It's interesting to see...

[Korgoth]

I've been wondering what happened with all that Golden Wyvern/Iron Sigil/Emerald Flame stuff. Did it go the way of the Dodo?

You mean the way of the Mauve Dodo Hulaskirt Carburetor? Hopefully.

"This move is called Orange Groundsloth Pirouette Fruitbasket."
"What does it do?"
"You stab somebody with your pointy weapon."
"How about we just call it 'thrust'?"

 

[Wormwood]

EDIT: Lots of people were might excited about 3rd edition when it was nearing release and when the books were hot in their hands. Eight years later, everyone hates it. I wonder how 4th edition will stand the test of time?

I thought 3e was a vast improvement over 2e, and I still do.

I enjoyed 3e for about four years, until my personal gaming tastes had evolved to the point that I simply couldn't stomach 3e's klunky and (IMO) out-dated elements.

I'm sure I'll tire of 4e eventually. Here's hoping for some kick-ass gaming in the meantime.

 

[Dragonblade]

Its also interesting to see how some of the controversial things in 4e seem MIA in the new previews and Keep on the Shadowfell.

For example, the death and dying mechanic no longer seems to have any rule about popping up on a natural 20. You now just bleed out until you are stabilized or healed by another party member.

The whole Golden Wyvern stuff looks like its gone. Power names are not overly fanciful.

And I haven't seen the 10th level ring restriction show up anywhere either.

 

[Cirex]

EDIT: Lots of people were might excited about 3rd edition when it was nearing release and when the books were hot in their hands. Eight years later, everyone hates it. I wonder how 4th edition will stand the test of time?

I have a feeling that the new edition will do pretty well for itself. I predict less rules bloat and power inflation. The rules seem very well designed.

We'll see....

Well, 3e is a nightmare for DMs. I don't hate it, but after reading so much information about 4e, I really got a hard time writing stuff for 3e. I promised my players to DM at least 4 more times before moving to 4e, so we can leave the campaign at a point where players can either convert their characters or start new ones. I got to design some combats and you know what am I doing? Giving the NPCs the stats I feel they should have. I'm adding some minions and giving the enemies, humans mostly, special combat maneouvers so they don't just attack and all that. I'm considering adding a skill challenge.

I don't know how good minions or skill challenges will work on 3e, but I'm trying it anyways. And slowly I'm adding 4e concepts because I really want to start playing 4e...but I got to be patient.

3.5 isn't that bad, but compared with 4e, it feels weak.

 

[Rechan]

For example, the death and dying mechanic no longer seems to have any rule about popping up on a natural 20. You now just bleed out until you are stabilized or healed by another party member.

I thought when you rolled 20, you got to use a healing surge?

 

[Wolfspider]

Well, 3e is a nightmare for DMs. I don't hate it, but after reading so much information about 4e, I really got a hard time writing stuff for 3e. I promised my players to DM at least 4 more times before moving to 4e, so we can leave the campaign at a point where players can either convert their characters or start new ones. I got to design some combats and you know what am I doing? Giving the NPCs the stats I feel they should have. I'm adding some minions and giving the enemies, humans mostly, special combat maneouvers so they don't just attack and all that. I'm considering adding a skill challenge.

I don't know how good minions or skill challenges will work on 3e, but I'm trying it anyways. And slowly I'm adding 4e concepts because I really want to start playing 4e...but I got to be patient.

3.5 isn't that bad, but compared with 4e, it feels weak.

Several years ago I started adding components to my D&D 3.5 game that made it run more smoothly and cinematically, like action points (that functioned like drama points in Unisystem) and combat maneuvers from th Book of Iron might. I simplified monster stat blocks and used my laptop to full capacity to make things easier on me. I'm sure that these changes and tools helped me avoid the kind of burnout and disappointment that I've read other people describe. For me, D&D 3.5 is still a great game, and one I'll be running for years to come considering that my gaming group doesn't want to change.

I am looking forward to 4e, though. I enjoy a good cinematic game.

I must admit to being a bit disappointed that Action Points in D&D 4e don't seem to do anything other than give an additional action. They have so much potential....

 

[Dragonblade]

I thought when you rolled 20, you got to use a healing surge?

IRC, the quick start rules in Keep on the Shadowfell don't mention this at all. You basically keep rolling every round you are dying. Your party members have to heal or stabilize you before you fail for the 3rd time.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

EDIT: Lots of people were might excited about 3rd edition when it was nearing release and when the books were hot in their hands. Eight years later, everyone hates it. I wonder how 4th edition will stand the test of time?

Well, I still like 3e (although 3.5 irritated me because there were so many miniscule changes that I felt like I was no longer familiar with the rules). If I played nothing but 3rd edition for the next 15 years, I'd be a pretty happy camper.

I don't see myself running 3rd edition again, however. If 4e is as user friendly as playtests suggest, then I think this will be my game of choice to GM.

 

[darkInertia]

I must admit to being a bit disappointed that Action Points in D&D 4e don't seem to do anything other than give an additional action. They have so much potential....

The preview for the paragon paths revealed that each path will have a effect on action points.

 

[Rechan]

IRC, the quick start rules in Keep on the Shadowfell don't mention this at all. You basically keep rolling every round you are dying. Your party members have to heal or stabilize you before you fail for the 3rd time.

Well you stabilize 10-19. Does nothing happen on a 20?