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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FireLance" data-source="post: 3751092" data-attributes="member: 3424">I don't think the issue is running out of spells. Regardless of edition, a wizard that was out of spells (or who wished to conserve them) should still be able to find something to do. I think the key issue is that thus far, the wizard has been tapping on external and finite sources of power.So, at low level, a wizard could throw darts or daggers or (in 3e) use a crossbow, but he was still limited by the amount of ammunition he had. At higher levels, when mundane ranged weapons are no longer significantly useful, a wizard could use a wand or a staff, but he would be limited by the charges in the wand or staff.Per encounter abilities change these assumptions. A per encounter ability is innate, not external. A per encounter ability trades the limitation of finite uses for the limitation of a longer refresh time - a wand can be used in consecutive rounds, but a per encounter ability most likely will not.I think that the idea of innate abilities might turn some people off because they see them as more powerful than external abilities. While I do agree than innate abilities have an advantage over external abilities in that they cannot be taken away (although if a wizard is still required to study his spell book to refresh his per encounter spells, he remains dependent on his equipment), whether or not this advantage is significant depends on how often your DM likes to take your gear away or sets up opportunities for you to lose them.Similarly, finite abilities tend to make players more careful and conservative about using them, while infinite abilities tend to encourage players to use them. I think that whether you prefer one or the other depends on how you want your players to play your game. Some DMs prefer their players to be more cautious and to think more strategically would likely favor finite abilities, whereas a DM who wants to see his players use their abilities more often would likely favor infinite abilities.</blockquote>

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