D&D 4E I have seen the coming of 4e...

[hong]

If there free why pay for the privilege from WotC? I'll admit that I've only given WotC's product a cursory examination and it's not required for 4e but why even split your forces? Do one thing well not a multitude with mediocrity.

Your point being...?

 

[JahellTheBard]

4E isn't supposed to be 3E with a few changes, it's a totally new game

Yes, it is what i feel too ... i really agree with your sentence ... the only thing I do not like is calling it D&D 4.0, they should have selected just any different name .. it has nothing to do with D&D, is just for commercial reason.

And as I like present game (3.5) , even with the weak spots or little problems ( but if you do not allow splat books, even Wizards, you just take many problems away), i see no reason to change to 4.0 ed., with is not evolution but 'something else completely different', if i should move i could just select any other RPG, for this has no feelings of previous version ... is just one in the lot of different games you can play ... totally new and fully different game ... for the moment i will stay with 3.5

 

[Derro]

Your point being...?

That it's not a very sound business strategy to offer a product that doesn't contribute anything and tie it to the release of THE NEXT BIG THING. There's been enough misunderstanding about those virtual minis already to probably cost a few sales.

There's rarely a thought of repercussions when the next big idea starts to foment in the brains of those that have them. Do you think the design team thought about who they'd drive off with their newfangled gadgets. No, they were excited about their development and perceived improvements.

Understand, I'm not calling 4e down. I'm sure it will serve it's purpose just fine for a while. What I am doing is asking if this much of a leap is necessary or desired. By changing the game in this manner is it better or just different.

I like most of the core mechanics that I see. I don't like most of the attendant fluff and a good portion of the operating features.

It's a little weird to be on this side of the fence. I pretty much embraced 3e as necessary and desired. Now that I hardly even play RAW D&D anymore this new edition chafes me. Sacred cows? Grognardism? Maybe I just like the debate. Whatever the case I'm just not convinced.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I can't agree with this; a) late 3e -> 4e seems like a larger jump than late 2e -> 3e in that 3e for better or for worse preserved a lot of the look and feel of the old classes, spells, monsters, etc., and b) I don't agree that core 2e is that big of a difference from 1e, even core – you can (and I seem to remember doing in a few really suboptimal situations, but it's been a long time) play 2e PHB with 1e Monster Manual, and I know I played 1e PHB with Basic/Expert modules, and things made enough sense to work without much rewriting. Ogres and orcs stayed ogres and orcs. Now, obviously crossing the 2e PHB with the 3e Monster Manual is going to result in a big ol' mess. Whatever the virtues of 4e, it's in a totally different language from 3e, and you aren't going to be able to play for example The Sunless Citadel at all with 4e unless it's ported. There's a metric, anyway. I don't think comparing core editions is very useful.

I think everyone has different priorities and what's a major change for one isn't so important for another.
I'd say that the switch from AD&D 2e to D&D 3rd edition looks pretty strong, since so much has changed in the rules.

But others look more at several flavour effects and thing the changes aren't that big.

4E might be changing a lot on both accounts. The implied setting isn't any of the previous existing ones, and has many strong changes (gone are Astral, Ethreal, Shadow Planes, here come the Feywild and Shadowfell). The mechanics are still roll d20 for anything important, but the combat mechanics rely a lot more on power instead of simple attacks.
Which might be its greatest weakness in winning over "old" players, since there are many changes to digest.

I wouldn't care that much for the implied setting of D&D, though I think I prefer the new implied setting more, since it inspires me more then the old. But that might just be the "old vs new" thing.

 

[hong]

That it's not a very sound business strategy to offer a product that doesn't contribute anything and tie it to the release of THE NEXT BIG THING. There's been enough misunderstanding about those virtual minis already to probably cost a few sales.

And this has to do with 4E's design, how...?

 

[Derro]

And this has to do with 4E's design, how...?

Because game design and marketing strategy don't exist independent of each other. If the design incorporates elements that the consumer perceives to be linked to video games then that changes the image of the game.

Dungeons and Dragons is not just a game it is a commercial entity. Changing the structure of that entity in such a fashion that it only has passing resemblance to its previous incarnations dilutes the brand.

And sure the argument here can be, "Let the old guys play there old game, this is new D&D for a new era." But who is this game appealing to specifically? What is the long-term viability? How does it relate to the past incarnations of D&D beyond name and familiar concepts (classes, levels, races, etc.)? Is it D&D in name only?

If it's an effort to keep up with the Joneses then somebody should tell WotC that the Joneses packed up and left about 5 years ago.

 

[Psion]

I find it hard to empathise with the POV that "I don't like that they changed X". 4E isn't supposed to be 3E with a few changes, it's a totally new game.

I think differing with that philosophy is as fair a grounds for criticism as any. Particularly with respect to said changes were meaningful or well motivated, or (perhaps more to Mike's point) how well it addresses the viewpoints of longtime players.

 

[BryonD]

Honestly, considering how precise things are with 4E, it would make a terrible real-time game.

You would never be able to work in half of the mechanics.

An MMO would be a nightmare.

I think it is exactly the opposite.

Remember, an MMO would not be a straight port over. But the baseline of linear scaling of everthing and "the math works" would all lay a perfect foundation.

4E P&P isn't remotely as precise as WoW.

 

[BryonD]

There is a lot of good design in computer games. If WotC designers are inspired by some examples of good design and incorporate them into 4E that's not a bad thing. It obviously may not result in a game to the liking of all existing D&D players but I don't think likening aspects of 4E design to aspects of computer games is necessarily a strike against 4E.

I agree with this.
I don't like what I've seen of 4E. But taking inspiration from computer games isn't a cause. It certainly could be something that was done very poorly. But it is also something that could be a source of great ideas.

 

[qstor]

But not liking it simply for not being the same as 3E doesn't make sense to me. Were people hoping for 3E to be released with a new cover, perhaps? If you don't have it, pick up the leatherbound 3E collectors editions - they'll make a great 4E for you: exactly the same, but with a different cover!

It's a new game. Not the old game changed a bit.

For me it's more that 4E doesn't seem like D&D. I mean there's wizards, orcs, to hit vs AC etc but the tone has changed completely. It's more of a radical departure from the previous editions. I'm not sure WHY game balance and ease of play are the reasons for the change. Sure high level combat in 3e takes a long time but have the WOTC play testers wrote out 25th level 4e PCs? I'm sure high level combat takes some time in 4e as well. esp if you have tons of powers to deal with. The conspiracy theorist in me seems some hidden ORCUS memo from Hasbro as the reason for 4e like "How to get more people off of WOW and playing D&D"

As far as lava being instant death? I thought one of the points in 4e was nothing was automatic anymore? At least one of the players at the preview table said that in response to my "WHAT magic missile doesn't hit automatically anymore?" No more save or die in 4e. So auto death by environmental damage?? Personally I'm not so sure