D&D 4E Going/Not Going to 4E which edition did you start with?

[Greg K]

I started with Basic (Holmes) and within a month was playing 1e. Introductions to other systems led to dissatisfaction with 1e. I switched to 2e, but the changes were not enough to keep me playing and I switched to other systems. Third edition brought me back in large part to third party products.

I won't be switching to 4e. I like a few of the things that have been revealed. However, most of the mechanical changes and design decisions that have been revealed to date are, imo, either unnecessary or unimpressive solutions compared to some of the material in Unearthed Arcana and various third party material. Still, I will look at it to see if there is anything worth "borrowing".

 

[Lanefan]

Started with 1e, still playing (modified) 1e, not planning to switch to 4e but will check it out to see if anything it comes up with works better in my game than what I'm doing now.

Lanefan

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I played a few games of 1st Ed in 1986 with a group I met through a 300 baud-modem dial-up BBS.

Then I played mostly TMNT, until 2nd Edition came out, which I picked up at my local comic & game store the week it came out.

I played 2nd Ed an average of 2 to 3 times a week for about until the Skills & Powers came out and all the little things I didn't like about 2nd got too much for me.

Then I made my own RPG which originally combined 2nd Ed and Call of Cthulu, with a whole lotta stuff I made up myself.

By the time 3rd Ed came out, I owned a Comic & Game store (Hourglass Comics in Port Moody, BC, Canada) and I picked it up right away. Unfortunately, for ever great advancement it made (D20 is SO much better than THAC0, the saves were just greatly superior.) It had a million little things that I didn't like (CR's never worked well, too many "one-time" modifiers every round, etc) but I kept playing it.

Hoped that 3.5 would fix things I didn't like in 3.0. It fixed things that weren't broken, and broke others, and didn't fix a bunch of things it should have. Again, I still played it, but not too often. (Playing SW Saga now, though)

I can't bloody wait for 4E, as the list of things they say they want to fix sounds like a list of everything I hate about 3E. Sure, they've announced stuff I wouldn't have asked for, but it all sounds workable to me.

Fitz

 

[Captain Eru]

I started with Second Edition, but never really got into it. I played mostly because friends of mine played it, but never picked up miniatures, painting, or buying massive amounts of supplements. I moved halfway around the world, and pretty much gave up gaming for a while. I was finally reintroduced, to my everlasting scorn, and got heavy into BattleTech. But I got into it as the game was dying. It’s still on life support, some ten years later. I’ve been at times a moderator at their official website, and contributed to Field Manuals.

From there, I was reintroduced to Third Edition, and found it to be a vast improvement. It’s funny, but when I was just a kid, I found Second Edition overly simplistic, and now I long for those days with a different roll because of fluctuating modifiers every round. I had high hopes for 3.5, but it failed to live up to its billing. I also wasn’t too keen on having to buy three new Core Rulebooks after just three years. I’ve done my globetrotting, played some games in far off locales, but since I’ve come home, I haven’t been able to find a steady group.

From what I’ve heard of Fourth Edition, it seems like it’s going to fix what I had issues with, and keep what I liked. I may be setting myself up for a fall, but if Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Saga Edition is any indication, it’s going to be sweet. And even while it’s only been five years since 3.5 came out, I’m ready to shell out some more cash, providing it’s worth it.

 

[Arkhandus]

I started with 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, sometime in the mid-late 90's, probably 96 or so. Picked up 3E once the three core rulebooks were out. Still don't mind 2E, and still like 3.0e the best by far.

I hate 3.5e for the most part, and 4E for the most part too. Not liable to switch.

But that's more because of WotC's poor editing and lack of oversight than anything else. I think they've been churning products out unfinished, poorly tested, and not well scrutinized, while at least the 3.0 products were made with the same set of 3.0 designers that had figured out the rough balance of the new rules in the first place.

It's not as shiny-l33t as 3.5, but it's more easily fine-tuned and the problem bits are all fairly obvious in 3.0 (thus easily identified and revised or ignored).

WotC still has many good ideas, I just dislike the crude execution and, with 4E, the casual disregard for everything that was D&D before 4th.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Out of curiosity, which edition of D&D did you start with and what's your predilection toward 4E.

I have my old Blackmoor/Chainmail/Eldritch Wizardry pamphlets, as well as all of the major 1Ed, 2Ed, 3Ed and 3.5Ed supplies you'd care to see. Of the various systems and revisions, I looked forward to the revision to 3Ed the most, and find 3.5 to be my favorite incarnation overall.

I'm on the fence about 4Ed. Some of what I've heard encourages me, some ticks me right off, so I'm actually less enthusiastic about this revision than any one previous. However, I've already pre-ordered my Core 3, and will wait until I have them in my hot little hands to make a decision.

After all, despite things I've read that I profoundly dislike as a change from 3.X D&D, the game may still stand up as a fine RPG in its own right.

 

[cougent]

Started in 1981 with AD&D then actually added the red box basic and played both. Skipped 2E entirely and went to EarthDawn in the 90's. Came back for 3E in 2001 and then 3.5.

I have no plans to move to 4E any time soon, 2009 at the earliest, but have not ruled it out either.

I predict the game will launch well, I am not sure how it will fare (since I know so little about it) after the "NEW" wears off. As always, time will tell.

 

[Celtavian]

re

I started with Basic DnD as a boy and moved through every edition. I won't know if I'm going to change until I read the books. Right now I'm leaning towards not changing as not as many of my players have the time or inclination to learn a new game, and from what I've read the change would be as dramatic as the change from Advanced to 3E. I also just downright don't like the changes.

I might write up the house rules I've been wanting to use for a while and go with them. The lack of options in this new DnD game for casters is unappealing. I liked casters that could choose from a huge selection of spells. This focus on blaster damage seems like a step in the wrong direction.

 

[Mr. Wilson]

Started in AD&D. Will probably move to 4E unless they somehow manage to blunder it, which I haven't seen yet.

 

[Elf Witch]

I played a few games of 1E but not many I got really involved in 2E I think the box set was The Night Below. I still have fond memories of my first real PC Bridget a crusader of Herioneus who had a phobia of the undead and penchant for always sayinh the wrong thing at the wrong time.

That campaign ended and we started playing Shadowrun so we were not playing DnD when 3.0 came out. We soon started a 3.0 campign moved to 3.5.

I have gone from a player to a DM.

I have no plans to switch at this time.