How WotC drove me to WoW

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

As for the green dragon, I think the spike is pretty dumb and pointless, especially since my campaign's looming-but-ominously-mysteriously-absent BBEG is a powerful green dragon, but if my gnomes aren't creatures from the Feywild, my green dragons don't have to be winged rhinoceroses, either.

 

[pawsplay]

I'm sorry, the new green dragon is just too shamefully ugly for words. For three editions and numerous side developments, dragons have upheld their ancient dignity. Now this.

 

[Kzach]

So, here comes WoW!
Buy.com had it on sale!
It's got GNOMES!

I loved gnomes in WoW.

Especially mages.

Especially mages that were low on mana and were hiding somewhere, drinking.

So soft and squishy.

 

[Piratecat]

For three editions and numerous side developments, dragons have upheld their ancient dignity. Now this.

Growf?

 

[jdrakeh]

I'm sorry, the new green dragon is just too shamefully ugly for words. For three editions and numerous side developments, dragons have upheld their ancient dignity. Now this.

Except for the whole "anthro" which didn't really scream "ancient" or 'dignified'

 

[Vocenoctum]

This is not true. The specific statement was that there wasn't a 4th edition planned "that required the use of miniatures".

Nope, when folks kept saying 4e was here, WotC said it wasn't coming, right up until a month before it's announcement.

Except that, if they're playable at launch (and it's been announced that they absolutely are), then gnomes aren't gone.

Well, as I said, I'm sure they'll be available in some capacity, but they are not a PHB race. I've only ordered the PHB, since I want to check the system out.

My point is simply that the design philosophy of 4e, going forward, is that gnomes are not a core player race. I"m not sure what the MM stats are for them (since from the start the "they're in the core!" crowd has neglected that player races have a much more expanded description...), but I don't plan on buying the MM since I'm not going to run anything any time soon.

This is a taste issue. I did find the 3.x green dragons very generic-looking and somehow dull, especially when compared to the similarly "generic" red dragon's iconic look.

Don't get me wrong, ALL of my problems are taste issues. Gnomes are personal taste, Eberron too. There are other races and other campaign worlds.

No setting material for Eberron is invalidated. Three Eberron races are available as player character races from day one in the new MM: doppleganger (changeling), shifter (two varieties), and warforged.

Again, not getting the MM just so I can have player races. Doubling my investment just so I can play the minimum doesn't help me.

Nothing from Eberron is invalidated, but neither is it supported.

I like having something to add, and WoW requires a lot of work.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Good to see some1 complaining 4e isn't videogamey enough.

That's nice, but nowhere do I complain it's not videogamey enough, so I don't even understand the reference.

Wouldn't the DDI provide the same benefits?

I get together with my gaming buddies online and we play roleplaying games, we have a set time. WoW's pickup groups is a totally different thing.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I'd recommend trying to play 4e with friends before you conclude you don't care for it. I can't fault you for feeling neglected, but I'm finding that the new edition is really fun to play. You may or may not agree, but I'd think it a shame to write off the face-to-face time with your friends until you find out.

I preordered the PHB already, as I mentioned one of my groups is switching to 4e to give it a try.

However, it's a much lower investment than previous editions of D&D.

Don't think of it as "D&D lost a player", so much as "D&D4 made a collector into a casual player".

 

[Piratecat]

Fair enough.

If you're still having fun, is that something that really bothers you?

 

[Fifth Element]

Nope, when folks kept saying 4e was here, WotC said it wasn't coming, right up until a month before it's announcement.

Check again.

My point is simply that the design philosophy of 4e, going forward, is that gnomes are not a core player race.

That's not a design philosophy, that's a design decision. The 4E design philosophy could remain completely intact and have gnomes as a PHB race. It was just a decision that was made.