Any news out of PAX East?

[Thraug]

I haven't been able to find any discussion threads on PAX East. I know it's only 1 day in but I thought there would be some news coming out of this con. Anyone have any threads/links to news items?

 

[lkj]

Well, the NDA'd playtest was last night. And they just finished the panel. There's a fair bit of twitter chatter from people covering the panel, but, being twitter, it's pretty bare bones.

I expect you'll see some write ups before the day is done.

AD

 

[techno]

Campaign settings as modules that can alter core rules.
Grids and minis optional in the core.
Will not let the wizard overpower martial classes.
About 20% done and on 4th iteration of DND Next.
Perception will be an ability check.
Focus on non-combat roles and abilities returning.
Giving more power back to the DM.
Unusual classes may be better as option for core classes.
Bringing back step-by-step adventure creation instructions.
Focus on shorter games.
Skill challenges not in core.
No info on public playtest date.

 

[jeffh]

The latest example of WotC's tendency to say "We want to do X. And in order to do that, we're going to do not-X". "We're going to do a huge, open, public playtest. And in order to do that, we're going to play our cards even closer to our chest than we did in developing the last two editions."

 

[Keefe the Thief]

The latest example of WotC's tendency to say "We want to do X. And in order to do that, we're going to do not-X". "We're going to do a huge, open, public playtest. And in order to do that, we're going to play our cards even closer to our chest than we did in developing the last two editions."

Seriously, what did you expect? There is a closed playtest and the on-site playtest at the conventions. Both include an NDA - and while those two are going on, nothing else is going to happen. That's how every playtest works.

 

[BryonD]

Focus on shorter games.

I've seen this a few time now and it has me thinking.

I doubt I will be a huge fan of a game that is built with that as a "focus".
But that focus may very well be a strong part of making it be a game I'm not a fan of and also be the biggest version of D&D ever....

 

[Blackwarder]

I think the focuse is on the advantures as the building block of the game so if, for example, in 4e a three hour gaming meeting will be one huge combat in D&DNext you will be able to fit an entire advantures in that three hour window.

In essence the "encounters" are getting bigger and exploring an entire level of a dungeon is built as being part of the same "encounter".

Warder

 

[GX.Sigma]

Longer games will be possible whether they focus on it or not.

Shorter games will be impossible unless they focus on shorter games.

In other news, WotC has stated that the panel will be on YouTube in the next week.

 

[BryonD]

Longer games will be possible whether they focus on it or not.

Shorter games will be impossible unless they focus on shorter games.

I agree with the first statement. But still can easily see how it may not do as good of a job. Again, it must be BETTER than what I already have.

I don't agree with the second point at all. "One shot" adventures have been a staple of D&D for decades without a focus on "short" in the underlying system.

 

[GX.Sigma]

I agree with the first statement. But still can easily see how it may not do as good of a job. Again, it must be BETTER than what I already have.

I don't agree with the second point at all. "One shot" adventures have been a staple of D&D for decades with a focus on "short".

The following is an honest question that I ask completely without irony: Have you played much 4th Edition?