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I can't tell if you're being sarcastic. If not, then no there were no noncombat skills early on. They first appeared in Unearthed Arcana, I believe, as non-weapon proficiences.

Fine by me. I'm just sayin' what I think. It's possible. I wouldn't rule it out. Skill challenges are pre-determined scenarios, which are entirely the antithesis of the game elements--the danger and randomness of traveling between pre-determined scenarios--I was discussing.

Yep. Missed it. I went through the PHB and DMG and missed it. Two pages in the PHB that does actually address activity in real world, non-combat terms. And weather and starvation are discussed, terms of DC checks, on pg 158-9 of the DMG. So I can't say "removed" anymore, although non-combat...

To me, necessary for a DnD remake means the current version is unworkable or unappealing to the current audience. I never saw that as true for 3E. 4E wasn't a simple streamlining of 3E, so I don't see the connection to 2E. When 2E came out, the early books seemed almost unnecessary because...

Non-combat activity is where the characters make the choices that create their own story (not just following the DMs script). The story is where the roleplaying exists. You are right that non-combat activity such as overland travel is not in itself the essence of roleplaying. But it is a...

Yes and no. You're right that a lot of non-combat activity is well suited in other tomes. (And I *am* looking at this situation after seeing 20+ 4E hardbacks released without it.) But.... 1) Non-combat adventuring needs to be covered somewhat in the core books if WOTC intends for...

I started creating my own "5th Edition" just for fun but got bogged down and quit. It was a mixture of everything I enjoyed about all DnD editions. Things I included: Ascending AC Defenses instead of Saving Throws 3E type skill building Powers (for high level characters only, lvl 12+) Multiple...

Wrong, no. Lame and lazy? yeah. Every group I've been in has berated players for such lameness until they came up with something better. The worst we ever endured was a Fighter named Rethgif.

Now that I think of it, for 1E Dragon magazine published at least several dozen character classes (NPCs) that were of little or no use at all in combat. Anyone remember the Cloistered Cleric? Or the Ecology series? Just tons of stuff that didn't involve combat in any way.

BECM is FAR more than just that red box DM's book! Oh my! There is an abundance of non-combat material in the Expert, Companion, and Master sets. And then there are all those Gazetters (14 of them) filled with noncombat material. Plus the Almanacs. 1st Edition had two whole hardbacks...

I guess it all comes down to one's experiences. Most of my gaming experiences were as much about what happens between the fights as the fights themselves. We never just showed up to an encounter. The travel was a big deal. It was a lot like Lord of the Rings. There was incredible danger...

Folks, I'm just flabbergasted that anything I'm saying is the least bit controversial. It's all pretty clear, all in black and white in the 4E books--and I have 23 hardbacks, all the Essential books, and several published adventures. Just pick up, say, the Arcane Power book. Wizards overall...

Two points. 1) Roleplaying is more than just having characters talk in a tavern. You need rules and tables for overland travel, acquiring resources, hiring services, and all the other non-combat activity that is prevelant in any story-based game. 2) Skill challenges help. But when I see how...

"something in combat"... THAT is a good idea. Everybody doing the SAME thing? Not so good. I think 4E got carried away with their at-will structure and turned all the classes basically into the same class with different clothes on. FWIW, I was attracted to 4E because Wizards have something...

You can choose to be offended if it makes you happy. I'm talking about the focus of the product, not what *you* are doing in your game. The empirical evidence (particularly when comparing 4E with early editions, esp 1E/2E/BECM) is overwhelming. When you read the books being made, 4E skips...

IT shouldn't be cheap. DnD is based on medieval economy (manoralism), and land was the basis of that economy. Lords always sought more, not less. And letting land go would have to somehow help the lord in return. Land was a critical part of the feudal political structure too. You can do a...

A thousand HP! I love it! No major villain should ever go down quickly.

My three favorite innovations of 4E: 1. Spellcasters are useful at low levels! I never played a Magic-User before 4E because of lack of things to do early on. 2. Minions! What an ingenious idea. Fodder for low levels. 3. Rituals! Allows arcane spellcasters to study the combat spells...

Grab an old Basic Set and play that. Much easier to learn, and combats don't take forever. If they like it, they'll eventually gravitate to 4E.

That's an analogy that doesn't much help. Ultimate Marvel failed to take hold as the primary continuity. Despite its promise, it never rose above a sideline concept. The regular old continuity is now bigger than ever (thanks to recent mega crossovers). Ultimate Marvel did not draw in all...