I'm not sure yet is I like or hate the new rules (I only got them yesterday) but after a brief perusal I have to echo what a lot of people have been saying: it's not the D&D of old.
I think the thing that I will find most disappointing is the effective end of "low-level" adventuring...1st level characters now seem like 5th level characters under any of the old rules to me. I think this is a shame as I always enjoyed the journey from low level to beyond and the gradual accumulation of powers.
Also it seems like the classes have lost a lot of their distinction for me, which is a shame...and the race options seem a little off too. I'm pretty sure the gnome won't be greatly missed but did we really need the Eladrin to sit beside the elf and half-elf?
I'm not arguing that previous editions were better, but at least there was a sense of evolution to the ruleset. 4E seems to have come a bit out of left field and other than the titles on the spines, I can't see much resemblance between this and the game I grew up with.
I think the thing that I will find most disappointing is the effective end of "low-level" adventuring...1st level characters now seem like 5th level characters under any of the old rules to me. I think this is a shame as I always enjoyed the journey from low level to beyond and the gradual accumulation of powers.
Also it seems like the classes have lost a lot of their distinction for me, which is a shame...and the race options seem a little off too. I'm pretty sure the gnome won't be greatly missed but did we really need the Eladrin to sit beside the elf and half-elf?
I'm not arguing that previous editions were better, but at least there was a sense of evolution to the ruleset. 4E seems to have come a bit out of left field and other than the titles on the spines, I can't see much resemblance between this and the game I grew up with.