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Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Article Balance

22 bytes removed, 22:26, 22 June 2012
updating names and text, still need to do high and very high text
Campaign balance is a fine art, as it is extremely difficult to classify exactly. What is balanced in one campaign might not be balanced in another, by virtue of what classes, feats, and other such options are available to characters. Balance goes both ways, and it's important to realize that material that is perfectly reasonable in some games may be ridiculously overpowered or so weak as to not be worth writing down in others. A primary goal of this wiki is to help our users more easily find homebrew material that fits well within the balance their campaign already uses.
To that end, most of our pages articles will list a general ''levelcategory'' of balance. These levels categories are described here. It should be said right off that no level balance category is better or worse than any other, the only right level one is the one that works for your game and your playstyle. Each level is named after the class that best exemplifies it, and category contains a number of classes, prestige classes, and character options published by Wizards of the Coast to provide further examples of material at that levelwithin it. The options listed here aren't intended to be used to win or lose any contests, but just to give you a good pool of work to compare our homebrew against.
As part of that, we accept Breaking things down in this way also means that an option is only overpowered or underpowered when compared with the other available options. There is material within published works that is going to be overpowered for some campaigns, just as there is material that is going to be weak in some campaigns. Sometimes that is even the same material viewed from two different games. These balance levels categories are an attempt to place homebrew works on this site in a greater context. If an article is listed at as having a given levelparticular article balance, we believe it is best matched with other material in that level category and thus appropriate for inclusion in a campaign that already primarily includes the options indicated at that level. It may overperform at some levels, it may underperform at others, and it may change based on campaign considerations regarding enemy and equipment distributions, but it shouldn't overshadow or be useless compared to other characters material overall.
So please look over our article balance levelscategories, and see if you can pick out which one your games tend to use. We hope that you find material here for that balance level your style of play that helps expand the fun of your games , without making you worry about unbalancing it.{{underbar |I never had a problem before... |You may never have had a character in your game consistently overshadowing everyone else. Or a character feel completely useless because they just don't contribute like the rest of the party without that artifact sword you gave them. It's possible that you've never banned a spell because it was too strong, or boosted a feat that you thought was too weak. Perhaps you've never had a player use a strong class ability in a way that seemed like abuse, or you've never seen a group stack some abilities and rules together to "win" the game without actually playing it anymore. If that's the case, you probably don't need to worry about this and can just use whatever you like from the wiki. And you should feel very lucky.
For {{underbar |I never had a problem before... |You may never have had a character in your game consistently overshadowing everyone else. Or a character feel completely useless because they just don't contribute like the rest of us who have the party without that artifact sword you gave them. It's possible that you've never banned a spell because it was too strong, or boosted a feat that you thought was too weak. Perhaps you've never had some of these problemsa player use a strong class ability in a way that seemed like abuse, these balance points should help to minimize or at least point out the potential pitfalls. Even if you've never worried about seen a group stack some abilities and rules together to "win" the game without actually playing it before and anymore. If that's the case, you probably don't particularly feel like worrying need to worry about it now, we hope that these levels make it easier for your to identify this and resolve can just use whatever you like from the actual root of any instances where wiki. And you should feel that a player is over or under performingvery lucky.}}
==3rd For the rest of us who have had some of these problems, the article balance categories should help to minimize, or at least point out, the potential pitfalls. Even if you've never worried about it before and don't particularly feel like worrying about it now, we hope that these levels make it easier for your to identify and 3resolve the actual root of any instances where you feel that a player is over or under performing.5th Edition Balance Points==}}
===Monk Level=3rd and 3.5th Edition=={{sidebar|A man is measured by the strength of his enemies''Note:'' At one point these article balance categories were named for classes.|There are many things that could be Low used to measure the strength of a character. On this wiki we have elected to measure classes by their strength against their enemies and challengesbe called Monk, Moderate was Fighter, High was Rogue, and character options and additions by what they add to a character against his enemies and challengesVery High was Wizard. This comparison is what led to our balance pointsThese terms are no longer used in general, named for classes based on how they compete with the opposition in the game as they rise but may still be present in levelssome older comments.
It ===Low Balance==={{sidebar|A man is important to note that, with respect to classes, these balance levels are not intended to represent measured by the pinnacle strength of a class, nor its minimumhis enemies. They |There are intended many things that could be used to represent an average member measure the strength of the class, one who avoids trap options and builds a competent member of their classcharacter. You can certainly play some of these On this wiki we have elected to measure classes at a lower balance level by intentionally choosing weaker optionstheir strength against their enemies and challenges, and you can occasionally play some of these classes at a higher level by using tricks and optimizing. Attempting to categorize every build of every character is simply impossible, options and we go with a more general approach here.}}This level is named for the [[SRD:Monk|Monk]], who is widely considered additions by what they add to be the weakest of all the core classes. It has extensive multiple attribute dependency and needs to boost several attributes to remain competitive with other classes. It has a slower progression in areas it is supposed to remain competent in than other classes. It has class abilities that counter-synergize with its intended role in the party. It gains significant class features many levels after other classes character against his enemies and monsters have gained them, when the feature is less relevant. Sometimes these class features come with extensive restrictions that keep them from becoming a more useful abilitychallenges. These facets comparisons are common among monk level classes. Monk level material, therefore, is material that does not synergize well with other abilities, offers abilities that are well below those seen by higher powered classes and most monsters for the level they are granted at, progresses substantially more slowly than other classes and the monsters, or offers a small or extremely circumstantial bonus. It also contains most material that is almost entirely fluff, only granting extremely minor benefitswhat led to our balance categories.
Material It is important to note that, with respect to classes, these balance levels are not intended to represent the pinnacle of a class, nor its minimum. They are intended to represent an average member of the class, one who avoids trap options and builds a competent member of their class. You can certainly play some of these classes at a lower balance level by intentionally choosing weaker options, and you can occasionally play some of these classes at a higher level by using tricks and optimizing. Attempting to categorize every build of every character is simply impossible, and we go with a more general approach here.}}This level contains material that is widely considered to be the weakest. Classes in this category will balance range generally have extensive multiple attribute dependency and need to boost several attributes to remain competitive with fighter level material up other classes. They have a slower progression in areas they are supposed to remain competent in when compared to level 9 and other classes. They have class abilities that counter-synergize with rogue their intended role in the party. They gain significant or important class features many levels after other classes and wizard level material, as well as appropriate CR monstershave gained them, up to level 5when the feature is less relevant. Additional levels may be possible Sometimes these class features come with extensive optimization, but after these points the higher category content will likely begin to pull awayrestrictions that keep them from becoming a more useful ability.
Low article balance material, therefore, is material that does not synergize well with other abilities, offers abilities that are well below those seen by higher powered classes and most monsters for the level they are granted at, progresses substantially more slowly than other classes and the monsters, or offers a small or extremely circumstantial bonus. It also contains most material that is almost entirely fluff, only granting extremely minor benefits. Material in this category will remain competitive with moderate level material up to level 8. It should remain competitive with high and very high balance material, as well as appropriate CR monsters, up to level 4. Additional levels may be possible with extensive optimization, but after these points the higher category content will likely begin to pull away.  '''Note:''' This is the lowest level of balance we support on this wiki, as anything with less power basically doesn't play using the same rules. We do not allow any level of balance lower than Monk-level Low on the wiki, and anything weaker than the core monk may will be deleted per wiki [[Project:Deletion Policy|policy]].
Other classes and prestige classes, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Monk level of balance include:
* Most of the feats in the PHB.
For a complete list of articles on this wiki that use the Monk Low Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/BalanceArticle-20Point20Balance/MonkLow|click here]].
===Fighter LevelModerate Balance===This level is named for the [[SRD:Fighter|core Fighter]], who is an extremely competent combatant for the majority of the early game. It has Classes in this balance category generally have sufficient progression in important areas to maintain its their intended role, but lacks often lack significant class features. It gains They may gain sufficient feats to keep abilities fresh and its tricks level CR appropriate for a time, but they eventually begins begin to fall behind monsters who simply acquire new abilities faster than the fighter they can. This level is often restricted in range reach as well, often being melee only or gaining no significant ranged abilities. Similar things will be seen in other fighter level classes. Fighter level material, therefore, is material that is likely competent at low and mid levels against equal CR creatures, is likely sparse in places, and obtains powers that fail to keep up with equal CR opposition or allow them to compete at higher CR encounter ranges.
Material in this category will remain competitive with rogue high level material and appropriate CR monsters up to around level 98, and though it will be passed up by wizard very high level material earlier than that. Additional competitive levels may be possible with extensive optimization, but after these points the higher category content will likely begin to pull away. It Examples of such optimization would include the "chain tripper" fighter. A "spirited charger" fighter, whose primary goal in life is worth noting that many higher CR to wield a lance and use [[SRD:Spirited Charge|Spirited Charge]], with a ''very'' careful magic item selection is fairly competitive, if boring, against monsters can still be used in games at this level simply by not making use of all levels of their abilities. Ranged monsters or spell casters that close to melee to utilize their shiny weapons and allow the melee based fighters to close game and strike them more likely playing at a high balance level than a moderate one.
The high end It is worth noting that many higher CR monsters and balance material can still be used in games at this level simply by not making use of all of this balance point includes their abilities. Ranged monsters or spell casters that close to melee to utilize their shiny weapons and allow the chain tripper Fighter melee based fighters to close and strike them are examples. Similarly, "blaster" wizards who favor direct damage spells. A Spirited Charger Fighter, whose primary goal in life is to wield a lance and use [[SRD:Spirited Charge|Spirited Charge]], who has a ''very'' careful magic item selection is fairly competitive, if boring, against monsters at all levels of the game. A character optimized in such a way is more "heal bot" clerics are likely playing at a low rogue level than a fighter onethis balance range as well.
Other classes and prestige classes, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Fighter moderate level of balance include:
* [[SRD:Barbarian|Barbarian]]
* Hexblade<ref name="complete warrior">[[Publication:Complete Warrior|Complete Warrior]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Weapon Focus|Weapon Focus]]
For a complete list of articles on this wiki that use the Fighter Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/BalanceArticle-20Point20Balance/FighterModerate|click here]].
===Rogue LevelHigh Balance===
This level of balance is named for the [[SRD:Rogue|Rogue]], a class that can perform quite well with the right tricks. Like the fighter, it has sufficient progression in the areas it is intended to cover, but it also gains significant class features which allow them to compete on a roughly even footing with enemies of most CRs. Rogues also have utility abilities which allow them to adjust or influence the narrative of the game, and these abilities do not come at the cost of their combat ability. Material at the rogue level is therefore material that is competent against all CRs, grants significant and timely abilities to deal with equal CR creatures, offers significant and level-appropriate utility, or scales to match creatures in some important aspect. This is not to say that they have abilities against every potential threat, since they may still excel at certain types of encounters and do poorly at others.
* Stormguard Warrior<ref name="tome of battle" />
For a complete list of articles on this wiki that use the Rogue Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/BalanceArticle-20Point20Balance/RogueHigh|click here]].
===Wizard LevelVery High Balance===
The highest level of balance on the wiki is named for the [[SRD:Wizard|Wizard]], a class with substantial potential. The wizard continually gains abilities that allow them to deal with equal CR opposition, but they gain a wider selection of them than other classes do allowing them to deal with a larger range of challenges than some other classes. They may select which abilities they take with them on any given day, tailoring their abilities to their opposition and often winning quickly and easily as a result. They also have substantial plot affecting abilities, allowing them greater control over the story than characters at lower balance levels. Wizard level material is therefore characterized by its strength and versatility, and these combine to make material that often contributes substantially to the flow of an encounter.
* Dragon Wild Shape<ref name="draconomicon">[[Publication:Draconomicon|Draconomicon]]</ref>
For a complete list of articles on this wiki that use the Wizard Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/BalanceArticle-20Point20Balance/WizardVery High|click here]].
===Unquantifiable===
There are a few rare articles on the wiki whose balance is completely unquantifiable. These articles are very rare, and are generally reserved for NPC stuff that PCs won't take because it does not have an effect on any in-game statistic or provide any new options. The best example of such an article is [[Memories of Death (3.5e Feat)|Memories of Death]], whose effect on gameplay cannot be quantified by any means because it's so entirely volatile. Some examples from the SRD include the [[SRD:Leadership|Leadership]] feat, the [[SRD:Planar Binding|Planar Binding]] line of spells, and the [[SRD:Gate|Gate]] spell.
For a complete list of articles on this wiki that are unquantifiable, [[Special:SearchByProperty/BalanceArticle-20Point20Balance/Unquantifiable|click here]].
==4th Edition and 4E Essentials Balance Points==
We do not have balance points for this edition. This is not because there's not a range of balance in this version of Dungeons and Dragons, however. There's a rather wide range of balance levels actually, stretching from poorly selected class builds that don't actually have powers for their primary stats up to yogi-hat rangers who literally can't die and orbizards who literally never let the enemy act. The problem is that the extremely large amount of errata in 4th edition in conjunction with the popularity of the online character builder makes these builds tenuous at best, and the actual power level of the game itself is subject to radical change. Even if we had enough examples to specify what the different balance levels looked like at any given time we wouldn't be reasonably sure that any example would belong in the same level a few months later or that the level itself would even mean the same thing.
As a result, we have very high power classes like the [[Bane Guard (4e Class)|Bane Guard]] along side more standard classes like the [[Songweaver (4e Class)|Song Weaver]] and [[Black Lion (4e Class)|Black Lion]] with no way to indicate which is the higher powered option at first glance. Each author tends to select a similar balance point, however, even if it is different from that of other authors. Because of that , homebrew in this section by different authors with different goals may not be appropriate for different players at the same table, but homebrew by the same author as other material currently in use should be just fine. We strongly recommend that you examine each piece of 4e homebrew with an eye towards what other players in your game will be doing before allowing it into your campaign. And remember, just because it's over or underpowered for your table doesn't mean it's so for the game itself.
==References==
<references />
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