4E is Diablo 2?

[The Little Raven]

Limited classes, limited options, limited powers,

Like OD&D.

monsters that are the same except for different names/power levels.

Like previous editions, where the difference between things like orcs, kobolds, gnolls, and the ilk were negligible statistic adjustments that served to flavor them differently in no real way?

Oh, and all classes get powers.

Like Skills and Powers, except done well.

 

[Obryn]

I am not sure, but wasn't there a D&D Diablo (tabletop role-playing) game, based on 3E? I have vague memories of one of the members in my group mentioning having bought it, many solar cycles ago...

Ah! Yes, that was a supplement for 2e, I think.

Maybe.

If so, it looks like we're constantly staying 1 edition ahead of Diablo releases, so obviously by my perfect mathematical formulae which nobody can examine or disprove, this means D&D wins.

-O

 

[The Little Raven]

Ah! Yes, that was a supplement for 2e, I think.

Late 2e, early 3e.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/main.asp?x=d2/diabloii,3

 

[Brennin Magalus]

Like OD&D.

No. Clerics and magic-users had more powers to choose from even in OD&D.

Like previous editions, where the difference between things like orcs, kobolds, gnolls, and the ilk were negligible statistic adjustments that served to flavor them differently in no real way?

No. The "fluff" separated those creatures out. Orc warriors are nothing more than beefed up orc drudges, which is the same as Diablo II, where a carver is just a beefed up fallen.

Like Skills and Powers, except done well.

I remember Skills & Powers. It bore no resemblance to 4e or Diablo II.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

Ah! Yes, that was a supplement for 2e, I think.

Maybe.

If so, it looks like we're constantly staying 1 edition ahead of Diablo releases, so obviously by my perfect mathematical formulae which nobody can examine or disprove, this means D&D wins.

-O

The 2e Diablo supplement was quite good, IMO. The 3e supplement, however, sucked.

 

[The Little Raven]

No. Clerics and magic-users had more powers to choose from even in OD&D.

OD&D did not have 80 powers for each class.

No. The "fluff" separated those creatures out. Orc warriors are nothing more than beefed up orc drudges, which is the same as Diablo II, where a carver is just a beefed up fallen.

Well, in 4e, both the fluff and the mechanics separate these creatures, making them far more distinct (even within a racial group) than they have ever been.

There is more distinction between a kobold slinger and a kobold dragonshield than previous editions had between an orc and a gnoll.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

OD&D did not have 80 powers for each class.

And how many of those powers amount to causing more and more damage to one's opponents vs. noncombat powers?

Well, in 4e, both the fluff and the mechanics separate these creatures, making them far more distinct (even within a racial group) than they have ever been.

There is more distinction between a kobold slinger and a kobold dragonshield than previous editions had between an orc and a gnoll.

Lessee. Hyena-people vs. Uruk-Hai/Gamorreans, different favored classes, light sensitivity vs. no, and scent vs. no. They appear well differentiated to me.

 

[The Little Raven]

And how many of those powers amount to causing more and more damage to one's opponents vs. noncombat powers?

That's completely irrelevant to the point at hand. The point is that OD&D was a game of limited classes with limited options.

Hyena-people vs. Uruk-Hai/Gamorreans

Fluff. An equal amount to distinguish races in 4e.

different favored classes

Which has zero effect using the monster straight out of the book.

light sensitivity vs. no

True.

scent vs. no.

False. Neither monster has Scent.

They appear well differentiated to me.

Just two points (light sensitivity and ability score adjustments) do little to make them feel different, especially since you can file off the names without problems, since there's nothing about either set of statistics that really screams "Orc" or "Gnoll." Mechanically, they're bland beyond belief.

 

[Foundry of Decay]

Fortunately for my group and I, 4e is simply D&D. Same as OD&D, 1e, 2e, 2.5e, 3e, and 3.5e.

We've never played D&D as a video game, and never will as long as its on paper.

Similarities? I guess, if you only stick to going from room to room killing things and having brief, pre-scripted interactions with your fellow gamers/NPC's, but you'd look pretty daft sitting at the table with a mouse in your hand.

 

[Vurt]

...but you'd look pretty daft sitting at the table with a mouse in your hand.

You could always pretend it was your familiar!

/rimshot