanisms are a popular way to prevent spamming the same power all the time.If every power comes with a negative side-effect it's also easy to create a risk-reward system without a power that is clearly always the best.If the power can only be used once, you'll also consider carefully if the current situation really warrants using the power - if you don't expend it, you might get more benefit from it at some future point.</blockquote>

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