The Handbook of Broken (Discussion thread)

This is intended to be a repository for broken game elments (powers, items, features, combos). The hope is that it will serve several purposes:

• Catalog given exploits, to help avoid continual rediscovery.
• Give credit to those that push the theoretical limits
• Give DMs a good sense of what might cause problems.
• Serve as a focal point for suggesting fixes.

What this should NOT be is a list of elements to ban. Particularly in the Bent section, the elements can likely be used in real games and all will still have fun. Even in the broken sections, someone could have all the elements of the combo, and as long as they don't/can't use it there isn't a problem.

The actual handbook is kept in the wiki, here

To add an element, please have

• A clear and concise explanation of the exploit/combo.
• A reference to the original thread/post/finder.
• How broken is it? (see below)

I'd appreciate a suggested house rule for a DM to use if the exploit is causing problems in their game.

If an element in the combination already does infinite damage, then feel free to add other expressions of that element that also do infinite damage... But please ignore new versions that do less damage. My goal is to catalog the most broken exploit of game elements, not to list every possible possibly overpowered expression.

References:

• The spawning thread
• The anti "It's broken" thread. What I'm trying to avoid

The Definitions of Broken

For this, I'm attempting to use definitions from sCRuLooSe, although I've changed them slighly.

Broken

Broken things make the game unplayable. In sCRuLooSe's post, that includes "Shattered" and "Fractured"

• Rules that don't function (Brutal 5 dagger, Brutal 4 Vorpal Dagger).
• Any use of the word "infinite". Or "Effectively Infinite"
• Killing an at-level solo with a single encounter power.
• Killing an at-level solo with your every-round DPR.
• Killing all normal monsters in the encounter with a single encounter power.

Bent

Bent things change the game fundamentally. Experienced players are fundamentally playing a different game than beginners. In sCRuLooSe's post, that includes "Bent", and possibly some of "Overpowered"

• Killing an at-level solo in a single turn.
• Killing an at-level elite in a single turn without using daily powers.
• Kills all minions with a minor and no rolls.

As an example, A nova that can kill an at-level standard monster on average by expending your action point, 2 encounter powers, a daily power, and the standard action from a party member might be overpowered (or might not), but isn't even Bent by my definition. But if it can kill an elite or a Solo with that resource expenditure, then I consider it Bent.

Overpowered

Overpowered options gives significantly higher than expected value. It effectively removes options, but does not fundamentally change the game.

What is overpowered will vary greatly between games. One game's overpowered is another games base assumptions. Overpowered only creates problems when it causes a power disparity between players that causes ill-will, or when it creates a difference in assumptions between the DM and the players that causes ill-will.

I will ignore most things that are "overpowered", as I have a hard time seeing dividing lines between overpowered and optimized. As a rule of thumb, if the DM can compensate without involving the players it's not worth mentioning in this handbook.

What I want in this thread

• References to new issues not currently in the handbook
  • Why it works
  • How broken it is
  • A reference to the discoverer
• Updates/Clarifications
  • New twists
  • making it clearer how/why it works
  • Suggested House rules for any given issue
  • Point out when an update fixes something...
• Tell me when I'm wrong (but see below.  Link to the why, please don't hash it out in this thread)

What I'd rather not have in this thread

• Rules debates.  This thread needs the rules debates, but since those can tend to go forever and disrupt any other conversation, it would be better if they didn't happen here.  Please start (and link to) another thread, or just link to another thread.
• "You're such a munckin/cheater/etc"
• "Only cheaters need to know this"
• "I used that combo to kill Tiamat in a real game!  My DM cried!"
• "This one time in band camp..."

I just wanted to point out that I'm not sure that Champion of Order deserves to be on that list.  The level 11 power is very potent indeed, but it still requires that they remain marked.  If the mark goes away, so does the effect, and re-marking afterwards won't retrigger it.  Between things like invisibility/stealth, teleporting away, immobilizing/slowing the paladin, flight, many solos have a myriad of ways to prevent the paladin from staying adjacent, and most Straladins are going to be lack at ranged attacks (Most won't use throwing weapons, and won't have the Cha to bother with implement attacks).  

Mar 3, 2010 -- 10:25AM, x3nth10n wrote:

I just wanted to point out that I'm not sure that Champion of Order deserves to be on that list.

I'm not sure ANYTHING in overpowered really belongs on that list.  Suggestions on how I can make that clearer?  Bent is the line where I say "Yes, this is a problem.  It can be managed, but it's still a problem".  Broken is where it can't be managed.

Mar 3, 2010 -- 10:27AM, erleni wrote:

Dismissive strike: you don't need to hit. The effect is not under the Hit clause. It happens anyway.

Thanks.  Fixed.

Added the combination of Relentless Assault and Anthem of Progress.