D&D 4E InQuest 4e article

[Mark]

I would have given Spellcasters a very quick to adjudicate, zero-resource Spellblast to give them something to do on their turn other than waste precious time deciding

My personal preference is something similar, bascally an energy spell scalable by the caster (1d6 per level) of the energy type of the caster's choosing (fire, cold, sonic, etc.). It would simplify casting a great deal. Most other spells could be re-combined and simplified, too. Spell glut is just as bad as feat glut at this point.

 

[Mercule]

Let's see:

Tieflings in the PHB -- WTF? Seriously. Who thought that was a good idea? As an expansion book option, sure, but not PHB. Throw in hobgoblins or orcs, instead.

Bo9S adaptation -- Could be good. Could be bad. I'm somewhat in agreement with Wulf, but I'm also willing to trade some speed of play for fun of play. I have three main fears: 1) That it's going to make the fighter as potentially game-wrecking (in terms of "gotta look up my ability") as the wizard. 2) Something else to end up as bloat in expension books -- as if feats and spells aren't enough. 3) Implicit introduction of too much wuxia and wire-work into the core game.

Wizards and resource management -- Not much detail, but it sure doesn't sound like they're using per encounter balance for wizards. That's a huge relief.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Let's see:

Tieflings in the PHB -- WTF? Seriously. Who thought that was a good idea? As an expansion book option, sure, but not PHB. Throw in hobgoblins or orcs, instead.

It would seem strange if they include tieflings but not aasimar; if it does work out that way it would be interesting to hear their rationale.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Neither do I. But maybe the combat maneuvers won't be so "magical" like they were in Bo9S.
I know what you mean, Bo9S was a book full of spells disguised as combat maneuvers

I was looking forward to Bo9S, but was disappointed when it appeared for just this reason. I think I was expecting interesting combat manouevres, rather than spells for fighters...

 

[The Merciful]

As it is, I guess half-elves, half-orcs, gnomes probably have an even shot at it. Half-orcs I'd miss the least, but I think half-elves or gnomes are more likely, depending on whether they go with "nobody plays this anyway" (half-elf) or "PCs need to be cool rather than whimsical" (gnome).

I think gnomes and halflings make each other redundant. The two should be rolled into one race. Half-elves are a bit meh, and could be done without. Half-orc should be turned into full orcs (maybe a "civilized" breed of orcs, though).

Opinion, not speculation.

 

[Gez]

I think gnomes and halflings make each other redundant.

Gnomes: Fey-like race with innate spellcasting abilities, can talk to animal, especially good with alchemy and illusion.
Halfling: Street urchin-like race that is good with stealing, catburglaring, and also robbing, especially good with everything rogue.

Only common point is that both are small-sized. If so, elves make humans redundant. And yet, there are humans and elves and also half-elves and even half-orcs; and nobody to find any redundancy.

It's not logical at all, but that erroneous belief is so widespread that I'd be willing to bet good money that indeed, it's the gnomes that have been removed.

I gotta say, that article changed my opinion from "not interested" to "ewww".

 

[mhacdebhandia]

One thing I want to point out, with a song in my heart:



That image is called "DDcoverartcopy".

(Click for a bigger version.)

 

[Mark]

Gnomes: Fey-like race with innate spellcasting abilities, can talk to animal, especially good with alchemy and illusion.
Halfling: Street urchin-like race that is good with stealing, catburglaring, and also robbing, especially good with everything rogue.

Only common point is that both are small-sized. If so, elves make humans redundant. And yet, there are humans and elves and also half-elves and even half-orcs; and nobody to find any redundancy.

It's not logical at all, but that erroneous belief is so widespread that I'd be willing to bet good money that indeed, it's the gnomes that have been removed.

I gotta say, that article changed my opinion from "not interested" to "ewww".

I think they should elminate the half races, half elf *and* half orc. They could add in orcs as a player race if they really feel the need to compensate for the "I want my half orc" backlash but holding on to unnecessary sacred cows was the ultimate problem of 3.x, IMO.

 

[Glyfair]

That image is called "DDcoverartcopy".

Probably is the miniatures game. It doesn't match the covers of the 3 core books in the presentation video.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Probably is the miniatures game. It doesn't match the covers of the 3 core books in the presentation video.

What did they look like? Was the "Worship" 1E PHB homage an element of the 4E PHB?