Particle_Man
Explorer
I thought it might be useful to have a thread purely for terminology changes from 3rd to 4th, in an attempt to reduce confusion. Feel free to add to the list other terms that have different meanings in 4th ed that you think might trip people up if they are not careful. Also, I am still feeling my way here, so let me know if I got something wrong about any of my entries!
Base Attack Bonus: In third this was one element, strictly determined by class levels and/or monstrous HD, to which you then added other bonuses in order to determine what you added to the d20 roll you made to hit a creature. In 4th ed, it is more the sum of one's modifiers (including stat modifiers, racial modifiers, etc.).
Temporary Hit Points: In third these could bring you back to consciousness. In 4th they are merely a buffer against further damage, but if you are unconscious they do not make you conscious again, and if you are bloodied you are still bloodied, regardless of how many temporary hit points you get.
Spell/Power Level: In third usually a caster of 9th level would cast spells of 5th level. Now the 9th level caster is able to cast spells of 9th level or lower.
Base Attack Bonus: In third this was one element, strictly determined by class levels and/or monstrous HD, to which you then added other bonuses in order to determine what you added to the d20 roll you made to hit a creature. In 4th ed, it is more the sum of one's modifiers (including stat modifiers, racial modifiers, etc.).
Temporary Hit Points: In third these could bring you back to consciousness. In 4th they are merely a buffer against further damage, but if you are unconscious they do not make you conscious again, and if you are bloodied you are still bloodied, regardless of how many temporary hit points you get.
Spell/Power Level: In third usually a caster of 9th level would cast spells of 5th level. Now the 9th level caster is able to cast spells of 9th level or lower.
