Post originally by Samurai at 2003-06-10 20:02:16
Converted from Phorums BB System

I disagree... I think it is a good mechanic, and not unbalancing at all. Character level is not absolutely perfect in determining power level. 1 character may have high ability scores, while another may be below average in nearly everything (assuming you use random ability score generation... we do). 1 character may have rolled very well for HPs, another rolled 1's every time. 1 character may have a dozen powerful magic items from a monty haul campaign, while another is lucky to find even a single potion of healing.

And speaking of magic items, remember that it was WotC that first came up with burning raw XP in exchange for a power-up... Magic Item creation is exactly that! By the end of our last game, our party wizard had created so many potions, wands, rings, etc, he was a full level behind the rest of us in XP... but every character that could use it had his own Wand of Healing, and the rest carried potions. Every character had magic armor, weapons, and ability-boosting items.

I like burning XP for the abilities much better than the "Schools" idea put forth in Mongoose's Quint Fighter... there, you simply get the abilities for free, if you meet the requirements and belong to that school!