Changeover Poll

[Greg K]

I find that a bit facetious, however, because (IME) it's very, very hard to keep that stuff from creeping into your games. Sometimes it's a whole book, sometimes it's only a feat, sometimes it's a couple spells. And then, before you know it, your "core" is 32 books and 17 Dragon articles.

A few random spells and feats from various books is easily handled by collecting them into either a Word or pdf document.

 

[Scribble]

The only difference I see (and this is by no means a positive one) is that 4e requires splats; the core is simply incomplete. Before anyone jumps on me - please realize this is just my opinion.

I see where you're coming from with this, but I have another opinion.

Rather then built to require splats, I think the system was built with the idea that splats are inevitable and the system needs to be able to account for them.

 

[Imaro]

I see where you're coming from with this, but I have another opinion.

Rather then built to require splats, I think the system was built with the idea that splats are inevitable and the system needs to be able to account for them.

Huh? I'm curious, what exactly do you mean by this??

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

The counter to this argument about splats is this: "Dude, if you don't want them in your game, don't use them."

I find that a bit facetious, however, because (IME) it's very, very hard to keep that stuff from creeping into your games.

A few random spells and feats from various books is easily handled by collecting them into either a Word or pdf document.

Just say NO.

Man up. Sheesh.

 

[Wisdom Penalty]

Man up. Sheesh.

No kidding. But I'm a sucker for players and their puppy dog eyes. It stems from my desire for everyone to "maximize" their fun...which usually ends up in making things worse than if I had Just Said No.

I'm starting to think I should spend my money on some self-help books instead of RPG ones. Heh.

There's one born every day -
WP

 

[Wisdom Penalty]

Huh? I'm curious, what exactly do you mean by this??

Not to put words in Scribble's mouth (and I don't necessarily agree with his opinion), but it's certain valid. I think what he's saying is that 4e is built to allow modular expansion, as opposed to previous versions of D&D wherein expansions were added without a similarly logical structure.

So, in other words, there are (I'm assuming) general "buckets" of guidelines as to how powerful a certain level monster or power should be. If one stays within these stakes, the thought goes, the game's balance is not thrown off-whack, as as been done in the past.

There's two problems with this:

(1) If true, these stakes have seemingly curtailed the imagination of expansion powers. Powers push, pull, slide, etc. targets ad infinitum. We're lacking the really cool, unique powers that differentiate themselves from the existing carnations.

(2) We, as the tinkering community of gamers that we are, should be privy to these boundaries (if they exist).

WP

 

[FallenTabris]

I don't think the need for splats is anything other than simple demographics. Players outnumber DMs anywhere from 3 to 7 against 1. Of course there is going to be more books oriented towards players. It makes sense that there should be releases geared towards the majority of the fanbase. And multiple optional rules additions for character creation won't destroy the game. It keeps it fresh and evolving so there is more distance between releases of a new edition.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

No kidding. But I'm a sucker for players and their puppy dog eyes. It stems from my desire for everyone to "maximize" their fun...which usually ends up in making things worse than if I had Just Said No.

Well, yeah.

Thank goodness 4e gives you permission to own your game again, huh?

Who would have guessed that the most revolutionary design in 4e was a new set of balls for gelded DMs.

I'm starting to think I should spend my money on some self-help books instead of RPG ones. Heh.

Pretty much.

No offense intended, WP. Consider this "tough love."

 

[DaveMage]

The counter to this argument about splats is this: "Dude, if you don't want them in your game, don't use them."

I find that a bit facetious, however, because (IME) it's very, very hard to keep that stuff from creeping into your games. Sometimes it's a whole book, sometimes it's only a feat, sometimes it's a couple spells. And then, before you know it, your "core" is 32 books and 17 Dragon articles.

Not to mention the fact that the latest splats build off of other splats and if you don't have those splats then you are buying a product that you may not be able to fully use.

 

[Greg K]

Just say NO.

Man up. Sheesh.

I already do that. I allow very little non-core WOTC material outside of some UA options. I am even very picky about 3pp material - even Bad Axe material is not found in my current game (of course, when I give Grim Tales a try, that will be another story) ;P