I used to LIKE third edition...

[Brown Jenkin]

Just have fun with the game. This 'edition wars' is all a fad and it will pass, like everything else.

Yep, just like a kidney stone.

 

[Umbran]

I'm just tired of having to defend fourth while simultaneously dissecting third to prove my "point".

As others have suggested, the basic problem lies here:

1) No edition requires your defense. It will stand or fall on its own merits.

2) There is no call to rip apart the old to defend the new. This is kind of like ripping apart strawberry in the defense of chocolate.

The final question is simple - what do you care what other people think about it? Sure, engaging in comparison or contrasting editions can lead to deeper understanding of both. But the "proof" that your new love is better than the old (to yourself or others) is simply not needed.

It is a game - the only justification you need for playing it is your own enjoyment.

 

[Hussar]

Edition wars will pass? Really? Try posting something criticising something about 1e and see how far you get.

Rem - I know what you mean. I like 3.5 I do. I do Sam I am. I an I will play it in the house and I will play it with a mouse.... erm. . . sorry about that. I still absolutely fail to understand how criticising mechanics gets equated with bashing or insulting the game as a whole.

There's a lengthy discussion right now about whether or not rogues get sidelined by magic in 3e. Yes, I think that they do. But, for some reason, because I think so, I get labeled a 4e fanbois and 3e hater. It's not about hating the edition, it's about seeing a specific issue and having a problem.

A year ago, I could have the EXACT same conversation and no one would label me a 3e hater. Now, it's become like 1e - sacred text that thou shalt not criticise. The second you say anything even mildly bad about 3e, people are jumping out of the woodwork screaming that you're wrong. ((Granted, it's probably equally bad with 4e, but, I don't got to the 4e rules board))

Regardless of edition, you can criticise specific elements without hating the edition. Just be specific in your criticisms.

 

[Kzach]

Anyone got a suggestion on how to get the magic back? On how to stop worrying and love the d20 system? To see past the flaws and see the game I fell in love with before? Can it be done? Should it be done?

Yeah, stop going to forums and chatrooms.

 

[cangrejoide]

Yeah, stop going to forums and chatrooms.

This.

Just take a break man.

 

[jmucchiello]

There are a lot of quotes of this type in this thread:

Yeah, stop going to forums and chatrooms.

The final question is simple - what do you care what other people think about it?

And there is the problem. Stop caring and stop trying to defend 4e by trashing 3e. If you like 4e, great. Play it and have fun. People who play 4e don't need to defend themselves anymore than those who like playing 3.x.

And I think they miss an important point in the OP:

Here. On WotC Forums. In my own gaming group.(emphasis added)

Yeah, getting worked up over an Internet post is a sure sign you need to step away from the keyboard for a couple days. But how do you deal with "edition wars" in your own gaming group? I don't care what random Internet guy says is good or bad about edition x, y or z. But what my friend and gaming partner of 10 years thinks is important. I do care what he thinks. So how about giving that advice? What do you do when you find yourself building edition x by slamming edition y to your friends? It's a valid concern I'd hate to see lost in this thread of anti-flamewar advice.

 

[Voadam]

Generally speaking, I still like fourth edition and find it easy to play, easier to DM, and a lot of fun. I said the same thing about 3e eight years ago. I WANT to like 3e again; to get the joy out of it that I did before 4dventure took over.

I'm just tired of having to defend fourth while simultaneously dissecting third to prove my "point".

Anyone got a suggestion on how to get the magic back? On how to stop worrying and love the d20 system? To see past the flaws and see the game I fell in love with before? Can it be done? Should it be done?

1 Think about things that 3e does well.

For example different styles of mechanical play:

Want to play a character who does all sorts of magical at will abilities? Play a warlock. Want customization of powers to the situation? Play a psion with enhanceable powers you can choose to pump points into.

Want a warrior with lots of mechanical choices? Take power attack and/or expertise feats.

Want a warrior with no number crunch changes? Take a fighter without power attack or go the all power attack all the time route.

2 Play things that are not available in 4e yet, xeph soulknife, half-orc monk monk, aasimar paragon, etc.

3 Focus on story elements and not the mechanics.

 

[Eosin the Red]

Anyone got a suggestion on how to get the magic back? On how to stop worrying and love the d20 system? To see past the flaws and see the game I fell in love with before? Can it be done? Should it be done?

I have a 6 point plan for you.

1. Play Games that you like
2. with people whom you like
3. Ignore system attacks on the 'net but speak mightily against flanking attacks on persons be they 1E, 2E, 3E, 4E or Hero Heads like me.
4. Turn all games into idea mines so that each has value and inherent worth.
5. If that fails, Walk the Earth like Kaine from Kung Fu.
6. Acknowledge that you are the leaf and not the wind. Your gaming destiny lies in the forces of nature and economics far beyond your control. Be content to simply game.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Acknowledge that you are the leaf and not the wind. Your gaming destiny lies in the forces of nature and economics far beyond your control. Be content to simply game.

Amen to that.

 

[Mephistopheles]

What you're going through can probably be described by dredging up an old saying: don't cut off your nose to spite your face. Everyone you'll extol the virtues of 4E to will be dust in a hundred years. It's not worth your time. What is worth your time is enjoying what you can in the game you're currently playing and not worrying about the problems.