Dude! I know what you mean. I remember the amorphous days of AD&D where we could just run up to the bad guy, cast a fireball, and not worry about hitting your fighter that was tangling with him anyway!
Those were the days!
I have looked through the 4E PHB and I must say I am not impressed. It simply doesn't feel like D&D. I am an old-school dude/geek who played AD&D way back in high school. Hell, I still have my original copy of the 3-booklet boxed set (really old school!). I have rolled through three and a...