What template was he using before?

This as well. Because while a more diverse set of abilities would be cool, if you make it too diverse, everyone suddenly becomes a jack of all trades, master of many and that feels boring.

Very much this. It even feels very “rogueish” to employ that strategy and it’s far from broken, so I don’t see why you would ban it.

Not in my presence at least. I’m moreso mocking the meme format, as people keep using it whenever someone brings up that their build only works with thing x. I’ve seen it with free feats, smites, 1 level dips, specific feats, magic items, …

Some of those takes were reasonable. Some were not. And while the format was made to criticise overreliance on one thing, I feel like it’s sometimes used too easily. Relying on an abilities is not bad in itself. Some builds only work because of abilities. And while it’s fair to bring up that it’s a bit one dimensional, that doesn’t invalidate the build.

I’m afraid I never played the module. What’s down there?

Pretty much, yes. I also think it’s not necessary for characters not to become better in all abilities even as the game goes on, but I generally like that characters typically continue to have weaknesses as they level up. Th unfortunate part is that those weaknesses are a lot less punishing for some classes then for other.

How did it come to that?

Definetly. Though some role-players might find it annoying that it creates the impression that your character just eventually becomes decent at everything.

I think I don’t get the “plausible deniability” thing.

Great comic by the way. I just read up some things about Durnan and was really happy to see him here.

First Pete Complete now Ahdok. Why is everyone getting married these days?

Okay I didn’t even consider those two. I don’t get how casting it one more time after you fail would help though, it why failing would help in general.

Only if they somehow got access to the spell.

Or that. I think it stills leaves room for Shenanigans though.

Ah I see. But farfetched, but I get it.

Hm. Then I don’t see the connection to this meme. Maybe I’m just stupid though.

Ah I see. I was talking 2014, but yeah the means you have to make use of some other loopholes.

Good one. I also noticed that this version of imprisonment makes you immune against every instance of the spell for 24 hours. So a paranoid BBEG might just have underlings (like some divination wizards) to buff the hell out of them in the morning, then use something like another servant or a glyph of warding to trigger a casting of the spell to make themselves immune for the day. Incredibly unnecessary, but very funny.

But yes I think “high likelihood” really makes what was a situational spell into a very boring spell to use for players. You’re better off just killing the target now, as killing them permanently is more reliable.

Okay. Giving it a second thought I think specifically giving them the ability to increase one of the mental stats may be a good idea, so long as the philosophy is that they can be as good at it as casters and not just not horrible. Maybe giving them the choice of boosting all ability-Checks and saving throws of one of those by 1 every ASI, but under the premise that this + the stat bonus doesn’t exceed 5.

Oh so nice to hear you decided to take this step. I wish you lots of success and fun doing this as your work. Maybe try to avoid getting a burnout over it (that’s what I found to happen frequently when people start freelancing their hobby).

I think the last one is not really necessary. Characters having flaws is part of the design philosophy. Martials actually have a small advantage here as it is easier for them to build around their most important abilitiescores.