9,988
edits
Changes
m
''Note:'' {{sidebar|Alternate Balance Category Names|At one point these article balance categories were named for classes. Low used to be called Monk, Moderate was Fighter, High was Rogue, and Very High was Wizard. These terms are no longer used in general, but may still be present in some older comments.}}There are many things that could be used to measure the strength of a character. On this wiki we have elected to measure classes by their strength against their enemies and challenges, and character options and additions by what they add to a character against his enemies and challenges. These comparisons are what led to our balance categories. 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.
{{sidebar|A man is measured by the strength of his enemies.|There are many things that could be used to measure the strength of a character. On this wiki we have elected to measure classes by their strength against their enemies and challenges, and character options and additions by what they add to a character against his enemies and challenges. These comparisons are what led to our balance categories. 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 balance range generally have extensive multiple attribute dependency and need to boost several attributes to remain competitive with other classes. They have a slower progression in areas they are supposed to remain competent in when compared to other classes. They have class abilities that counter-synergize with their intended role in the party. They gain significant or important class features many levels after other classes 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 ability.
Other classes Classes and prestige classes, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Monk low level of balance include:
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 Classes in this category have sufficient numerical progression in the areas it is they are intended to cover, but it also gains gain significant class features which allow them to compete on a roughly even footing with enemies of most CRs. Rogues also Most have some 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 high 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 however, and they may still will likely excel at certain types of encounters and do poorly at others.
Other classes Classes and prestige classes, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Wizard very high level of balance include:
As This is not because there's not a resultrange of balance in this version of Dungeons and Dragons, 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 glancehowever. Each author tends to select There's a similar rather wide range of balance point, howeverlevels actually, even if it is different stretching from poorly selected class builds that of other authorsdon't actually have powers for their primary stats up to yogi-hat rangers who literally can't die and orbizards who never let the enemy act. Because The problem is that the extremely large amount of that, homebrew errata in 4th edition in this section by different authors conjunction with different goals may not be appropriate for different players the popularity of the online character builder makes these builds tenuous at the same tablebest, but homebrew by and the same author as other material currently in use should be just fine. We strongly recommend that you examine each piece actual power level of 4e homebrew with an eye towards what other players in your the game will be doing before allowing it into your campaignitself is subject to radical change. And rememberEven if we had enough examples to specify what the different balance levels looked like at any given time, just because itwe wouldn's over t be reasonably sure that any example would belong in the same level a few months later or underpowered for your table doesn't that the level itself would even mean it's so for the game itselfsame thing.
→Low Balance
{{Dungeons and Dragons Wiki:Getting Started Header}}
{{tocright}}
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 articles will list a general ''category'' of balance. These categories are described heredepending on the sorts of power levels that the game supports. It should be said right off that no balance category is better or worse than any other, the only right one is the one that works for your game and your playstyle. Each category contains a number of classes, prestige classes, and character options published by Wizards of the Coast to provide further examples of material within 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.
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 categories are an attempt to place homebrew works on this site in a greater context. If an article is listed as having a particular article balance, we believe it is best matched with other material in that 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 material overall.
==3rd and 3.5th Edition==
===Low Balance===
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.
'''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 Low on the wiki, and anything weaker will be deleted per wiki [[Project:Deletion Policy|policy]].
* Healer<ref name="miniatures handbook">[[Publication:Miniatures Handbook|Miniatures Handbook]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Monk|Monk]]
* [[SRD:Ranger|Ranger]] (TWF builds)
* Samurai<ref name="complete warrior">[[Publication:Complete Warrior|Complete Warrior]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Soulknife|Soulknife]]
Some feats, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Monk low level of balance include:
* [[SRD:Alertness|Alertness]] as well as most other skill bonus feats.
* [[SRD:Combat Casting|Combat Casting]]
* Most of the feats in the PHB.
For a complete list of low balance articles on this wiki that use the Low Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/Article-%20Balance/Low|click here]].
===Moderate Balance===
Classes in this balance category generally have sufficient numerical progression in important areas to maintain their intended role, but often lack significant class features. They may gain sufficient feats to keep abilities fresh and its tricks CR appropriate for a time, but they eventually begin to fall behind monsters who simply acquire new abilities faster than they can. This level is often restricted in reach as well, often being melee only or gaining no significant ranged abilities.
Material in this category will remain competitive with high level material and appropriate CR monsters up to around level 8, though it will be passed up by 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. Examples of such optimization would include the "chain tripper" fighter. A "spirited charger" fighter, whose primary goal in life is 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 at all levels of the game and more likely playing at a high balance level than a moderate one.
* [[SRD:Barbarian|Barbarian]]
* Hexblade<ref name="complete warrior">[[Publication:Complete Warrior|Complete Warrior]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Fighter|Fighter]]
* Scout<ref name="complete adventurer">[[Publication:Complete Adventurer|Complete Adventurer]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Ranger|Ranger]] (Bow builds)
* Warmage<ref name="complete arcane">[[Publication:Complete Arcane|Complete Arcane]]</ref>
Some feats, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Fighter moderate level of balance include:
* [[SRD:Power Attack|Power Attack]]
* [[SRD:Weapon Focus|Weapon Focus]]
For a complete list of moderate balance articles on this wiki that use the Fighter Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/Article-20Balance/Moderate|click here]].
===High Balance===
Material in this category can remain competitive against appropriate CR monsters over all levels of the game, and can generally be optimized for play with unoptimized wizard level very high content. It should be said that rogue high level material only really stays rogue high level material if it is played to its strengths, however, and classes at this level that select lower powered abilities or fail to make efficient use of their abilities can quite easily perform at a lower balance level. A single weapon rogue who relies on flanking for their sneak attack is likely playing the game at a fighter moderate level, for example. On the other hand, a two-handed flask throwing rogue who gets sneak attack all of the time without flanking and makes substantial use of Use Magic Device while carrying a large assortment of wands is likely playing the game at a low wizard near the bottom of the very high level.
This level of balance category can also be called the [[Project:Same Game Test|Same Game Test]] level, as the Rogue corresponds most classes correspond to an approximately 50/50 matchup on that balance guideline. Note that this balance guideline is depreciated, however, due to repeated and unsolved arguments regarding the role of equipment and build specificity.
Other classes and prestige classes, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Rogue High level of balance include:
* [[SRD:Bard|Bard]]
* Crusader<ref name="tome of battle">[[Publication:Tome of Battle|Tome of Battle]]</ref>
* Duskblade<ref name="player's handbook ii">[[Publication:Player's Handbook II|Player's Handbook II]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Psychic Warrior|Psychic Warrior]]
* [[SRD:Rogue|Rogue]]
* Swordsage<ref name="tome of battle" />
* Warblade<ref name="tome of battle" />
* Warlock<ref name="complete arcane" />
Some feats, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Rogue High level of balance include:
* Combat Brute<ref name="complete warrior" />
* Leap Attack<ref name="complete adventurer">[[Publication:Complete Adventurer|Complete Adventurer]]</ref>
* Stormguard Warrior<ref name="tome of battle" />
For a complete list of high balance articles on this wiki that use the Rogue Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/Article-20Balance/High|click here]].
===Very High Balance===
The highest level of balance on the wiki is named reserved for the [[SRD:Wizard|Wizard]], a class classes with substantial potential. The wizard These classes continually gains gain abilities that allow them to deal with equal CR oppositionlike classes in the high category, but they gain a wider selection of them than other classes do allowing them to . They can therefore deal with a larger range of challenges than some other classes, or deal with some threats super hard. They may Many classes in this range 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 Very high balance material is therefore characterized by its strength and versatility, and these combine to make material that often contributes substantially to , if not outright determines, the flow of an encounter.
It is important to note that classes from this level does not include people who have their wizards can be played at a much lower level, such as having a wizard prepare spells like [[SRD:Magic Missile|Magic Missile]] and [[SRD:Lightning Bolt|Lightning Bolt]]. These are a perfectly appropriate selection of spells, but the direct damage spells do not keep up with equal CR opposition, and preparing them is considered to be a fighter level moderate tactic. Players playing in this way are doing so at the fighter a moderate balance level, which is why you can get away with wizards in fighter Moderate level games without continuous overshadowing. Material listed in this category assumes that players will be using tactical spells like [[SRD:Color Spray|Color Spray]] and [[SRD:Stinking Cloud|Stinking Cloud]] and will otherwise make optimal spell and tactical decisions that often end or decide the battle with one spell, if not avoid it entirely. This is an important distinction to make, as spell selection and play style will impact which material you allow or disallow.
Material at this balance level will generally pull away from lower level material as early as mid levels simply because they have more answers to challenges. Optimized wizard Very High level material may lead to characters who always have an answer for any equal CR challenge, and who face challenges above their CR as a result. Characters and creatures who have a near 0 chance of loss, like The Wish, The Word, or Pun-Pun are not included in this category, having surpassed it.
Note that the Wizard very high level should '''not''' be considered "overpowered" or a "badge of shame", as some have referred to itin the past. It is, like the rest of our balance levels, a perfectly acceptable balance point to use , leads to games that are playable (if different from their lower balance brethren), and is used for many items on this wiki.
* Artificer<ref name="eberron campaign setting">[[Publication:Eberron Campaign Setting|Eberron Campaign Setting]]</ref>
* Archivist<ref name="heroes of horror">[[Publication:Heroes of Horror|Heroes of Horror]]</ref>
* [[SRD:Psion|Psion]]
* [[SRD:Sorcerer|Sorcerer]]
* [[SRD:Wizard|Wizard]]
Some feats, published by Wizards of the Coast, that can be considered around the Wizard very high level of balance include:
* Divine Metamagic<ref name="complete divine">[[Publication:Complete Divine|Complete Divine]]</ref>
* Dragon Wild Shape<ref name="draconomicon">[[Publication:Draconomicon|Draconomicon]]</ref>
For a complete list of very high balance articles on this wiki that use the Wizard Level of balance, [[Special:SearchByProperty/Article-20Balance/Very High-20High|click here]].
===UnquantifiableBalance===There are a few rare articles on the wiki whose balance is completely unquantifiable. These Most of these articles are very rarethose that give you the option to make an additional selection, and are thus dependent on the balance of the selection itself. Leadership falls into this category because of its cohort. Many of these articles 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/Article-20Balance/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 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]] alongside 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 />
