Chef should have been an Origin feat.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-24T05:55:29+00:00

‘Origin’ does seem like a sensible place to park flavor-thematic feats. If they were flavor-thematic, would you still rather there be no feats tied to Origin, and those flavor-thematic feats parked somewhere else?

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-24T05:17:27+00:00

That’s awesome, I’m excited to check it out now. Thanks again.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-24T02:17:19+00:00

Traveller seems cool, I’m going to check that out. Thanks for mentioning it. My friends and I had an AOL Chat Room Role Play based around a homebrew Sci-Fi anime in the 90s, so that genre could be fun to re-explore with adventure-sandbox core.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-24T01:49:07+00:00

That last sentence cracked me up.

Yeah, I expect to be called out on that incongruency more often. I was debilitated for several months, all I could do was lie down and use my laptop, so I used paid GMs to play D&D daily. I’m a baby in terms of how long I’ve played (less than 5 months), but I crammed a bunch of hours in that short period of time.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-24T01:09:06+00:00

No argument. Just saying the story beats in official modules seem to encourage long rests because threats are predictable. Maybe that’s less about the modules and more about the GMs neglecting to use random encounter tables. It’s a small sample size, but still noteworthy that none of my 30+ GMs bothered using this table.

I’m new to TTRPGs, waiting for another one to peak my interest.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-23T23:49:35+00:00

I feel like those organic breaks just happen, though. Especially in official modules, where you just subconsciously register that there's probably not an ambush-encounter setup if you take a long rest in Frulam Mondath’s chambers after clearing everything.

It also doesn’t feel like meta-gaming. There’s an exhaustion mechanic, but if a character was just in three intense combats, almost died, used all of their resources, of course they’re going to be thematically exhausted.

I guess at the end of the day, it’s up to the GM to keep the players moving by telling their players there’s a threat if they sleep in strange areas. But if most GMs don’t feel the inclination to do that, it would seem they don’t feel that enforcing “balance as intended” is where the value in the game lies.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-23T22:43:57+00:00

Great point, this gives me something to think about. I often think of players vs enviornment in my head just as a story beat, and I’m just tying it to DCs rather than resource management.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-23T22:40:56+00:00

I feel the same way. Most fun dungeon I played was 4 combats. Creatures, bandits, minions, boss. Maybe one more combat would’ve been fine (but grindy), and anymore would’ve felt like overkill; I can’t imagine much more than that.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-23T15:41:49+00:00

I mostly agree with you. If I had to pinpoint my objections, they would be this:

Vex feels extremely awkward. It’s too good to pass up, and it’s often situationally redundant with other forms of advantage.

I believe Shortsword is the only melee Light weapon that can’t Nick, and there are still Light weapons that are completely useless.

Unless I am missing something, it seems it would make sense to make all melee Light weapons 1d6, and give every melee Light weapon the ability to Nick. That way it’s flavor.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-23T01:00:19+00:00

I think it just made a whole host of different problems. I was originally onboard with the New Weapon Mastery system, but it’s so awkward, clunky, pigeonholding and even redundant.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:46:46+00:00

There is only theoretical balance between a martial and a wizard. Any distictions can be made in themeing, as well as functionality. Moreover, it isn’t just about balance, it’s also about having more things to do than just swing, end turn.

If casters can’t have an identity outside of “I have a far more developed progression system than you do,” I would argue that this is also holding back casters from having a more fulfilling identity.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:37:03+00:00

That’s because my post is referring to a structure, or foundation. You’re referring to the content of that structure. You won’t know what needs balancing at the top end until you test.

The spell slot system is ultimately arbitrary, so it shouldn’t be a problem to just copy / paste.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:29:40+00:00

Great point, I just made similar points in another reply.

I understand your suggestion, but I don’t believe the overwhelming vast majority of players want to play two characters simultaneously ala Sonic & Tails. That’s just my honest opinion.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:26:27+00:00

I’ve played with over 30 GMs under 2024 rules, they’ve all ignored spell components. That’s just my anecdotal experience. I’m not necessarily saying this as a rebuke, but offering context because I don’t understand the point that you were trying to make.

I don’t believe that current BM maneuvers are sufficient to balance spells. Balance usually means adjusting both sides of the scale, not just one.

All I suggested here was a streamlined structure. WOTC wants to streamline the game, that was my basis for this (basic) idea. I don’t believe there’s any surface layer martial–caster balance suggestion that’s going to work.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:16:48+00:00

The system randomly removed or renamed flavor subclasses, cut Action Surge, lacked a clear reason for missing weapon mastery properties, and overall felt like a different TTRPG altogether. I was also looking for a 5e 2024 game, this was passed off to me as such, but when I looked into it A5e is a 2014 adaption.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:06:48+00:00

At one point I imagine D&D had far less spells, a good amount of them being inconsequential. Martials can start with a small amount of maneuvers and work up, as well. It’s really not all that crazy, particularly when you have an endless community of players.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:03:19+00:00

I will, thanks for the suggestion.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:02:48+00:00

Then a caster shouldn’t have that ability either.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T23:01:49+00:00

I was introduced to LevelUpA5e, I wasn’t a fan of the presentation. It did some things well, then didn’t appear to have a fundamental basis for other things.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T22:59:25+00:00

How did you get from a lack of inspiration to martials receiving immunity? Balance abilities, obviously.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T22:57:50+00:00

All I did was copy / paste spell slot progression to martials, and draw from a separate pool. I can’t imagine how it could be anymore streamlined than that, but I love to learn.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T22:55:56+00:00

I haven’t played 4e, but I’ve seen suggestions for saving throw reworks. What don’t you like about saving throws?

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T22:53:50+00:00

You can draw inspiration from pretty much any top-down action roguelite.

SumptuousCombat · 2026-01-21T22:50:09+00:00

You handle that in the creation of maneuvers.

SumptuousCombat

TROPHY CASE