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Message: <blockquote data-quote="buddhafrog" data-source="post: 5510052" data-attributes="member: 86605">After about a 25 year lapse, I started playing D&D again one year ago - one of my best decisions ever.  I use D&D 4e in ESL classes and run seven games a week.  At first, I loved 4e.  But as the PC's leveled up and the power cards started increasing, I felt the joy of the new powers begin to decrease.  The amount of focus my players spent determining which exact power to use far outweighed their in-combat roleplaying or even their tactical plans.And then I played Pathfinder as a player and I loved it.  I began thinking of making a switch to Pathfinder for my classes....And then I began two Essentials games as the DM and I am back in love with D&D 4e - Essentials.  All new games will be Essentials only.We all like our own thing and that is more than cool - but for me, Essentials has really revitalized my desire to DM these games b/c:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It presents players with less in-combat options and thus more story focus and a slightly faster feel</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It gives players as much or more leveling up options so that I at least feel a greater difference in how the characters are played (I felt that the standard 4e powers started to look very similiar - just the words describing the attack/damage were changed but the end results were essentially the same)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A slightly increased emmersion b/c there are fewer "super powers" that players suddenly use, but rather a general type of fighting that is gradually improved upon</li> </ul>These all borrow from what I loved playing Pathfinder.  I was really happy to see it in Essentials.  I'm glad to still be able to use DDI to build my encounters and monsters.I have changed two things that I feel are important to my game: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I'm giving b/t 1~3 skill pts that players can add each round as I want them to feel they are more involved in that aspect of their characters' growth (loved that about Pathfinder).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">continued house-rule from 4e: healing surges work the same but I only grant 1~5 surges after a rest depending upon the quality of the rest (home/safe = 5, in the depths of a dungeon might mean only 1 or 2).  We have slightly less encounters per day than recommended and this helps make it more deadly and adds a little more fear about taking damage (both things I also loved about Pathfinder)</li> </ul>So there you have it.  Just my opinions.  But if they above sounds interesting to you and you haven't tried Essentials, the books are cheap and I recommend you trying it.  Now, I'm off to help my 3rd group roll up their new Essentials characters.</blockquote>

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