Feat or Spell Research

[Kangleton]

If it isn't already the case, I think it'd be cool for characters to RP researching new abilities or spells in a combination of IG and forum RP. It would add a new dimension of RP available to the scholarly character who does more research than he does fighting, and so he'd be able to learn a few new things without grinding on goblins. RP would yield rewards that senseless grinding never could.

If this is already the case, I think it should be written up in detail. What things can and cannot be researched? What are the OOC restrictions and guidelines a player needs to abide by to succeed?

[Kaeldorn]

This would be very difficult to manage fairly. If it's under DM supervision it's liable to generate favoritism and unequal rewards (even if unintended), and if it were mechanically granted then people who only really look to obtain the powers in a way as efficient as possible would get them regardless of RP.

Now the former wouldn't be all that bad if it didn't add up, but it does. Someone who ends up lucky will get these special rewards and still isn't prohibited from gaining the ordinary level 20 levels/abilities from grinding. Unlike with equipment, you never have to change anything out to get one of these bonus feats. It would effectively function as an additional way to progress post 20. Personally I'd not opt for that unless it were to become the only way to progress post 20 (i.e. no epic levels)

Also.. researching absolutely custom spells/abilities is out of the question. Each of those would have to be custom scripted for one person to use, and the time that goes into that could be better spent elsewhere.