Balance vs. cool powers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Balance vs. cool powers [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Keebler
07-04-04, 12:22 AM Over my last few campaigns, I have given my characters some cool powers that they enjoy very much that make them significantly more powerful than someone of their level. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I don't know how to rebalance encounters so they remain an appropriate challenge. What I'm doing now is just using open-ended hp and endless enemies, and they seem to be working so far. My question is, if my players love it when they get cool powers and it enhances the flavor and fun of the game at the expense of game balance, is it really bad? Should I learn to rebalance encounters or just stop giving out new abilities? Should I keep going as I have?

As an example, I will tell you the current power that has given me this predicament. I use Ifrit as the god of fury in my campaign world, and he gives certain powers to different people. My player has the ability to rage once per day in a way similar to a frenzied beserker's rage. He has the normal barbarian rage stat changes, but the rage doesnt leave him tired and he has to make a will save dc 15 or start attacking random targets after all enemies are gone. After 1d6 rages and a failed will save, he blacks out and gets a vision from Ifrit that begins to drive him mad. He gets a 1d6 Madness roll. Every time he rages after that, his Madness increases by 1. When he gains a level, he gets another 1d6 onto his Madness. Once his Madness hits 15 he starts seeing things, and he goes more and more insane as his Madness increases. For every 15 points of Madness he has, he may rage one additional time per day. Each rage after the first adds an additional Madness point ex. raging three times would give 6 Madness (1+2+3).

Just my 2cp,
Master Keebs
Tusz
07-04-04, 12:27 AM if my players love it when they get cool powers and it enhances the flavor and fun of the game at the expense of game balance, is it really bad?No. Unless the PCs aren't balanced with eachother to the point that someone isn't enjoying the game, go with it. That's a pretty cool power, by the way.
Skibo the first
07-04-04, 08:57 PM ive started out my group with very good starting packs, personalized to thier own past, but i also keep the pcs powerful. a good key to know is that they should encounter people that they can beat and people that they can't. its your job to keep both challanges.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Keebler 07-04-04, 12:22 AM	Over my last few campaigns, I have given my characters some cool powers that they enjoy very much that make them significantly more powerful than someone of their level. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but I don't know how to rebalance encounters so they remain an appropriate challenge. What I'm doing now is just using open-ended hp and endless enemies, and they seem to be working so far. My question is, if my players love it when they get cool powers and it enhances the flavor and fun of the game at the expense of game balance, is it really bad? Should I learn to rebalance encounters or just stop giving out new abilities? Should I keep going as I have? As an example, I will tell you the current power that has given me this predicament. I use Ifrit as the god of fury in my campaign world, and he gives certain powers to different people. My player has the ability to rage once per day in a way similar to a frenzied beserker's rage. He has the normal barbarian rage stat changes, but the rage doesnt leave him tired and he has to make a will save dc 15 or start attacking random targets after all enemies are gone. After 1d6 rages and a failed will save, he blacks out and gets a vision from Ifrit that begins to drive him mad. He gets a 1d6 Madness roll. Every time he rages after that, his Madness increases by 1. When he gains a level, he gets another 1d6 onto his Madness. Once his Madness hits 15 he starts seeing things, and he goes more and more insane as his Madness increases. For every 15 points of Madness he has, he may rage one additional time per day. Each rage after the first adds an additional Madness point ex. raging three times would give 6 Madness (1+2+3). Just my 2cp, Master Keebs
Tusz 07-04-04, 12:27 AM	if my players love it when they get cool powers and it enhances the flavor and fun of the game at the expense of game balance, is it really bad?No. Unless the PCs aren't balanced with eachother to the point that someone isn't enjoying the game, go with it. That's a pretty cool power, by the way.
Skibo the first 07-04-04, 08:57 PM	ive started out my group with very good starting packs, personalized to thier own past, but i also keep the pcs powerful. a good key to know is that they should encounter people that they can beat and people that they can't. its your job to keep both challanges.