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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vraille Darkfang" data-source="post: 3825880" data-attributes="member: 16989">When it comes to 4th ed, I have my concerns, plus I'm content with 3rd (which is something I couldn't say about 2nd).  However the recent Blog Comments about FR have set off some really loud warning bells in my head.Mainly, their percieved "issues" with FR I see as Strengths or never have encountered.(3) In 4E FR, the PCs matter. The PCs are the ones accomplishing the truly heroic quests. There aren't a bunch of high-level NPCs running around who can step in to clean up the PCs' messes or do things the PCs can't.I've played in 100's of FR games.  I've ran 100's more.  I've NEVER, EVER encountered this in ANY FR games I've played in.  (However, I have played in some really bad games when the DM had a 'pet' NPC, usually one of his former PC's basically do everything).  If Elminster shows up to kill the dragon to steal the PC's thunder all the time, the problem is the DM, not the Campaign setting.  I like have uber-pc's around to both challenge and keep PC's in check (had one FR Skills & Powers go from 1st to 37th level, only once did an Uber-PC step in, that was at 5th level when they released 45 Fire Elementals on the Docks at Waterdeep).Ok, there was the time the PC said "I wish Elminster was here right now so you could kiss his hairy, naked ass!" while weaing a Ring of Three Wishes.  In that case he asked for it, plus going on a quest for Bigby's Painless Hiney Hair Removal Underpants of Power was too hard to pass up.I've alwayes used the Uber-FR Character as Ideals for the PC's to strive for.  As real examples that the sky is the limit in FR.If bad DM'ing is the problem, taking away the Uber-Guys ain't going to help.(6) The 4E FR setting will have a smaller pantheon. In general, there will be less overlap in the gods' portfolios. Consequently, some 3E deities have been 'demoted,' effectively becoming agents or emissaries of more powerful gods. A handful of deities have been killed off. There are also a few new deities to fill holes.This is the real killer for me.  Overlap is good.  Very good.  Very similar faiths make for the best plot lines.  Groups that to an outsider look identical, but their minor differences lead to such friction between the two.  Like the Catholics & Protestants.  2 Groups of Christians with very similar ideologies that still spent a good amount of time killing each other over thos differences.  And the various protestant sects are an even better example.  My most memorable games all took minor faiths & put my own spin on them (or that particular sect) and ran with it.The best game I ran was one where the main enemy was a Drow High Priest.  A MALE high drow priest of Sevltegram (however you spell it).  Took the party by surprise & darn near took out the entire party.  Of course, Complex Racial patheons seem to have all gotten the ax for 4th ed.I just don't see me switching to 4th ed.It's not the rules (I'm sure they will be very good, some smart people putting a lot of time into it).But the fluff changes (so far) have really started to make me very suspicious.I like the Demons & Devils being similar, yet having minor distinctions that drive them to genocide.  I LIKE that the average lay person can't tell wether it's a Demon or a Devil (Never was a fan of "Color Coded for your conveince" Dragons).I've ran dozens of adventures on the Elemental Planes (some pretty low leve), and never once had a problem.I liek complexity.  Simplicity can only take you so far.  Ideally you have simplistic overtures to get you started & layers of complexity you can dive into as you get better at DM'ing.I'm just not getting it.They keep talking about all these things (fluff-wise) that they are 'fixing', that I've just never encountered the problems they think are there.Maybe I've been DM'ing for so long and in so many Campaign Worlds & Game Systems that I can make adjustments on the fly.  (from an adventure standpoint, that is what I do).Ok, a long way to ask:What they keep saying are problems, I haven't noticed.  Can people post some of their actual experiences to help me understand the thought process of the designers.It could go a long ways to easing my nervousness about what's being done to the sandbox.</blockquote>

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