Will taking the same encounter power twice break anything?

[Lizard]

To best answer this question, I should probably also ask about the situation that inspired it. If a situation were to arise that it was considered favorable to "double up" then it's also reasonable that is the precise favor they wished to avoid.

No situation, really, except for doing some character building and thinking about ways to build more focused/unique characters. That, and I always felt the sorcerer (few powers, many uses)/wizard (many powers, few uses) split to be tactically interesting.

 

[keterys]

I think you might kill variety for some level ranges... you know... 'why, yes, all my encounter powers _are_ Rain of Blows, why do you ask?'

 

[IanB]

The powers are all pretty close in power level to each other but there are often ones that are a little better for a particular build or playstyle, so allowing someone to double up would almost certainly be allowing them to be a little more powerful. If you're ok with the game balance risks, then go for it; I probably wouldn't allow it in my own game.

 

[Goumindong]

Wait, the rules say that you have to pick an encounter power of each level? I thought you could always pick one lower, so if you wanted two level 7 powers instead of a level 7 and 13 power you could do that by retraining your level 1 power. (you could not have two level 13 powers though) (ed: They say only one of each it seems)

Since having the same power twice or more means that you are explicitly giving up higher level encounter powers for it, there isn't much that is wrong with that situation and there are not really any encounter powers that can be chained to be exploitable(at least, as I see it there aren't)

If you want 2 of the same power you will have to be 1 rank behind(I.E. you wont have your closest level encounter power), if you want 3 of the same power you will be 2 ranks behind(I.E. same as above and you wont have the next closest level encounter power), if you want 4 of the same power you cant because you cant change out your paragon path power(and if you paragon multi-class you will be stuck with one or two from other classes)

E.G. Before you can have rain of blows 3 times you have to be level 13. Where you would miss things like "Chains of Sorrow", or "Anvil of Doom", of "storm of blows" which is pretty much explicitly better than "rain of blows" since you always get 3 attacks(rather than 2, or 4 if you hit the first two) and you get to shift 3 squares and you get to add dex to damage. If you wanted to keep those choices throughout your career you would lose a lot more very strong encounter powers(like "harrying assault" which once you hit lvl 21 is also explicitly better than "rain of blows").

Edit2: The real reason that they do not let you bundle up on powers is because the game becomes boring when you don't make choices. Just as it was boring in 3e when the fighter said "I attack" over and over again, its going to be boring in 4e if the fighter says "I rain of blows" 3 times in a row and then says "I cleave" until the end of the combat encounter.

 

[Victim]

E.G. Before you can have rain of blows 3 times you have to be level 13. Where you would miss things like "Chains of Sorrow", or "Anvil of Doom", of "storm of blows" which is pretty much explicitly better than "rain of blows" since you always get 3 attacks(rather than 2, or 4 if you hit the first two) and you get to shift 3 squares and you get to add dex to damage. If you wanted to keep those choices throughout your career you would lose a lot more very strong encounter powers(like "harrying assault" which once you hit lvl 21 is also explicitly better than "rain of blows").

I disagree that many of those powers are explicitly better than rain of blows. Storm of Blows requires that the extra attacks go against different targets; Rain of Blows does not. There's a big difference between X damage on three targets, and 3X damage on one guy.

 

[James McMurray]

I disagree that many of those powers are explicitly better than rain of blows. Storm of Blows requires that the extra attacks go against different targets; Rain of Blows does not. There's a big difference between X damage on three targets, and 3X damage on one guy.

Yep. X on three is much better when two of them turn out to be minions.

 

[Tony Vargas]

The real reason that they do not let you bundle up on powers is because the game becomes boring when you don't make choices. Just as it was boring in 3e when the fighter said "I attack" over and over again, its going to be boring in 4e if the fighter says "I rain of blows" 3 times in a row and then says "I cleave" until the end of the combat encounter.

I'd agree, that's probably a major part of the rationale. Another closely related reason might be class balance or character balance, perhaps in terms of spotlight time. Part of the 4e design objective was to have all classes balanced (and the 4e desiginers come off as positively fetishistic when it comes to class balance as you read the PH), and to have all PCs participate in all encounters. A PC who doubles up on powers or otherwise becomes very 'focused' will shine - possibly even 'dominate' - in some encounters and underperform in or virtually sit out others. That might even be 'fun' for some players, if it fits thier concept, but it's at odds with the 4e design objectives.

 

[The Little Raven]

Would it have any noticeable effect on the game if someone picked the same encounter power twice (when they were able to select another power, or via retraining), allowing them to use it twice/encounter?

If it's allowing them to get more higher-level powers than the game is balanced for, yes. For example, if, at level 3, the player can get two level 3 encounter powers instead of one level 1 encounter power and one level 3 encounter power, he'll be above the curve. If that happens every time you gain higher level powers, it'll throw the balance off quite a bit by higher levels.

 

[am181d]

Every time you get an encounter power, you either choose the highest level power you can get, or you choose a lower level power. Per the rules, you can't retrain a low level power into a higher level power later on.

There is no non-sub-optimal choice that allows you to take the same encounter power a second time. If you're taking the same encounter power again, it means you're taking it instead of a higher level power.

I'd be inclined to disallow this option because it's UNDERpowered, not because it's OVERpowered.

 

[Nikolai II]

Every time you get an encounter power, you either choose the highest level power you can get, or you choose a lower level power. Per the rules, you can't retrain a low level power into a higher level power later on.

There is no non-sub-optimal choice that allows you to take the same encounter power a second time. If you're taking the same encounter power again, it means you're taking it instead of a higher level power.

I'd be inclined to disallow this option because it's UNDERpowered, not because it's OVERpowered.

Well, I'll be..

By the rules you can upgrade a power to a more powerful one, but not retrain them? But you still can retrain feats to more powerful ones?
Hmm.. I think I'll stick to my flawed reading of the rules and allow retraining to higher levels.
Still no doubling up on powers, though. That is the way to dull city (or just to munchkinland )