D&D 4E 4E: Manufactured Excitement

[Rechan]

I'm not sure if it was asked in this thread or not "WotC is not giving us examples of streamlining."

Here is an example.

Instead of this:
DM: Okay, the dragon breathes on you. Everyone roll reflex saves.
Tom: Got a 22.
Ed: 16.
Bill: ... uh, reflex right? Okay. Dang where'd the die go?
Ed: "OH HO A 1 ha ha splat."
Bill: "No add ... six to that so that's 7."
James: 18.

You get this:
DM: The dragon breathes fire on you. *roll die* He rolls a 17. *roll damage* for 32 points. Raise your hand if your Reflex defense is under 17.
Ed and Bill raise hands.
DM: Both of you take 32 points of damage. Tom, James, only 16 points.

You cut 4 rolls down to 1 (plus damage).

 

[Gallo22]

Your point being what? We have numerous WotC employees, current and former, who post here. We also have numerous Hasbro employees here, current and former. In fact, someone who works with Hasbro posted in this very thread! GASP!

Beyond that, I'm not sure what your point is? That anyone expressing a positive view towards WotC or Hasbro is a shill? That MerricB is a marketer, secretly trying to TRICK US into buying 4e? Is that seriously what you're suggesting? Or that by posting to ENWorld, RPG.net and similar locations that somehow he or others are attempting to keep us interested in a product that we otherwise wouldn't be talking about? Did you notice what forum this thread is in?

Well, maybe if you read my comments and actually processed them insead of trolling, you'll realize I have not said any of what you suggest.

 

[hazel monday]

I'm not sure if it was asked in this thread or not "WotC is not giving us examples of streamlining."

Here is an example.

Instead of this:
DM: Okay, the dragon breathes on you. Everyone roll reflex saves.
Tom: Got a 22.
Ed: 16.
Bill: ... uh, reflex right? Okay. Dang where'd the die go?
Ed: "OH HO A 1 ha ha splat."
Bill: "No add ... six to that so that's 7."
James: 18.

You get this:
DM: The dragon breathes fire on you. *roll die* He rolls a 17. *roll damage* for 32 points. Raise your hand if your Reflex defense is under 17.
Ed and Bill raise hands.
DM: Both of you take 32 points of damage. Tom, James, only 16 points.

You cut 4 rolls down to 1 (plus damage).

That's not actually an example Rechan, that's just spin. You just told me in your example that 4E is gonna reduce the number of players at the table, teach simple addition, and prevent you from losing dice. Oh, and apparently 4E is gonna teach my players to raise their hands when asked. That's not really telling me anything.
And I agree that if Merric isn't getting some form of compensation from WOTC, he should be. He pimps their work harder than they do.

 

[The Little Raven]

That's not actually an example Rechan, that's just spin.

Pointing out that the same situation in the new edition requires less dice rolling is an example. Sounds like someone needs to spend a little private time with a dictionary.

You just told me in your example that 4E is gonna reduce the number of players at the table,

Uhh... what? His example has four players and a DM in both instances. Unless you're trying to be totally ridiculous and state that because his example has 4 people, and your group has 5, therefore his example is worthless.

That's not really telling me anything.

If you can't tell the difference between a situation in which four different people are rolling dice and one person is rolling dice, then there's no point in discussing things with you, since objective reality doesn't appear to sink in.

 

[AffableVagrant]

Not very Affable. Your attitude is no less self-righteous, and is escalating tensions in this thread. If you were not new to these fourms, you'd now be resting out a three day ban. Please go review The Rules you agreed to before posting on these boards again. Thank you.

Next person to be insulting or otherwise escalate gets a ban. Play nice, or don't play.

Fair play, but he insulted everyone on these forums. I just insulted him.

 

[Psion]

Perplexed? No. Much of the D&D market has been driven by the desire for "the new shiny".

4e is the real big "new shiny".

 

[GAAAHHH]

Killjoy.

If MerricB wants to do the Snoopy Dance and others want join in, what is the harm in that?

It is not like there is a finite pool of enthusiasm and that if MerricB is giddy, then someone else is going without because MerricB has taken more than his share.

So that's why I've been depressed for the last couple of months...

Curse you MerricB!

 

[Aus_Snow]

It's not because our 3.5 games suddenly became unplayable.

This is where I agree. The rest?

Ah, no. Well, whether I agree or disagree with the points being made, they obviously were not put across in a way that is likely to change anyone's mind. Hm. . . not 'for the better', at least.

Also, personally, I don't think using references to MerricB is very helpful when making this kind of argument. A fanboy of sorts he may apparently be, but he is in no way one of those yelling and screaming '4e 4eva!' and trying to block out everything that is even perceived to possibly be threatening that stance. Hardly. He seems (to me at least, FWIW) one of the more reasonable posters at these boards.

Just my 2cp.

 

[hazel monday]

there's no point in discussing things with you,

That's fine. And since I didn't come here to be insulted, I'm gonna hold you to that.

 

[HelloChristian]

RE: The Original Post

I agree with some of the things you wrote, Two. (Taking a shot at poor MerricB was not nice, though.)

I started gaming in 1982. I've played through the Blue Box Basic, Red Box Basic, 1e, 2e, 3e and 3.5. Having gone through all of that, I'm fairly unimpressed with a new version of D&D. I'm up to my ass in monster manuals alone. How many more do I need?

The designers can tell me how great it will be to be a 28th level Tiefling rogue until they're blue in the face, but in the end, it's just another version of a game I already own 6 editions of.

Don't get me wrong, I'll buy the three core books, a module or two, and that's about it. I understand I am not their target audience. I don't play WoW, I have no interest in D&D Insider and I just don't see myself opening my wallet for the avalanche of third party supplements that will inevitably bury my FLGS.

Hmm...time for a snack. Peace.