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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 7:28AM
#11
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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Because they add a huge new source of character development and roleplaying and plot hooks and awesomeness, and very little power creep. Especially the Dark Sun themes.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 7:59AM
#12
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My DM generally views most new content as "power creep".
In the case of themes, I think he has a point.
What is the rationale for allowing themes?
They offer an additional dimension of character customization, and can actually encourage roleplay by giveing some mechanical crunch to a character's background. A lot of compaigns never get beyond heroic tier, which means you don't get the chance to differentiate yourself with paragon paths or epic destinies-themes give you something similar to that at first level.
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 8:04AM
#13
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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My DM generally views most new content as "power creep".
In the case of themes, I think he has a point.
A point, yes, but a minor one.
It is unequivocally true that themes are power creep. They add power, and that power didn't exist in any form before they were published.
However, it's important to look at the degree, not just the presence or not. And the degree of power creep is very small. It certainly doesn't change encounter design requirements.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 8:05AM
#14
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Date Joined:
Jun 30, 2008
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1. They are fun. Good power creepy fun.
2. They are flavorful and can make PCs feel more unique, especially at low levels.
3. They make low level combat more interesting since players have more options besides spamming at wills.
4. They (along with backgrounds) are sort of a refund on feat taxes, assuming you think there are feat taxes or don't get those feats for free.
my handbooks & builds
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 9:30AM
#15
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If you've got the sort of DM who thinks you should have to justify adding options (as opposed to one who feels he should have to justify disallowing options,) it's going to be hard to make a case for themes as a whole. You might have more luck arguing for specific themes, and sticking to the ones that don't do much for you in combat.
. . . that is, if you wanted one of the ones that doesn't help much in combat. If your DM wants to minimize power creep, there are about half a dozen themes he'd be right to disallow.
"When Friday comes, we'll all call rats fish."
D&D Outsider
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 10:19AM
#16
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Date Joined:
Feb 12, 2007
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The best thing to tell your DM is that they encourage role playing and story development. Every DM I know would kill to get their players more involved in the story. When players make mechanical choices based on character backstory or the campaign world, they are more invested in the story and more likely to make those elements important in how they play.
I've seen a huge difference in how my players RP their characters since themes came out. It's focussed their RP into evolving their backstories in exciting ways. Themes are the best thing to happen in 4e since they overhauled the monster stat blocks.
This is the opposite of my experience--every psionic character ends up having a Noble Background, even when it doesn't make sense or is boring, because Noble Adept is just that much mechanically better than most other themes for Power Point users. And Pack Outcast, in particular, results in lots and lots of werewolves at RPGA events that allow themes.
Check out my blog--now REACTIVATED with DnDnext feedback!
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 10:44AM
#17
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Date Joined:
Mar 26, 2007
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If you've got the sort of DM who thinks you should have to justify adding options
Some just see it as cluttter, why, why this encessant need to please?
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 11:12AM
#18
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Date Joined:
Oct 19, 2008
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If you've got the sort of DM who thinks you should have to justify adding options
Some just see it as clutter, why, why this incessant need to please?
. . . Are you advocating not pleasing the players?
"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." --Bill Cosby (1937- )Vanador: OK. You ripped a gateway to Hell, killed half the town, and raised the dead as feral zombies. We're going to kill you. But it can go two ways. We want you to run as fast as you possibly can toward the south of the town to draw the Zombies to you, and right before they catch you, I'll put an arrow through your head to end it instantly. If you don't agree to do this, we'll tie you this building and let the Zombies rip you apart slowly. Dimitry: God I love being Neutral. 4th edition is dead, long live 4th edition.Salla: opinionated, but commonly right. fun quotes
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You have to do the work first, and show you can do the work, before someone is going to pay you for it.
If you can't understand how someone yelling at another person would make them fight harder and longer, then you need to look at the forums a bit closer.
quote author=56832398 post=519321747]Considering DnD is a game wouldn't all styles be gamist?
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 11:27AM
#19
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Date Joined:
Sep 19, 2007
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If you've got the sort of DM who thinks you should have to justify adding options
Some just see it as cluttter, why, why this encessant need to please?
Because the DM isn't the only person at the table whose opinion matters any more. If you have six people at the table, five want to try themes and think it will add to the experience, and one thinks it is just clutter, something needs to bend somewhere.
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1 year ago ::
Dec 01, 2011 - 12:17PM
#20
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Date Joined:
Jan 29, 2008
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1. They are fun. Good power creepy fun.
2. They are flavorful and can make PCs feel more unique, especially at low levels.
3. They make low level combat more interesting since players have more options besides spamming at wills.
4. They (along with backgrounds) are sort of a refund on feat taxes, assuming you think there are feat taxes or don't get those feats for free.
This sums it up. It is power creep, so the most important thing is that everyone is on the same level here. You should not give a theme to one person and not another. That's lame. You should have everyone pick one, and if none fit then refluff one. Other than that, they are a way to help give some unique feeling to the otherwise extremely bland heroic tier.
A note to all who think I am being aggressive or angry- 99% of the time, I do not intend to be. I apologize if you think I am attacking you, odds are very strong that I am not. The only exceptions are when people become extremely uncivil to me, and even then I usually ignore them. I think it is very obvious when I am really mad; if I just seem generally abrasive, it is a reflection of my thought process rather than a state of emotion. I have the greatest respect for those who can debate rationally, even if we come to different conclusions.  I am Blue/White Take The Magic Dual Colour Test - Beta today!Created with Rum and Monkey's Personality Test Generator.I'm both orderly and rational. I value control, information, and order. I love structure and hierarchy, and will actively use whatever power or knowledge I have to maintain it. At best, I am lawful and insightful; at worst, I am bureaucratic and tyrannical.
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