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Personally, I think they're both primarily gamist systems. 3E is a gamist system with leanings toward simulationism. 4E is a gamist system with leanings toward narrativism (especially when you incorporate the advice given in the DMG2). I would consider classic (pre-3E) D&D to be more...

I don't really know which "side" are jerkier, but let me interject with my own personal anecdote.... I used to be on this dating website. Saw a girl on there, said on her profile she played D&D. I'm thinking, "Oh, neat. This chick's into D&D, too. That basically never happens." (at least in my...

Everyone brings up the DMG2 (which is a great resource for skill challenges), but I have found that SWSE's "Galaxy of Intrigue" to be just as useful for fleshing out skill challenges. It introduces a new mechanic --- or, to be more accurate, formalizes a new mechanic that is hinted at in the...

Yeah, I'm very similar myself --- I'm usually afraid of "wasting" a daily early in the day, so I often end up just not using them most of the time. Like I said, I abandoned this particular idea for my healing surges and daily power recharges houserule. By making extended rests less enticing and...

I once played around with this idea at my games: When the PCs reach a milestone, they gain a +1 milestone bonus on all encounter and daily power attack rolls as well as attack rolls triggered by spending action points. This bonus increases by +1 for each additional milestone they reach that...

I do something similar to this in my games. When characters take an extended rest, they regain 1d4 healing surges and can make a saving throw to recover any daily powers they have expended. Whenever they reach a milestone, they gain all the benefits of an extended rest but it doesn't count...

Hi Thalmin, By chance do you know what the thief's "weapon finesse" class feature actually does?? Thanks. =)

Hi Greg, There are three points I would add here. 1) All of what you described could be seen as at-will attack powers. I'm sure you have also seen particularly difficult or complicated maneuvers that any given "fighter" (I'm assuming you're talking about mixed martial artists here or something...

Hi Nikosandros, Well, that is something of a moot point because if the Stormwarden is any indication, there are TWF encounter and daily powers, as well. It also seems to be keyed to Strength, not Dexterity. Personally, I'm less concerned with "builds" than I am with "character concepts". If...

Hi Nikosandros, Dungeons & Dragons is a class-based game. Your class is important to you. Most of the options available to you are determined by your class. In 3E, nearly all of the faux "general" combat options like disarming, tripping, two-weapon fighting, and so on were dependent on...

Hi Nikosandros, This is true. However, it brings up an another point. Of the characters that actually used TWF in 3E, how many had more than one level in Ranger, Rogue, or Swashbuckler?? You could attempt it with a Fighter or Barbarian, but you'd have to keep your Dexterity reasonably high...

Pawsplay, The nitojutsu of the Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu is built around using a katana in one's main hand and a wakizashi in one's off hand. It is hardly the same as wielding two longswords at the same time. Furthermore, much like the so-called "Florentine" style of fencing the entire premise of...

From the Human Wizard sheet: Human Bonuses: One extra at-will power, feat, trained skill, +1 to Fortitude, Reflex, and Will defenses (already included). Wow. Just wow. We already know humans get a +2 bonus to any ability score of their choice, too. My fist character in 4E is so going to be a...

Hi Jasperak, Well, look at it this way. In 3E, all you had to mechanically represent non-combat encounters were opposed skill checks (Hide vs Spot, Move Silently vs Listen, Bluff vs Sense Motive, etc). In 4E, you still have opposed skill checks AND you have skill challenges. From where I'm...

Hi Voss, Oh, ok. This subsystem does not force you to roleplay so, yes, it could just be a "roll-off". In that regard, it is not unlike any other rule in 4E. Or any other rule in previous editions, either. Laterz.

Hi Jasperak, First off, you crack me up. ;) Secondly, the rules can't force you to roleplay. That was true in 3E and its true in 4E. The main difference now is that more than one skill (and skill check) is involved in any given non-combat encounter AND the entire party participates (instead of...

Hi Muminalver, The recent article about angels seemed to strongly imply that summoning spells are rituals in 4E. Laterz.

Hi AllisterH, Based on what we've been told, trip appears to be relegated to class powers in 4E. However, it should be pointed out that with the 4E combat system (ability attack vs X defense), it is ridiculously simple and straightforward to do something like trip as an off-the-cuff combat...

Hi Nifft, I think some of this is semantic quibbling, but I understand where you are coming from here. I already addressed your first point, but your second point is a valid concern. I'm considering just using the warblade's recovery method for the shinobi but limit it to recovering one...

Hi Nifft, I guess not. ;) The sentence following that one states you cannot initiate a maneuver while recovering your expended maneuver. Last time I checked, strikes were maneuvers. ;) The wording is to clarify that you cannot initiate a strike or a counter while recovering your expended...