D&D General How would you redo 4e?

[GMforPowergamers]

There's actually two potential projects:

1. A redo of 4e that's for the fans of 4e.
2. A redo of 4e that's more for bridging the gap between people who enjoyed 4e and those you tried it, didn't hate it, but still felt it wasn't for them.

I'd definitely check out 2 over 1, but that's just me. Could have a team for each project really as they'd both have a potential audience.

I have the 4e books. I CAN in theory run a 4e game right now. I would mostly be intrested in fixin 4e issues and getting new players to buy in... so I would go with 2

Adv/disadv and concentration (but not just for spells) are both 5e things I would take.
2e HPs being WAY lower but front load them like 4e did
use HD as surges as a mix between 4e and 5e.
You could make prof 1+ 1/3 level and non prof 1/4 level instead of just adding 1/2 level (although I like the half level with +2 for prof)

and instead of everyone getting the exact same A/E/D/U power set I would mix it up a little but base the average off the 5e warlock (2 subclasses that you can mix and match 'encounter; a few at will then short rest recharge slots with powers known and small mini feats the class can choose 'invocations' and at high level a few big daily powers 'high arcanum'

 

[Vaalingrade]

Adv/disadv and concentration (but not just for spells) are both 5e things I would take.

Please not as basically the only mechanic.

When Pathfinder invented it, it was a sometimes food and a sometimes food it should have remained.

And instead of everyone getting the exact same A/E/D/U power set

Everyone gets A/E

Make the workday variable.

 

[RhaezDaevan]

I have the 4e books. I CAN in theory run a 4e game right now. I would mostly be intrested in fixin 4e issues and getting new players to buy in... so I would go with 2

Adv/disadv and concentration (but not just for spells) are both 5e things I would take.
2e HPs being WAY lower but front load them like 4e did
use HD as surges as a mix between 4e and 5e.
You could make prof 1+ 1/3 level and non prof 1/4 level instead of just adding 1/2 level (although I like the half level with +2 for prof)

and instead of everyone getting the exact same A/E/D/U power set I would mix it up a little but base the average off the 5e warlock (2 subclasses that you can mix and match 'encounter; a few at will then short rest recharge slots with powers known and small mini feats the class can choose 'invocations' and at high level a few big daily powers 'high arcanum'

Intriguing ideas. Warlock definitely isn't my favourite class in 5e, but as a retool of 4e it could be a decent blueprint.

So, as a start, what might a 1st level Fighter look like under this new model? Then move on to the other "big 4" classes if you have the time.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Intriguing ideas. Warlock definitely isn't my favourite class in 5e, but as a retool of 4e it could be a decent blueprint.

So, as a start, what might a 1st level Fighter look like under this new model? Then move on to the other "big 4" classes if you have the time.

a GMforpowergamers 6e fighter looks like this:

you have 3d10 as HD and you max 2 (20) and roll or take 6 for the third (with optional rules to roll all three or max all three or anywhere between)

you pick a linage and a background and stats... but we are skipping all this for class.

you would pick your 1st subclass (although I might name teh level 1 and level 3 subclass something else maybe theme for one) like the patron it is a background fighter thing... what you were trained as
Sentinal (guard) Slayer (striker) Marshal (leader) and you open some new abilities with it and get some cool things

You have a list of 10ish at will exploits... (cantrips) maybe half of them are straight up combat... (maybe trip attack, push attack, 1 bse attack and off hand attack, at least 1 has to be a mental attack maybe some kind of intimidation thing). but the others should be exploration and social... but you ONLY pick 2 now and 4 or 5 by level 20... they scale though at levels 5 11 and 17

You then have a list of 1st level short rest exploits (like spells) and we can totally take the 1st level fighter feature and slot this in easy "Second wind... spend a encounter resource as a bonus action to regain 1d10+level hps.


TBH a 1st level fighter might look the same more or less as one now... 1/short rest second wind, maybe take a fightying style and make it break into two atwills BUT you have the choose, maybe instead of second wind you choose other things... maybe a tide of iron push or a brute strike that just deals more damage...

 

[James Gasik]

Please not as basically the only mechanic.

When Pathfinder invented it, it was a sometimes food and a sometimes food it should have remained.

Everyone gets A/E

Make the workday variable.

I thought 4e invented advantage with the Avenger?

 

[Voidmoji]

A variation of 4e that used advantage and disadvantage in the same manner as 5e is not a game I would purchase or run. 4e has a problem with too many small modifiers at times. I don't feel like the solution of no modifiers would work with a more tactical system such as 4e.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I thought 4e invented advantage with the Avenger?

PF came out before the Avenger and had a number of races that got advantage on something.

 

[Undrave]

A variation of 4e that used advantage and disadvantage in the same manner as 5e is not a game I would purchase or run. 4e has a problem with too many small modifiers at times. I don't feel like the solution of no modifiers would work with a more tactical system such as 4e.

I'd just make all modifiers the same value and just have you keep track of your bonuses with physical counter Same for numerical penalties. they would cancel each other out too.

 

[MichaelSomething]

I would enhance the role playing by creating dozens of unique subsystems for various non combat things. Wanna be a bee keeper? Run an item shop? Engage in romance? Subsystems baby!

 

[Voidmoji]

I'd just make all modifiers the same value and just have you keep track of your bonuses with physical counter Same for numerical penalties. they would cancel each other out too.

As is happens, that’s exactly what I do in The Fantasy Engine, my 4e-inspired game. All situational modifiers are either Boons (+2 to skill ranks) or Banes (+2 to difficulty). They cancel each other or before being applied. Boon 3 + Bane 2 is Boon 1, for example.

Things that impact rolls continuously, such as proficiency and equipment bonuses work normally, since you just note them down once for most rolls.

I actually use some Fantasy Flight generic game tokens to track stuff in RPGs, even when I’m playing over Roll20, and so using them for this would be easy, especially due to their different colors.