I've DMed 4e and I PREFER DMing: A poll

[Kralin Thornberry]

I prefer to DM 4E because it allows me more freedom. I can say "go ahead and try" and not "what does the skill say?"

I enjoyed 3.x for a while, but it was too restrictive due to all the rules (when I played, I would actually look up what I was thinking of doing in my Rules Compendium before hand), now it's just go ahead and try.

 

[Lancelot]

I've DM'ed various versions, on average, once per week for 27 years.

Hypothetically, I'd love to run BECMI D&D again as a one-off or short campaign - although I doubt any of my playing groups would be interested in returning to it.

Other than that, it's 4e all the way. I'd never return to 3e as a DM. After running all of Shackled City, Age of Worms and (most of) Savage Tide, I was completely burned out. Kyuss alone nearly killed me - 4 pages of stats for what was, in essence, a 5-round fight. A 5-round fight that took nearly 2 hours to play out.

He never even got to use his flare or read magic spells, or his Use Rope modifier of +46 (+48 with bindings), or...

 

[Piratecat]

I've run every system since 1e, and so far I substantially prefer running 4e. I'm not sure if I'd prefer playing it over 3.5; I have been a player enough times to be sure. But as a DM? It's a win for me hands down.

 

[FriarRosing]

If 3rd Edition or 4th edition are my only choices, I'd definitely go with 4th. I thought that as soon as I'd played it. In all of the D&D I've played, though, I may prefer a Rules Cyclopedia game. It's just so free form and effortless.

 

[Pbartender]

At one time or another, I've DMed practically everything and the kitchen sink.

As far as D&D goes, 4E is my favorite edition to DM, with 1E AD&D being a close second for nostalgic reasons.

 

[AngryMojo]

I'm firmly in the 4th edition DM category. I've run plenty of 3.X, and I've got a lot of love for it, but holy crap did it get overwhelming by the end.

 

[smdmcl]

I'm DMing 4th edition now and I've been a DM in every edition since the basic books and the only edition I wouldn't DM again is 3rd edition. That's not much of a change for me though as I'd pretty much given up on being a DM very early in the 3rd edition era.

3rd editions emphasis on rules for everything really turned me off. Earlier editions were more free-form which allowed a player to decide to try something and the DM to be the judge but there were many different subsets of rules a DM (and player) had to be comfortable with. 4th edition is, in my opinion, the best blend of uniform rules and free-form play I have experienced so far.

 

[hailstop]

I seriously was starting to think about going back to 2e just before the juicy details about 4e came out.

 

[catsclaw227]

I've DMed just about every edition of D&D in the past 30+ years and I prefer DMing 4e hands down over the other systems. Admittedly, though, without the DDI my preference wouldn't be so absolute.

I will never, EVER DM a 3.5 high level game (15th+) again. It seemed to require 2x more time to prepare for than to play.

 

[beldar1215]

I much prefer DM'ing 4th. I was running the Age of Worms adventure path and could not wait for it to be over. It was getting to be more of a chore than it was worth. We had a near TPK in the second to last adventure. I almost danced a little jig, because I didn't have to run 3.5 anymore!!! I have no intention to ever run in 3.5 again.

Beldar