A Thread For Those Somewhere In The Middle

[Jedi_Solo]

I classify myself as Cautiously Opitimistic.

I like most of what I have heard.

There is some stuff I have heard that I don't like.

I will admit I have already pre-ordered the Big Three Books from Amazon. That way, when I make my final choice about 4e I will have all of the information.

I hope I will love it [optimistic] - but I don't have all the info yet so I can't be sure [cautious].

 

[an_idol_mind]

What I like: Changing the math to work better at all levels. Less need to include +X items with no other flavor in the game. The three tiers.

What I dislike: Ditching old races and classes that I feel should be core. Healing allies by hitting enemies. Most of the flavor changes.

What I really want: Something that really makes me go, "Wow, that's awesome." When Dragon Magazine was doing preview articles for the 3rd edition, the preview of the sorcerer made me think that. It was exactly the type of thing I wanted in my game. I hope to see a preview of something in 4th edition have that same effect on me.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I am not really neutral, but a few points popped up that still cloud a bit of my general optimism. A lot of the advantages and disadvantages I see might turn out differently due to the actual implementation (from which we haven't seen much yet)

I like the new level-based progression concepts.

I am sceptical about magical items - as long as there remain +X items, I don't see the Christmas Tree going away (maybe that's good at this time of the year? )

I like going away from "per day"-balancing to per encounter balancing.

I dislike that per day powers still appear to be the most powerful powers.

I am positive about a lot of the fluff changes (Distinction between Devils and Demons, new Cosmology)

I am not convincend yet by some of the names for some abilities. (only the actual names, the "bringing fluff into the core rules" is fine by me)

 

[Waylander the Slayer]

I'm a hard-line moderate. I'm pessimistically optimistic. I applaud the goals of the design team while secretly suspecting their agenda. I am intrigued by mechanical changes yet appalled by changes to core flavor.

I am confused.

QFT. I will wait till the product is released and then gauge the public opinion as well as how well it all hangs together. I am not even really sure why I am confused, but every thing I have read so far has deepend my confusion. I am not even sure if what I just wrote makes any sense.

 

[Evilhalfling]

I am optamistic, and will taking a few useful concepts from the the 4e leaks for my next game.

I am excited by the new possiblities for character types and the new rules that will foster world changes.

my nine year old homebrew world has its own fluff/rules:Including a promanent psionic based halfling culture. I will probably decided on a world switch after psionic rules are released.

Several of my players are heavily invested in 3.5 and the group is currently reluctant to abandon this investment in time/money/learning curve. Its not like I can make the switch without them.

I will be taking a break from gaming next summer- and I am not sure how compatible world design and caring for a newborn are.

 

[EricNoah]

I'm sure I would be more "in the middle" if the timing were different (i.e. I think it's a smidge early for a new edition with sweeping changes).

 

[helium3]

Squarely in the middle as well. I'm curious about the new system and will probably end up playing it, but I also am not planning to switch immediately.

For whatever reason, my stronger opinions tend to be about how WotC is handling the roll out of all their new stuff, rather than the actual content.

 

[jester47]

I agree mostly with the second post. The thing that has the most potential to turn me off of 4e is the marketing. Mechanicly, the game seems solid. But the previews seem very sloppy.

-announceing 6months too soon (I can say for sure there are more than one WotC insider that share this sentiment)
-basic tropes broken over books is dumb and condescending
-contradictory hype info- Whose idea was it to publish a preview book before the game got nailed down? We have developers and designers correcting info published in them. Whats the point?

Come January WotC needs to fire whoever is in charge of marketing for this simply because it is mean to fire people right before christmas. Actually, don't fire them. But please get their hands out of how this is being done ASAP.

 

[Eldragon]

I'm neutral, I have to be neutral, nothing to complain about with gusto until I see the rules on paper.

I'm happy they are fixing problem areas, but saddened at the same time. No polymorph? No level drain? Its just not D&D without them.

The new Per encounter system has me excited, as is making racial abilities scale with level. I primarily play Fighter/Mage like characters, so I'm also looking forward to the new multiclass rules.

Will I preorder 4e? Never. I'm waiting until I can read it in person at the game store. Too much room for disappointment at this point.

 

[BlackMoria]

I'm a hard-line moderate. I'm pessimistically optimistic. I applaud the goals of the design team while secretly suspecting their agenda. I am intrigued by mechanical changes yet appalled by changes to core flavor.

I am confused.

QFT. This is my sentiments exactly.