Can we update Godwin's law to include the term 'video game' when discussing D&D. D&D does not emulate video games. Video games emulate D&D.
Anyway, I certainly do not miss 2e. There were several things that bothered me about the system that 3e fixed.
- Fixed class abilities. Once you picked your class, you were locked in until 20th level. Even with dual-classing, you had to have high stats and as such had to plan this from the beginning.
- Identical classes. Two fighters are essentially the same. They might use a different weapon, but mechanically they do the same stuff. A swashbuckler, knight, and archer should have different abilities.
- No stats for the monsters. I can't count how often I needed a STR score for a centaur, or the Dex of a minotaur.
- Inconsistant systems. Roll high for this, low for that, % for this other thing. Much simpler to use a unified mechanic.
As far as play style, its not noticably different than my AD&D days. Except that the characters tend to be more varied and dynamic.
There are things I'd like to see change in the inevitable 4e as well. Reduce the number of skills, divorce a skill from a specific stat (a la Storyteller or Unisystem), and make combat a little less crunchy.
