Thread 96153375 - /tg/ [Archived: 60 hours ago]

Anonymous
7/22/2025, 4:11:16 PM No.96153375
4e2cd4930b3eb61b3f9b5e2b7b81f5e7
4e2cd4930b3eb61b3f9b5e2b7b81f5e7
md5: 1cd9949969cdac2ab30ae4a9b30ffbf1🔍
Has the criticism of "all characters use the same format for their abilities, so they must all play the same, and everyone is a caster" died off compared to the D&D 4e edition war era?

Back in 2008 and the early 2010s, one of the largest criticisms directed towards D&D 4e was an assertion that, due to similarities in formatting for abilities, all classes played the same and everyone was a spellcaster. (Insomuch as I still play and run D&D 4e to this day, I do not agree with this.)

Nowadays, however, I see more and more RPGs use standardized formatting for the abilities offered to PCs. As two recent examples, the grid-based tactical Draw Steel and the PbtA-adjacent Daggerheart both use standardized formatting to their abilities, whether mundane weapon strikes or overtly supernatural spells. These are neatly packaged into little blocks that can fit into cards. Indeed, Daggerheart explicitly presents them as cards.

I have seldom seen the criticism of "all characters use the same format for their abilities, so they must all play the same, and everyone is a caster" in recent times. Has the RPG community overall accepted the concept of standardized formatting for abilities?
Replies: >>96154193
Anonymous
7/22/2025, 4:15:52 PM No.96153392
https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/1m6f8w3/has_the_criticism_of_all_characters_use_the_same/
Replies: >>96153406
Anonymous
7/22/2025, 4:18:17 PM No.96153406
>>96153392
This board really is dead, huh.
Replies: >>96153512
Anonymous
7/22/2025, 4:40:21 PM No.96153512
>>96153406
We have puckee regularly also crossposting from reddit as well
Anonymous
7/22/2025, 6:23:32 PM No.96154193
>>96153375 (OP)
As much as 4e sucks, it set an important precedent that abilities should be clearly defined and easy to read/interpret without fluff text intermingling too closely with rules text.

Most people don't operate on a GM level. They read all the shit once when making or improving a character, then it rolls off their brain after the session because they're not writing the next adventure.

I don't feel like rules lawyering. I don't feel like waiting 60 seconds for a player to make sure they understand Olitike's Sweaty Orbs before casting it. I don't feel like calling a break because someone needs to remake/abandon a character because it was based on presuppositions that were entirely fluff. I get one game night every week, and I want it to be fun!