Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Damon_Tor Jul 24, 2010 2:26:22	Okay, here's the concept.  It's D&D 4e, right?  But instead of having all your powers available at all times, the powers you know are in a deck, which you shuffle and draw from.  Don't like what you have?  All classes would have a "basic attack" of some sort. Just a thought.
#2 teamfireyleader Jul 24, 2010 8:23:21	I know that you are talking about 4e, but in the very late stages of 3.5 there was infact something just like this in the Book of Nine Swords. Essentially, the class had MBAs and Encounter powers only, and you got a deck of cards and you drew them randomly for the encounter. It was really fun addign in that bit of randomness, and I get the feeling that that was part of what they are thinking of for essentials, though its mostly the rest of the BoNS that they are using (only basic and encounter attacks with stances). Edit: if I remember correctly the class was infact called the Crusader
#3 greatfrito Jul 24, 2010 13:25:00	Yeah, the Crusader has the random-draw powers.  I always thought it was... a little strange. I could see playing 4th that way (though I don't think it would go well, at all) - shuffling up your (attack) power cards into a deck, and drawing the one you'll use. Heck, maybe it could help those people who can't decide what to do - have them have a "hand" of 3 cards at any one time - they have to use one of those before they can draw a replacement. It would be kind of dumb... but it could work, I suppose.  If you didn't shuffle in at-wills, you could sit those aside as "constant" options.
#4 Damon_Tor Jul 24, 2010 13:50:01	Yeah, the Crusader has the random-draw powers.  I always thought it was... a little strange. I could see playing 4th that way (though I don't think it would go well, at all) - shuffling up your (attack) power cards into a deck, and drawing the one you'll use. Heck, maybe it could help those people who can't decide what to do - have them have a "hand" of 3 cards at any one time - they have to use one of those before they can draw a replacement. It would be kind of dumb... but it could work, I suppose.  If you didn't shuffle in at-wills, you could sit those aside as "constant" options. I was thinking at-wills would be the bulk of a deck, but once used would be put back in your hand instead of discarded. I think you'd need more powers than you get in DnD.  I mean, what fun would a deck of 4 cards be? I'm thinking your wis mod could somehow determine your deck size (with normal restrictions on actual power use) while your ind mod would determine your maximum hand size: all the physcial stats have a direct effect on players (encumberance, HP, initiative) so it makes sense for the mental stats to do the same, and the card system is a good way to do it.
#5 T-Mack Jul 24, 2010 14:58:26	I'm with you on needing more powers for this to work, but I think at-wills should be excluded from the deck.  If I'm going to hand my choice of attack powers over to the hands of fate, my choices need to hit harder than most at-wills. Interesting concept, what brought it on?
#6 Damon_Tor Jul 25, 2010 1:38:40	Interesting concept, what brought it on? The thought that initially sparked it was "man, WotC really got the rules for M:tG working like clockwork after all these years, you'd think they'd be able to translate more of that systemic integrity to D&D." and I had the thought of each player holding a deck of cards, then I thought "wait, they actually make those cards..." and the idea clicked.  Figured I'd splat the general concept here and see what people think before I actually try to think about it too hard.
#7 tsukinousagi Jul 25, 2010 8:17:46	They tried 'random cards' once in connection with role gaming. It was called Saga and man I wanted it to work. And not only did it NOT work, but I think it was the biggest bucket of fail I have ever seen in role gaming. I almost felt guilty when I sold the Saga basic box and an expansion to a local friend who wanted it. I felt any price was akin  to a rip off. Dice keep the game honest, and powers should be treated like they are now, as plannable proper skills. Biggest thrill of 4th edition, was when they finally killed off memorized spells and made them either use as often as you want at will powers or more rarer more finite skills. But either way they were dependable always there skills you didn't need to fret over picking so much. The only random I want in my game, is the roll of the dice.