Now that 4E is out and some people have the books, I wonder if somebody could find the time to answer a couple of questions for me. I am a simulationist DM and have been mostly unimpressed by the previews of 4E, so it is rather unlikely I will actually convert to 4E. Nevertheless, I would appreciate if some things that appeared to be major 4E flaws in the previews, from my point of view, actually manifest themselves in the books themselves, or if the more detailed information in the books mitigates these faults.
1) Is there a way to remain bad at a skill with advancing levels? I know that all skills (and ability bonuses, etc.) advance automatically at 1/2 point per level, so on the surface of it, I would have to assume that the answer is negative, but perhaps there is a flaw system, or some other system to enable characters to remain bad at given skill(s).
2) Is it true that most of the problematic but interesting spells and effects are gone (a select few being converted to rituals) or modified beyond recognition as seemed to be the case from the previews? (e.g. Baleful Polymorph)
3) Are the per-encounter powers explicit per-encounter powers, or implicit per-encounter powers?
4) Since hit points are now even more abstract than before, is there a system for more persistent injuries (that only heal slowly or with the aid of magic)?
5) Have most of the non-combat abilities of monsters, creatures and NPCs really been removed as previews seemed to indicate they would be?
Thank you for answering these questions for me. I suspect the answers will not be to my liking, but I want to make sure that the books actually fit the impressions I got from the previews.
1) Is there a way to remain bad at a skill with advancing levels? I know that all skills (and ability bonuses, etc.) advance automatically at 1/2 point per level, so on the surface of it, I would have to assume that the answer is negative, but perhaps there is a flaw system, or some other system to enable characters to remain bad at given skill(s).
2) Is it true that most of the problematic but interesting spells and effects are gone (a select few being converted to rituals) or modified beyond recognition as seemed to be the case from the previews? (e.g. Baleful Polymorph)
3) Are the per-encounter powers explicit per-encounter powers, or implicit per-encounter powers?
4) Since hit points are now even more abstract than before, is there a system for more persistent injuries (that only heal slowly or with the aid of magic)?
5) Have most of the non-combat abilities of monsters, creatures and NPCs really been removed as previews seemed to indicate they would be?
Thank you for answering these questions for me. I suspect the answers will not be to my liking, but I want to make sure that the books actually fit the impressions I got from the previews.