Search results

  1. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Comparing "cut of his head" with Come and Get It is not a good comparison. As a more defined example, let's compare Bull Rush, from 3.5E, and Come and Get It, from 4E: Note that in 4E "pull" is defined to be the same as "shift" and "push". The fighter using CAGI is not presumed to be...
  2. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    I can get behind that in games with more narrated events: Then the game resources are units of narrative authority. Then player: “the fighter jumps in to the fray, ready to deliver precise takedowns to the onrushing foes.” GM: The foes rush the fighter, who lashes out as they approach...
  3. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    On further consideration, I have to ask: What cinematic example of Come and Get It can be presented? And I don’t mean a single target taunt. I mean an example of multiple targets being brought to the attacker. Necessary features are (1) The opponents aren’t already inclined to mass rush the...
  4. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    And I can’t disagree with that. (As he looks worriedly towards the fire station …) ‘TomB
  5. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Eh, lots of us have stated that we just don’t like 4E, as largely a preference. And arguments over what 4E does wrong are from the perspective of a preferred style of play. I do think that the presentation (marketing, and some of the writing) had faults, hence was arguably objectively wrong...
  6. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Me, although others have similarly opined. In 3E, to move out of your square, you have to use an action (or take a 5’ step). While you can stretch your presence by a 5’ step, you still have to explicitly take that step. TomB
  7. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    In fairness, I’m remembering lot of long forgotten issues that I had with 3E, mostly in regards to initiative and to attacks-of-opportunity mechanics. In hindsight, I’m also able to articulate an unease which ultimately was resolved by bounded accuracy, and, having built a few terrain tables...
  8. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    In 3.5E, that is definitely the case. There is reach, so the area which may be affected is closer to a 15dia circle. A character cannot make a melee attack against a target which is out of reach. A character with spring attack can move, attack, then move back. Other characters must move then...
  9. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    4E dwarves have “Slow and Solid”, which reduces forced movement distances by one. It seems rather powerful, given how much forced movement there is In 4E Hatred is too strong here: I freely admit that I dislike 4E, for several reasons. I don’t hate it, and wish well to folks who enjoy it...
  10. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    I once proposed the idea of a committed action: A reaction that cost you your first action in your next turn. Then, evasion could be a committed move outside of the spell area of effect. My group was unenthused, at the least. Evasion is a well, loved, signature ability for dexterity builds...
  11. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Well, what other abilities require the player explain how the power works, in a particular use? I thought the ethos of 4E was that such explanations were not required, and the player could choose whatever interpretation they preferred. And, that ultimately, the interpretation was entirely...
  12. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Targets which have a movement of 0 or 1 squares, or which are paralyzed or entangled, or sleeping, are moved. An incorporeal target, with which the fighter has no means to physically interact, is moved. Targets which are unaware of the attacker are moved. An invisible, silenced, fighter can...
  13. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Come and get it has a special place of shame: The problem was not the power structure. The problem was that any reasonable interpretation pushed you into problems. In 3E, a similar ability would either be a telepathic compulsion, which ought not to affect mindless creatures, and should be...
  14. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    I’m finding the damage on a miss discussion amusing, in that, if we accept that hit points represent such things as exhaustion, morale, and luck, then both the attacker and defender should potentially gain or lose hit points on any attack. After all, ought not a successful attack improve the...
  15. T

    D&D 5E (2014) Why is animate dead considered inherently evil?

    Undead are evil (1): In many systems, undead have a drive similar to or worse than a starving pit bull. Deliberately creating such a creature is wrong (evil). Using such creatures with at best tenuous control over them is similarly wrong (evil). That undead act as starving pit bulls seems...
  16. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    I can (kindof) justify this because an attack of the wrong damage type will be less likely to take out an opponent. Continuing with the example of the 8 hit point target, with swords doing 4 (or 1-7) points of damage. If the target has DR 5/Silver, then most attacks with a sword have a much...
  17. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    I entirely agree. The view of hit points that I presented is hard to align with events which should be directly damaging. For example, there is little that can be done to avoid damage from a fall. Then, a more realistic way of handling fall damage might be to represent it as a coup-de-grace...
  18. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Apologies up front for the mathy-ness of this note. In my view, hit points aren't trying to directly simulate anything. Hit points do relate to all manner of character state, for example, Health, Vigor, and Divine Favor. The relationship, however, is indirect: Hit points are intended to...
  19. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Part of the Pathfinder schedule is a subscription service of modules and adventure path volumes. That neatly fills the void left when Dungeon went out of print. (Don't get me started whining about the online Dungeon replacement!). I am a long time Pathfinder subscriber. How does Pathfinder...
  20. T

    D&D 4E Ben Riggs' "What the Heck Happened with 4th Edition?" seminar at Gen Con 2023

    Going back to the very first post: I'm highly suspicious of statistics that are provided with less than a very very careful analysis. Most of what I get from this is that 4E sold less than 3E, and was expected to do better. This gives a basis to ask two questions: (1) Why did 4E sell less...
Top