D&D 4E 4E Miniatures & Adventures

[Beastman]

Hi @all!

Anyone heard anything about how heavily 4e will depend on miniature use?

I secretly fear, that miniature will become mandatory and the last couple of WoTC's adventure modules seem to confirm this...Which also means, I fear future adventure modules packed with only fights, no backstory, no intrigue, no roleplaying...etc.

I fear D&D the roleplaying game will become D&D the roLLplaying game...

(Not to say i don't like a good monster bash, but i'm one of those who really likes a good balance between fighting and playing a role)

Cheers

Chris

 

[crazy_cat]

Yes.

Minis will be compulsory in 4e, no exceptions. If you don't use them WOTC will come round and punish you for indulging in badwrongfun. Even the online DI component will require the purchase and use of minis. I've already started scanning and photographing my older minis so I'll be able to use them online in future.

/sarcasm

 

[Alnag]

Hi Beastman,

I can't see how something like miniatures could be make mandatory. Do you think WotC inspectors will visit your session and check how you play your game? First and foremost if you feel the need to visualy represent the situation you can use bottle stoppers instead of WotC plastic minies. Or something else.

If you do not need any visual reference of the situation you can just make the combat more dramatic and less mechanical-crunchy. It mostly depends on what you want. We usually used dices to represent characters without board or squares and just guess the situations with 3e and we will do the same with 4e.

The same goes for "rollplaying vs. roleplaying". You can simply ignore the stuff that does not suit you. If you want to create dramatic situation than present the characters with dilemma of moral problem not solvable by simply slashing a sword. Make memorable NPCs. Sudden twists in adventure. What could possibly stop you from doing that.

Make the rules a tool for what you want from the game not your master who tells you what you have to do. That way, you will always have the game the way you want it to have it.

Not that there is anything wrong with minies or bashing orcs...

Have a fun and don't worry, it will be good...

 

[Cergorach]

I don't see how D&D could change so miniatures would become mandatory.

In 2E it wasn't assumed you used miniatures (it worked fine), but a lot of us did and it was pretty cool.

In 3E it was assumed you used minatures, and most of us did. But it works fine without it, it only requires a perception shift (GM and players) and not a rules change.

Distance to and from target, doesn't work different then in 2E (or 0E for that matter). Same goes for movement (change the squares back into feet if it helps). The only new mechanic in 3E was the AoO, and that's easy as well.
Someone moves to attack/charge you => AoO (if the requirements are met of course).
Moves away from you => AoO (if the requirements are met of course).
Moves past you => AoO (if the requirements are met of course).

The tracking of PC, NPC, and monster location is done in your head instead of on a board. That requires more brainpower, especially if the players rely on the DM to keep track of every thing (GMs: use a scrap of paper to make notes on locations). It also requires the players to trust the GM and the GM must know what he's doing (and have confidence in the decisions he makes).

I don't expect 4E to work any different. The minis are a tool, marketing will probably tell you differently, but marketing would tell you the sky is green if it would make them a dollar ;-)

 

[Beastman]

Hi Beastman,

The same goes for "rollplaying vs. roleplaying". You can simply ignore the stuff that does not suit you. If you want to create dramatic situation than present the characters with dilemma of moral problem not solvable by simply slashing a sword. Make memorable NPCs. Sudden twists in adventure. What could possibly stop you from doing that.
...

Well, time. I have even barely time to properly prep an adventure let alone make one...

I always had a gripe with WOTC-adventures: open door. fight monster. search room. open door. fight monster. search room. open door. search room. wait...no monsters? surprise, surprise...open door...

The one memorable product, however, being Red Hand of Doom. a refreshing and different experience in WOTC's adventure line...


And no, there will be no WOTC-agents checking for the use of WOTc-miniatures. But with 3.5 rules and the new adventure format introduced lately, I have the feeling that miniatures (or cardboard heroes or whatever) will be an essential part of 4e...

Its true that as DM i can null-rule all and anything (its even true that i can stick to 3.5 and ignore 4e completly) - but if the rules are written from miniature perspective and i have to modify it all, what sense makes it buying a product i have to modify to suit my taste?

Was just curious how heavily 4e involves miniatures...