Defenses confirmed!!!!!!

[drothgery]

I hope they don't divide characters between heroic and non-heroic. That's so silly.

As opposed to 'PC classes' and 'NPC classes' (D&D), or 'Hero' vs 'Ordinary' (d20 Modern), or Heroes vs Minions (Mutants & Masterminds)?

 

[Remathilis]

As opposed to 'PC classes' and 'NPC classes' (D&D), or 'Hero' vs 'Ordinary' (d20 Modern), or Heroes vs Minions (Mutants & Masterminds)?

or my personal favorite "classed vs. 0-level"

 

[Mercule]

but anything that gets point-based systems out of my class-based game is fine in my book.

I cannot tell you how strongly I'm beginning to feel about this. I'm very glad they've said that you won't be able to spend XP for anything in 4E. I also hate skill tricks for this same reason -- they're just absurdly out of place in a non-point system.

The only except, IMO, is point buy vs. dice for chargen. I'm open to other options, but it's the lesser of two evils when matched against a single roll that can screw your character for the next four years of play (about the average run for campaigns in our group).

As far as that blog post confirming Saga-style defenses, I would take it too seriously. The word "defenses" could be taken as a generic way of saying "AC, saving throws, DR, and SR." That's certainly the way I took it, and the way I've used it quite frequently over the run of 3E.

Which also doesn't mean SWSE defenses are out -- I'm pretty sure they're in. It just means that particular quote is absolutely meaningless WRT the matter.

 

[Greg K]

I really hope that doesn't mean that we'll see SWSE's craptastic skill system ported over into 4e. I am really really unfond of it.

Later
silver

Same here. I don't mind it as an option for DMs, but I despise it as a player. Unfortunately, I expect something similar to it to appear.

 

[Dave Turner]

Problem is, PCs aren't the only ones who use the skill system. NPCs and monsters use the skill system too.

I wouldn't be so sure, Wolv0rine. I'm fairly certain that NPCs and monsters won't use the same design rules as PCs. There are plenty of WotC statements that hint at this fact. WotC staff have been careful to state that they aren't assuming that NPCs/monsters use the same sets of rules.

 

[Branduil]

I did something like Saga's system where skills were combined years ago, so I couldn't be happier about that.

At least in my group most of us don't really enjoy the part of leveling up where we have to add our skill points.