D&D 4E Early Days of 4e will be a Gearhead's Paradise

[nothing to see here]

I can't help but think this is a poor rationalization.

If there's a bard in the PHB, I don't see how that stops tinkerers from making their own bard. In fact, it'd probably help them, because they could get inspiration from things they like, while coming up with completely new stuff to fill in the areas they didn't like.

So I guess I just don't see the premise to the thread. It just seems like odd spin to me.

It's about incentive. Tinkering around the edges in a "refining the cleric's skilll list" kind of way is one thing. Actually taking the building blocks of the rules and building a new class from it is something quite different. More difficult, more time consuming -- but also a lot of fun.

If the core rules have an official 'fighther' than there is less of an incentive to invent an alternate variety. Some people may still do it, but's an add on.

IF the core rules lack a bard, then there definitely is an incentive to create one. We already have a clearly defined concept for the class, and previous editions give us lots of inspiration for new rules content. That kind of structured creativity is fun.

Any rules-set will have holes to fill. I'm just happy that D&D's legacy makes these holes easier to identify, while the 4e design theory will make those holes easier to fill.

 

[hong]

It's about incentive. Tinkering around the edges in a "refining the cleric's skilll list" kind of way is one thing. Actually taking the building blocks of the rules and building a new class from it is something quite different. More difficult, more time consuming -- but also a lot of fun.

If the core rules have an official 'fighther' than there is less of an incentive to invent an alternate variety. Some people may still do it, but's an add on.

The 1,001 alt.rangers from the early days of 3E are evidence against this hypothesis. It comes down to whether the provided class manages to satisfy enough people.

I'm looking forward to making a martial artist for 4E!

 

[Crashy75]

The 1,001 alt.rangers from the early days of 3E are evidence against this hypothesis. It comes down to whether the provided class manages to satisfy enough people.

I'm looking forward to making a martial artist for 4E!

oooh, I'll be on the lookout!

 

[MarauderX]

And the numbers come down to one man at WotC, with no 3rd party reviewer or quality checker. While it seems nice an spiffy, such an approach makes me nervous. Even MMO game companies have the mechanics reviewed heavily without biased buy-in from coworkers.

 

[The Little Raven]

And the numbers come down to one man at WotC, with no 3rd party reviewer or quality checker.

Did you read the post? He's just the first guy on the job, before it gets handed off to others for further design/development work.

Even MMO game companies have the mechanics reviewed heavily without biased buy-in from coworkers.

Wait, what? Are you trying to say that companies get outside people to review their mechanics? Yeah, that doesn't happen. They work out their mechanics internally, implement them, then test them (which does feature outside people in later stages).

 

[Baron Opal]

I'm sure it will take me all of a week to write up Giants and neo-Akashics in 4e after I've digested the books. The giants from AE have become a big part of my homebrew and I've spliced together the akashic and oathsworn from that set already. I'll just have to translate that too.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

The 1,001 alt.rangers from the early days of 3E are evidence against this hypothesis. It comes down to whether the provided class manages to satisfy enough people.

I'm looking forward to making a martial artist for 4E!

Heck, I'm looking forward to you making a martial artist for 4E.

I've also been considering translating some Arcana Evolved stuff as well.

 

[TwinBahamut]

I know I am going to be tinkering around with new material when 4E comes out.

There has been a certain niche for races that I don't think 3E ever filled to my satisfaction, and that I doubt 4E will fill anytime soon, if ever. I could never figure out how to make races to fill that niche work in 3E, but I think it going to be possible for me to do so in 4E. I will probably start working on my ideas the moment I get the 4E PHB.

 

[MarauderX]

Did you read the post? He's just the first guy on the job, before it gets handed off to others for further design/development work.

Yes, and I've talked to the designers directly.

Wait, what? Are you trying to say that companies get outside people to review their mechanics? Yeah, that doesn't happen. They work out their mechanics internally, implement them, then test them (which does feature outside people in later stages).

Yeah, it does, primarily on the testing as you've said.

 

[Rykaar]

I'm sure it will take me all of a week to write up Giants and neo-Akashics in 4e after I've digested the books. The giants from AE have become a big part of my homebrew and I've spliced together the akashic and oathsworn from that set already. I'll just have to translate that too.

I'm very interested in seeing someone's take on an Akashic. One of my players initially commented that he thought the class was the only one of Monte's AE that really felt distinct and "3D" to him, and he played the class very well.

We're abandoning AE/Ptolus for a new 4E setting that I plan to homebrew. I never felt completely comfortable trying to make the two Monte Cooke resources work together, and the resulting world didn't feel like my "own". That said, I may try to port the Akashic itself to the new design, and would love to compare notes between my version and those of other DM's here.

Regarding this talk of "official" characters a year down the road being a reason not to build one now...that's exactly how a company selling a product wants you to think, and I'm actually very glad a lot of you feel that way so they stay in business. For myself, I look at published rules as guidelines only. Major changes are something my players have input towards and often are the ones initiating the ideas. That would include a homebrewed character class. When it hits the actual campaign, the group has already decided it looks good enough to be balanced and fair. If your homebrewed class is balanced and fair, who cares if it's "official"?