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I think resources need to be split between combat, exploration, socialization, investigation and travel. Due to how game creation works, I believe this is idealistic to a fault, and can easily compromise towards a three ways split between combat, socialization and the rest.

I agree that resource pools should be split among Socialization (skills) and combat (the other stuff). I don't think there should be any rule seperating building one up at the expense of the other unless you 'really' want a balanced system.

I don't think travel/exploration needs a resource split pool because, in my experience, gamers tend to handle that themselves (without much use of game mechanics). The two areas that need the most gaming mechanics, in my opinion, are skills and combat. Obviously combat needs more balance consideration. Skills tend to get mixed into roleplaying as well, and at the far end lead into exploration and such.

I don't think there's anything wrong with a warrior with no 'skills' who's just a tiny bit better at fighting, but I'm sure others might disagree. When I designed my own RPG I took the emphasis off of combat a little and tried to incorporate a broader range of skills/exploration based powers and skillsets. Basically this lets the player customize their character to specialize in whatever they want (exploration, combat, skills, etc.). Because it's impossible to design the perfect balance of roleplay to combat to skills to exploration for everyone; I felt it was best to include a customizable point-buy power system (with powers as the balancing tool) to allow the players and GM to create whatever 'balance' of the above aspects they want in their characters.

For instance, I had one player who specialized in all skills, another who went for magic item and gadget building, a third who played a stacked combat barbarian tank, and a 4th with a mix of swordsmanship and musical abilities.

I'd also like to see a de-emphasis in general on combat in 5e and more focus on the real fun of an RPG: role-playing, skills, exploration, and creativity. Computer and video games will always be able to run the best combats, an RPG should focus on the players and GM, making things easier, simpler, and more creative for them.

Thanks for reading.

David L. Dostaler
Author, Challenger RPG
www.amazon.com/Challenger-Free-Roleplayi...

Combat is a creative roleplaying opportunity. I think it's just overused in 4e. There's way too much emphasis on it. I once took part in an adventure where it was 99% exploration and 1% combat. It was one of the best adventures I ever played, I still have fond memories of it even though it was years and years ago.

If you look at any popular fantasy novel, you'll also see combat is a very small percentage of the action. Take J.R.R. Tolkein, J.K. Rowling, Terry Pratchett, or any other good story you care to reckon with. The amount of time messing around and talking is 'way' more than the combat. I find the best stories (and the best RPG games) tend to turn out the same way. I know most RPGs need a little more combat (it is a game after all) but the best ones usually include more role-playing and storytelling. I'd just like a bit more emphasis on that side of RPG games.

David L. Dostaler
Author, Challenger RPG