People either like his art regardless of source or hate it.What did people think about Wayne Reynolds doing the art for both 4E and Pathfinder?
I think people were ready for something. They were far more secretive with 4e than they've been with 5e. So few actually saw AEDU all that early. They did have some early books on philosophy that I found myself disagreeing with a lot but then forgot that fact and I bought in heavily anyway.Hey guys,
1. How did everybody (or most people) here react to the news of a new edition in the first place? Excitement or trepidation? Didn't 3.5 still have a good amount of momentum in 2007? Or were people ready for an overhaul?
Not impressive.2. How impressive were the early sneak peeks? Were people shocked at some of the changes from the get go? Or were people who didn't like the new game mostly blindsided once they picked up the core books?
I believe it had it's effect but it's way overrated by 4e fans many of whom think many Pathfinder players would have went to 4e otherwise. I do think there is a divide in the community and I doubt any edition of D&D could fully heal it. Many who abandoned 4e early hate wotc and won't come back.3. I see that that having the option of playing "Pathfinder" fragmented the fanbase somewhat. Was that a good thing or bad thing for this forum? Or did it have a minimal effect at all?
I think certain mechanics in 4e were widely hailed as good. The xp approach to encounter building for one. The ease of monster creation.4. What else was noteworthy about 4E? Was there some product that was particularly awesome or infamous?
Pathfinder is essentially Wizards of the Coast having forged the weapon that then cut off it's arm. You're probably aware of the OGL, which gives anything released under it to anyone and everyone to use in perpetuity. Much of the 3rd Edition system was flat out given away in the d20 SRD, and Paizo used it create a game that's basically an extension of 3.5, with many of its strengths and shortcomings in tact. Like anything in nerd culture, tribes sprung up around products, no different than Sega vs Nintendo console wars, and it did get pretty... bitter.3. I see that that having the option of playing "Pathfinder" fragmented the fanbase somewhat. Was that a good thing or bad thing for this forum? Or did it have a minimal effect at all?
The most noteworthy thing about is the staggering amount of misinformation and hastily-formed opinions about it. That's not to say it's perfect or that everyone who dislikes it 'just didn't get it', but if you stumble upon an angry screed or two on the internet, don't take them at face value.4. What else was noteworthy about 4E? Was there some product that was particularly awesome or infamous?
I think for the *most* part it was unwelcome. Personally, I was done with 3E and loved what was being talked baout by Wizards. Of course, only some of it came to fruition. There was a bad reaction by a lot of people to the preview video which focused on particularly notorioius aspects of the 3.5 system (grapple etc.). As diplomatically as I can, I will say that the video was not, by many people, taken in the spirit it was intended. As you can see by the posts on this thread, the history has now been constructed that Wizards only knew how to market 4E by telling us how bad 3E was, which is false.1. How did everybody (or most people) here react to the news of a new edition in the first place? Excitement or trepidation? Didn't 3.5 still have a good amount of momentum in 2007? Or were people ready for an overhaul?
It took a loooong time for actual mechanics to be released, I remember that much, but I don't recall the reaction to them. The "making of" preview books were excellent, I thought, despite that annoying "visiting the fairies" line which became the rallying-cry for seemingly every disaffected D&D player in the world.2. How impressive were the early sneak peeks? Were people shocked at some of the changes from the get go? Or were people who didn't like the new game mostly blindsided once they picked up the core books?
In the early days it was a nightmare, but now..? I think we mostly just get along. It doubtless helps that 5E bears so juch similarity to AD&D/3E.3. I see that that having the option of playing "Pathfinder" fragmented the fanbase somewhat. Was that a good thing or bad thing for this forum? Or did it have a minimal effect at all?
Well, I loved 4E for the longest time. Its most noteworthy feature to me was its encapsulation of table realities. Short Rests, Long Rests, Healing Surges, those were all responses to how my games played themselves out in the 3E era. It was incredibly brave (many would say foolish) to spin out a whole new design the way they did. Second to that was the separation of PC and monster rules, and the joy of monster and encounter design. These features were peerless IMO.4. What else was noteworthy about 4E? Was there some product that was particularly awesome or infamous?
Opposed to a trickster rogue daggermaster demigod dune trader?and I break out into a rash when I see a single character described like, "Battle Sorcerer 4 / Paladin of Slaughter 2 / Abjurant Champion 5 / Spellsword 1 / Eldritch Knight 8," so fair's fair.
I break out into a rash when I see a single character described like, "Battle Sorcerer 4 / Paladin of Slaughter 2 / Abjurant Champion 5 / Spellsword 1 / Eldritch Knight 8," so fair's fair.
... yes? Absolutely? In your example, you have the normal parts of building a 21st level character, with class, build, theme, paragon path, and epic destiny. For 5e, you have race, subrace, class, subclass, background by 3rd level - Hill dwarf folk hero champion great weapon fighter - and maybe multiclassing down the road (which is too bad).Opposed to a trickster rogue daggermaster demigod dune trader?
I'll manage. I'm likewise glad I'm not running any systems where "handling" that is somehow considered a strength.I've never seen a character that would justify such a complex build. But if I did I'm glad I've got a system that can handle it. I'm very sorry that your skin condition limits your options.
Speaking for myself, 4e is when D&D finally fulfilled the promises it had been making to me since 1982.