D&D 4E 4E tidbits from WotC blogs (Updated:David Noonan on Social Interactions)

[A'koss]

I came to the realization that perhaps the most significant change in 4e is the one that's going to be the least visible: the math underlying the system. But it's hugely important!

The reason there's a "sweet spot" in the current game is that it's the approximate range of levels where, purely by coincidence, the math of the system actually works. In those levels, PCs don't drop after one hit, and they don't take a dozen hits to wear down. In those levels, characters miss monsters occasionally, but less than half the time, and monsters miss characters only slightly more often. It's pure chance, really, but it means the game is fun. Outside of those levels, the math doesn't work that way, and the game stops being fun.

In Fourth Edition, we've totally revamped the math behind the system, and that's a big part of the way that we've extended the sweet spot across the whole level range. When PCs fight monsters of their level, they'll find that the math of the system is more or less the same at level 30 as it is at level 1. There will always be variation with different PCs and different monsters, but that variation won't be so great that monsters are either too deadly or too weak.

Of course, there's more to the sweet spot problem than just the math. The proliferation of save-or-die effects and adventure-breaking effects like etherealness and scrying also makes high-level adventuring more difficult to pull off, and we've addressed those issues as well.

Now this is what I've been waiting to hear. The math disparites between the different classes and the PC vs their foes at higher levels was one of the biggest problems in 3e, along with the proliferation of Save or Die/Nerf spells and powers. I'm also glad they're taking the time to address the scrying & etherealness issues which really do change the nature of the game at higher levels. Hopefully teleport effects will be looked at as well.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Maybe this has already been supposed but this sounds like hit points (or whatever) reset after every encounter. We're thinking per day, but the more I"m thinking about it it sounds like stuff will be per encounter.

Given the overlap between 4E and SW:SE, we very well may see something like the Second Wind ability: once a day, if you're below half your max hp, you can recover your Con in hp or 1/4 of your max, whichever is greater. (The Extra Second Wind feat lets you do it twice a day, or lets a nonheroic type do it once a day, but never more than once an encounter.)

 

[F4NBOY]

Given the overlap between 4E and SW:SE, we very well may see something like the Second Wind ability: once a day, if you're below half your max hp, you can recover your Con in hp or 1/4 of your max, whichever is greater. (The Extra Second Wind feat lets you do it twice a day, or lets a nonheroic type do it once a day, but never more than once an encounter.)

What if I'm 1 hit point above half my total HP, can I cut myself to regain HP?

I hope they understand how bad designed this Second Wind was and just use Reserve Points. They work perfectly in Iron Heroes.
Considering D&D actually needs some kind of mechanism like these...

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

2) If you are a subscriber, then putting in the code will unlock all of the content from that book in all of the databases that are available through Insider. For example, without the code for the relevant book you would see only a one-line description of a feat during character creation. With the code you see the full rules. Similarly, without the code you would see only a one-line description of a monster on the game table but with the code you can see the full stat block, etc.

So if you're a DI subscriber, the character generator allows you to make any character possible with the current ruleset, but without being able to look up the specifics. That's not bad at all. If you borrow the book from your buddy, you can just plan the feats you're going to take, go into the generator, and "click, click," you're good.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

What if I'm 1 hit point above half my total HP, can I cut myself to regain HP?

Sure.

Or ...

1: Wait until you get hit again in combat; it's only a swift action to "invoke" your second wind.

2: Ask your GM nicely.

 

[RFisher]

Macs just aren't popular. Yes some people have them, maybe 10 or 15 percent of the population

This isn't really addressing your point ('cause I've probably done enough of that around here lately), but just a tangential thought:

If 10% of the people who want to use the game table don't use Microsoft Windows, & if the typical group is 5 people (4 players & 1 DM), then there's a 41% chance that at least one person in the group doesn't use Windows.

I suspect 10% is high, but it's still always interesting to me how probabilities climb when you consider an "at least one of X" case.

 

[DonTadow]

This isn't really addressing your point ('cause I've probably done enough of that around here lately), but just a tangential thought:

If 10% of the people who want to use the game table don't use Microsoft Windows, & if the typical group is 5 people (4 players & 1 DM), then there's a 41% chance that at least one person in the group doesn't use Windows.

I suspect 10% is high, but it's still always interesting to me how probabilities climb when you consider an "at least one of X" case.

True, but I'm basing my this off my expiernece. I've never met a Mac Gamer. D and D players on average play pc games which dont port over on macs.

I do know gamers whom own a mac as well but most have the knowledge to do pc games on it

 

[RFisher]

True, but I'm basing my this off my expiernece. I've never met a Mac Gamer. D and D players on average play pc games which dont port over on macs.

I do know gamers whom own a mac as well but most have the knowledge to do pc games on it

You're just an outlier. As I probably am too, as 50% of my group doesn't do Microsoft Windows.

 

[Nebulous]

What if I'm 1 hit point above half my total HP, can I cut myself to regain HP?

I hope they understand how bad designed this Second Wind was and just use Reserve Points. They work perfectly in Iron Heroes.
Considering D&D actually needs some kind of mechanism like these...

It's needs SOMETHING besides "only clerical magic can heal you." Yes, something so that these heroes can briefly rest and recover, without going the route of magical healing to depend on constantly. I'd prefer magical healing to be reserved for more "life threatening" wounds, although i have no idea how they'll pull off such a system and still try to keep it streamlined.

 

[vrykyl]

IMO, an Evil (and, to a lesser extent, Chaotic) unwavering champion of alignment makes much less sense than a Good or Lawful one, because being unawevering and championing others are what Law and Good are all about. Evil and Chaos, on the other hand... not so much.

See The Paladin of the Night (Rose of the Prophet, Volume II) by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. An entire order of loyal, lawful, and VERY evil paladins is introduced and explained nicely. I was convinced!

Jamie Chambers
Vice President
Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd.