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13 months ago ::
Jun 01, 2012 - 3:00AM
#41
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Date Joined:
Nov 22, 2007
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I see where you are coming from... I'm still not convinced that this is enough trade off from adding additional at wills that are non combat oriented. It seems that the bulk of background options veer away from combat oriented options. They are, so far, all skills and a non combat related RP enhancer.
Right, there needs to also be backgrounds to choose from that veer toward combat-flavor options.
You remind me, the designers are using the backgrounds to meet the needs of noncombat “exploration” encounters. But its fine to add a weapon proficiency on top of this wherever it makes sense.
Balancewise, granting a weapon proficiency is no big deal. The Wizard is already more powerful at combat by means of spellcasting. (And a Rogue is already more powerful at combat by means of a dagger fighting-style. And so on.) A proficiency doesnt really add anything except Fighter flavor. Its similar to armor proficiency. Doesnt matter. In 4e, it is legal for a Wizard to use feats to wear armor. But most dont, because it just unhelpful. Same with gaining Fighter-class weapons. Even if there are Fighter-style backgrounds, most Wizards wont choose them because they are rarely helpful in combat.
On your point about utility cantrips, I agree, extra utilities are a much better choice for a Wizard. Most players will and should choose a Wizard-style background.
At the same time, players who want their Wizard to be more gishy will choose a Fighter-style background, and this background will also include Fighter-style non-combat utilities, usually in the form of skills.
No no no, you completely misunderstand the entire purpose of backgrounds.
They aren't to eek out combat advantage. They are to help players who are unfamiliar with the concept of non combat usefulness by making it a seperate part of the character creation process.
Themes is what you are looking for if you want combat oriented options.
Brave Knights of W.T.F. Gryphon Helm Winner.
Edition wars kill players, this will kill Dungeons and Dragons.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 01, 2012 - 3:09AM
#42
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I am only talking about *proficiency*, the +1 bonus to a specific weapon category.
What Im saying is, a weapon proficiency *doesnt* grant any combat advantage.
Each class is already a specific fighting-style. The Fighter class supports and benefits from wielding a greatsword. But a Rogue wont benefit from wielding a greatsword because the *class* doesnt support it. The Wizard class doesnt support any weapon, and it seems irrelevant if a Wizard is proficient or not. The spells are the fighting-style. The spells are so much better because the spells are what the class supports.
So, a Hunter background will grant all kinds of noncombat utilities, maybe Empathy to read the behavior of animals, Running to pursue animals, Foraging to survive in the wilderness for extended periods of time. But on top of this, a longbow proficiency is also appropriate, and is also balanced.
Elves have been getting free bow and sword for years, and this “elven background” never broke the game.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 01, 2012 - 3:53AM
#43
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I just need to say,
When my 2e Illusionist got an “atwill” elven longbow, it was nice.
But now, my 4e Illusionist Wizard gets an atwill psychic attack, the spell, Winged Horde.
Mental magic atwill is so much nicer for my Illusionist concept. I will never go back to 2e.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 01, 2012 - 4:04AM
#44
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Date Joined:
Nov 22, 2007
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I just need to say,
When my 2e Illusionist got an “atwill” elven longbow, it was nice.
But now, my 4e Illusionist Wizard gets an atwill psychic attack, the spell, Winged Horde.
Mental magic is so much nicer for my Illusionist concept. I will never go back.
So Trade in one of your at will attacks for a longbow proficiency. Not a utility mind you, an attack.
Brave Knights of W.T.F. Gryphon Helm Winner.
Edition wars kill players, this will kill Dungeons and Dragons.
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13 months ago ::
Jun 01, 2012 - 5:51AM
#45
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I just need to say,
When my 2e Illusionist got an “atwill” elven longbow, it was nice.
But now, my 4e Illusionist Wizard gets an atwill psychic attack, the spell, Winged Horde.
Mental magic is so much nicer for my Illusionist concept. I will never go back.
So Trade in one of your at will attacks for a longbow proficiency. Not a utility mind you, an attack.
Yeah, I agree. The default should be the Wizard atwill spell. The variant should be swapping out the Wizard atwill spell attack for a Fighter atwill weapon attack. In this case, it probably works better as a Gish theme that focuses on arcane melee combat. So its more than just a free proficiency, but an assemblage useful combat powers. Conceivably, a Fighter can take this theme too to pick up some gishy arcane tricks.
Regarding weapon proficiency. Even if my 4e Eladrin Illusionist Wizard has proficiency with a sword (and he can if it made sense), I will never use it. The sword is completely useless. I swapped it out for Eladrin Wizard Implement Proficiency - which is much nicer. Now the Illusionist can use any of them - wands, staves, and orbs - thanks to his fey arcane heritage.
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