How big is the Jump?

[Hussar]

Inspired by this post:

Originally Posted by Imp
You can't blame people for not having those expectations. 1e -> 2e was not a very big jump at least initially. 2e -> 3e was, but a lot of stuff was kept, or an attempt to emulate it was made using the new rules. So there's not so much to support that point of view that it's obvious to all comers.

I'm thinking about how much of a jump it would really be for my group to move to 4e. Currently we're playing an Eberron game with the following characters:

Binder
Knight
Warblade
Artificer
Cleric

So, just in my group right now, we have an at will PC (binder), a controller, a character with at will melee abilities, a character that doesn't follow the magic crafting mechanics and one character that is pure 3e.

Would it really be a big jump for me to move to 4e? From the previews, I'm thinking not so much.

 

[MaelStorm]

At DDXP they mentioned the fact that Dragon and news or article on D&D Insider will feature rules for adapting Eberron material to 4E. Starting in June with the Warforged. Eberron will be released only in early 2009.

 

[Kordeth]

I'm thinking about how much of a jump it would really be for my group to move to 4e. Currently we're playing an Eberron game with the following characters:

Binder
Knight
Warblade
Artificer
Cleric

So, just in my group right now, we have an at will PC (binder), a controller, a character with at will melee abilities, a character that doesn't follow the magic crafting mechanics and one character that is pure 3e.

Would it really be a big jump for me to move to 4e? From the previews, I'm thinking not so much.

Probably not at all. I'm not terribly familiar with the binder, but knight probably maps well to warlord, warblade to fighter, and cleric to, well, cleric. Binders and artificers might prove more problematic, but IIRC there was an announcement that Insider would have at least some information on playing a 4E artificer.

 

[small pumpkin man]

Well, that's kind of part of the problem, I fully expect to be able to port my Crusader over much easier than my buddy's fighter*, for people who've been keeping track it's likely not that much, for people who've been playing 3.x, no splats, and weren't been paying attention, it could be a huge jump.

(*Or at least for it to feel more authentic to the original character).

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Probably not at all. I'm not terribly familiar with the binder, but knight probably maps well to warlord, warblade to fighter, and cleric to, well, cleric. Binders and artificers might prove more problematic, but IIRC there was an announcement that Insider would have at least some information on playing a 4E artificer.

The knight could also be made into a paladin.

The races & classes books mentioned that one of the kinds of pacts that warlocks can get is with vestiges. The warlock has changed a bit since that was written, but it still might be possible. The mechanics would be fairly different, but the flavor would be very compatible. If the vestige pact isn't in the PH, it might be in the arcane book coming out a few months later.

 

[Hussar]

I think that was my point really.

I've never worried too much about direct mechanical translations of characters. The stats on the sheet aren't really what defines a PC in my mind anyway. I'm perfectly happy with a thematic translation.

And, really, I'm looking at the previews and thinking, gee, that sounds an awful lot like what we're already doing. Just with a bit more spit and polish.

 

[Peter LaCara]

Warlock
Warlord
Fighter
Rogue/Wizard
Cleric

Seems like it'd fit close enough to me.

 

[Burr]

They claim to have fixed the crafting system, so the Artificer shouldn't be too difficult to emulate with a Wizard or Warlord. The Binder would be a Warlock. And I'd make the Knight a Paladin who serves the god/ideal of honor or chivalry.