[Septimius Severus]

Originally Posted by Squirrelloid

The problem is that arbitrary restrictions hurt nations asymmetrically. Nations who want to take pure scales aren't very effected by having their pretender options limited. Bless nations who happen to get the blesses they want 'in-theme' stay really good.

On the other hand, bless nations who lose access to the bless they want are severely hurt.

Similarly, any nation who needs a rainbow pretender gets the shaft since you seem to have decided its unthematic to use your pretender to diversify. While nations who already have quite diverse magic don't get hurt as badly.

I'd say this makes the min-maxing worse, because there are some nations that are clear winners, and some nations that are clear losers, even moreso than usual (since you generally can't use your pretender to make up for your liabilities with the draconian restrictions imposed).

Good counterpoints Squirrel. But you do sorta make the case for experienced players and the play to win mentality (perhaps the two go hand in hand). Well, I suppose you can't have your whole RPG cake and eat it too (or can you).

There are of course many ways to play and view the game. Many ways to view the nations. I tend not to view players or nations or anything or anyone else as "winners" or "losers" but that is just my naive thinking perhaps.

I think though that with 3 paths instead of two we might capture more of the thematic essence (such as in the 3 realms idea) of many nations and also expand the bless options. And pretender options will be greatly expanded.