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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Gothmog" data-source="post: 4264738" data-attributes="member: 317">I've played 5 4E sessions now, and here is what I've noticed:1.  Combats to take more rounds to resolve, but less total time than a 3.x combat.  Once we got the hang of how to use powers, its actually really fast.2.  The PCs are much tougher and more sturdy than in previous editions.  Its nearly impossible to take someone down in one hit now, which reduces the randomness of PC death common to 3.x due to massive crits.3.  However, combat in general is MORE deadly to PCs.  Because there are more monsters per encounter, flanking and tactical advantage play  a big role, and a PC who gets surrounded is in BIG trouble.  4.  Movement is king on the battlefield.  Staying in one place and slugging it out is something only a fool would do.  As long as you're mobile and moving for an advantage, you'll be ok.  I really like this aspect- 4E combats feel very dynamic and frantic compared to 3.x combats.5.  Healer killing could be a problem, but most monsters won't know which PC is a healer until an obvious display of such a power is used, and if the healer PCs are smart, they don't expose themselves to more than one enemy at once.6.  I've found as a DM, I have to hold back much less than in previous versions of D&D.  The characters are now 2nd level, but they can take a pretty severe beating and still keep going.7.  Minions are NASTY.  No, individually they won't be able to do much to a PC.  But with flanking and using their special abilities, they can really cause a lot of damage in a hurry.  Also, since minions seem to have decent ACs, they aren't completely throwaway enemies, and ignoring minions completely in favor of more powerful monsters can be a serious mistake.8.  Concentrated attacks are the biggest worry of a PC on the battlefield.  This goes along with staying mobile, but allowing 2 or 3 attacks at the same time to be performed on you is going to result in a bloodied or dying PC very quickly.So far, I REALLY like the changes that have been made in 4E.  Combat in 3.x was either brutally short with high PCs casualties/deaths, or a cakewalk for standard CR encounters.  Now, a "level appropriate" fight is a serious threat to the PCs, but good tactics and teamwork can see the PCs through without being too banged up.</blockquote>

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