D&D 4E Gettin' a bit wistful working on stuff for my 4e campaign...

[the Jester]

So I was working on statting up some custom npcs for my epic 4e game, which is pretty well 26th level at this point, and I got a little wistful as I realized that I won't be doing too many more custom 4e stat blocks. Between my own game and my work on the Monster Project, I've written hundreds or more; it's kind of sad to realize that there are probably a dozen or so left before we switch over to 5e for our next group of pcs.

Not that I'm not looking forward to the 5e campaign, mind you- I really am! But, just as with the transition to each new edition, however much it looks to speak to my playstyle, I feel that wistfulness.

Anyway, just thought I'd share.

 

[Quickleaf]

[MENTION=1210]the Jester[/MENTION]
Yeah, sounds like it's something you put many hours into! Anytime you feel the end of such a n undertaking, there is always a little loss or wistfulness at the creative endeavor coming to a close. Sounds totally natural to me

You've reminded me of both my completed 4e projects (Dragon Mountain conversion, DM cheat sheet), as well as stuff that I never finished or haven't shared (Planescape conversion, Beast of Bechauex adventure). Hmm...actually that Beast of Bechaeux adventure is mostly done, I should upload it here! Hah, thanks for reminding me!

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

I can imagine having that same feeling if I was going from 4E to 5E.

There is a lot to like about what we have seen about 5E so far, but the reality is that 4E is a very different game (which is, no doubt, why it is so despised by so many).

As a counterpoint, I had no sense of wistfulness dropping 1E for 2E. I loved the fact that finally AD&D had rules for combat that made sense and appeared to have been edited. And then there were combat options!

I had no sense of wistfulness dropping 2E for 3.xE. Oh look, there's an underlying logic to the game! No wonder Gary was horrified....

And despite being burnout by 3.5E and almost desperate to scratch my gaming itch with 4E, I do still feel a sense of wistfulness for 3.xE because some of my best gaming, and definitely my longest campaigns, took place using that edition. While I would never go back to it, I look at it fondly and perhaps with extreme wistfulness.

 

[Jhaelen]

As long as my fellow players are happy with 4e I won't switch to 5e. Our campaign is currently in mid-paragon tier, so I expect we still have several years before we have to decide if we want to try something else. I'm not overly interested in 5e judging from what I've read about it. I still have to take the time and read the complete Basic Rules, but I doubt it will change my mind. They dropped too many things I've grown to love about 4e.

 

[Raith5]

For me basic 5e made feel nostalgia for Basic D&D. I think it is a great starting point for the hobby. But the 5e PHB is making me realise how much 4e changed what I expect from grander scale D&D: ranging from small things like +1 wands to fundamental things like static defenses where the attacker rolls. It seems we are both lucky and cursed to have such a wide variety of editions to choose from.

 

[GX.Sigma]

On the upside, I can't wait to see what 5e monsters the community creates!

 

[the Jester]

As long as my fellow players are happy with 4e I won't switch to 5e. Our campaign is currently in mid-paragon tier, so I expect we still have several years before we have to decide if we want to try something else.

Yeah, if my game was lower level I might be more torn about whether to convert or just continue in 4e. This close to the "end point" for 4e pcs, though... I'll play it out.

I'm not overly interested in 5e judging from what I've read about it. I still have to take the time and read the complete Basic Rules, but I doubt it will change my mind. They dropped too many things I've grown to love about 4e.

I actually think 5e is just dripping with 4e influence. I speak as a lover of every edition- 5e seems to have taken the best stuff from all of them and rolled it into a wonderful, delicious gaming pastry. Obviously, YMMV, but I'd recommend giving it a shot. I think you'll find much of the best stuff in 4e is actually in 5e, too, if you look around a bit.

 

[Jer]

I actually think 5e is just dripping with 4e influence. I speak as a lover of every edition- 5e seems to have taken the best stuff from all of them and rolled it into a wonderful, delicious gaming pastry. Obviously, YMMV, but I'd recommend giving it a shot. I think you'll find much of the best stuff in 4e is actually in 5e, too, if you look around a bit.

I try not to say this part too loudly because I figure Wizards is working very hard to keep people from realizing just how much 4e is in 5e. But yeah - as I read through the PHB I keep seeing little bits and pieces of 4e poking out.

My group won't be shifting anytime soon though. We just hit paragon tier on our current campaign and, frankly, everyone has too much invested in 4e material at this point and enjoys the system too damn much to change. My group was almost ready to ditch 3.5 even before 4e was announced, but when 5e was announced they flat out told me that they didn't see any reason to switch and even with the good reviews and my own examination of the system, nobody wants to convert and they're already talking about the next 4e campaign they want me to run when this one ends. 4e hit a mark with my table - most of the guys in my game have been playing since the 80s and they all consider 4th to be the best edition of D&D they've ever played. My group is a huge anomaly, though, and we all know it. (I'll probably introduce some 5e innovations over time - in my next campaign we'll definitely be using the 5e style backgrounds instead of the 4e ones for example.)

 

[Gloomshroud]

You guys are making me all sad and excited all at once. It's a lot like moving. You say goodbye to dear friends, but are excited to make new ones too.

 

[Balesir]

My group won't be shifting anytime soon though. We just hit paragon tier on our current campaign and, frankly, everyone has too much invested in 4e material at this point and enjoys the system too damn much to change. My group was almost ready to ditch 3.5 even before 4e was announced, but when 5e was announced they flat out told me that they didn't see any reason to switch and even with the good reviews and my own examination of the system, nobody wants to convert and they're already talking about the next 4e campaign they want me to run when this one ends. 4e hit a mark with my table - most of the guys in my game have been playing since the 80s and they all consider 4th to be the best edition of D&D they've ever played. My group is a huge anomaly, though, and we all know it.

I'm not sure you're that much an anomaly - our group is just the same, wanting to carry on with 4E and maybe start another campaign in 4E after the end of the current one (which will be a while, yet).

I don't have anything against 5E in the least (although the "rulings not rules" thing I just find a blend between meaningless and disfunctional, but that's not really a 5E thing alone) - I just don't see any good reasons to switch.