D&D 4E Does anyone else feel like 4ed isn't really a new edition?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I keep hearing about this "Will" guy and I have no idea who the heck he is.

He wrote a column for Dungeon for a while.

 

[Li Shenron]

As the title says. I feel likes its more of another update. More like polished up some things and to added a bit. I don't feel as though they went and changed to a new edition.

From 2nd to 3rd, that was a new edition. They practicly scrapped everything, and began a new.

This 3.x to 4th ed though. Not so sure.

To me it seems a huge step, not anything like 3.5 revision.

The change from daily-based resource management to near-unlimited resources is unprecedented. The combat rules and character creation rules may look like an update, but this general change has a much bigger impact, to the point that it almost looks to me like something different than what D&D has been in all previous editions. It's a very different game even if it uses lots of the same rules.

 

[RigaMortus2]

At times, it feels like they're making a whole new game, between all the fluff changes to the setting and, more importantly, the massive changes to spellcaster resource management.

I agree!

 

[Kae'Yoss]

As the title says. I feel likes its more of another update.

What did you expect? d30 system? Class- and level-less? Sci-Fi setting default? All races with 2+ heads and 8+ limbs?

It feels a lot like a new edition. More than just an update, less than a different game.

Look at the changes we already know, and we don't know much:

Races work a lot differently: Instead of a one-time deal, you continue to get stuff most of your adventuring career.
Full attacks are gone, things are going to be a lot more mobile.
Everyone will have things he can do all day, things he can do x times per fight, and some are x times per day. That means fighters will have things that are a lot like spells, and all casters will be a bit like warlocks.
30 Levels will be common, and character level will be the same as spell level.
Skills will work differently, and the same goes for saves.

Thosa are big changes to the most defining aspects of a D&D character. That sounds more than the "Monks get different ki strikes, rangers have a choice of bonus feats, and divine power grants +6 str instead of Str 18." 3.5e update.

 

[Cake Mage]

I sure hope you guys are right.

I just haven't seen any hard fact mechanical changes yet. They keep saying. "Look how cool this new thing is over here. Remember how it used to be? It was slow. Now things are faster and easier!"

"But how is it changed?" I ask.

WOTC replies, "Because its cooler and easier!"

"But..."

Anyway right now I feel like they are throwing out a lot of marketing terms and now giving us any real mechanics to say "hey, your right. That is cool and better". The only thing close is that they have said "This mechanic is out.", but haven't said what mechanic is in. I realize that they are still testing it and whatnot, but throw me a friggin bone here. :\

 

[WayneLigon]

I realize that they are still testing it and whatnot, but throw me a friggin bone here. :\

You are getting the 'bones'. They're not done. Any hard mechanical thing they tell you might get changed between now and, what, December or whenever they said the final draft of the PHB will ready. It might change four or five times. It probably will, as playtesting reports roll in. There will always be 11th hour changes as they find that Rule X that worked fine because all of them were playing with a certain set of assumptions turns into a horrible broken mess when used by people not sharing those assumptions.

They could probably give out specific info, but then when it got changed - as a natural course of iterative design - people would jump all over them about 'Well, does or doesn't it work like this!?'.

 

[Ranger REG]

As the title says. I feel likes its more of another update. More like polished up some things and to added a bit. I don't feel as though they went and changed to a new edition.

Since when did Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition started using talent trees (seen only in d20 Modern and most recently Star Wars SECR)?

From 2nd to 3rd, that was a new edition. They practicly scrapped everything, and began a new.

Not everything. Ranger's two-weapon fighting abilities ported over from 2e. We still use the Vancian style magic system with Spells Per Day.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

With the number of changes being made, it is definetely a new edition.

 

[Baby Samurai]

We still use the Vancian style magic system with Spells Per Day.

Yeah, I couldn't believe when 3rd edition cam out that the magic/spell system was still basically a cut & paste from 2nd edition AD&D, which was a cut & paste from 1st edition AD&D, which was a cut & paste from…etc.

 

[kenmarable]

Ultimately, I'll be happy if the system changes as much as it needs to change to be more fun.

I would prefer that to "let's make sure we change enough to justify calling it a new edition."