D&D 4E New "Confessions of a Full Time Wizard" - 4e tidbits!

[Firevalkyrie]

Last I heard, she's a WotC Employee. I'd hope that all WotC employees have at least heard of most of the stuff in the DMG by now.

And I'm not really sure how much of a sacred cow rolling vs point buy is anymore. I've had a total of 4 different DMs and only 1 one didn't use point buy and she was a brand new DM.

She's a Promotions Coordinator. For several years by her own admission, her only real contact with D&D was in scheduling various promotions for it (i.e. author visits to local stores and such things).

 

[Wepwawet]

That doesn't jive with the magic gets crits too.

Hum... I wonder how a critical Sleep spell would work
Foes & allies, everyone, including the caster asleep? That'd be cool!

 

[Glyfair]

You mean besides D&D, right? Call of Cthulhu comes to mind. Still being made, still being played, still rolling for attributes. I do not own a lot of newer RPGs, so I can't tell you many others, offhand.I am sure if I dig around I will find more.

I do think he was talking about new RPGs. I know there are a couple of recent RPGs (since 3E was released, anyway) that had a random element to character generation. Most, however, don't. The RPGs with random character generation were usually created in the 80s or earlier.

What is the method that everyone is assumed to be using when you talk about everything else in that book? If that system is the point buy system, then that is the system that most DMs will expect their players to use.

In my experience, as apparently many others here, point buy (or some variation like standard array) tends to be the required generation method. Since that is the optional method in the DMG, I'd have to say that my experience differs. Most DMs don't expect their players to use the default method.

Now, your experience differs. What you should ask yourself is whether the DMs go for random generation because they prefer that (in which case you are fine regardless of default), or because they go with the default rules and don't allow "optional" rules.

Regardless, it seems the point is likely moot since Scott has said that no version is listed as being the preferred method.

And honestly, I've not met too many people who like to roll. I can't remember the last time I rolled. The only time I'd ever want to roll is when the alternative is 28 point buy.

In my experience there are two groups of players who make up a majority of those who prefer rolling. There is a third, but there is a lot of overlap and many claiming to be in that category aren't.

1. "It's always been done that way" - The so-called grognards. Admittedly, you don't have to been playing really long to have been in that category. The main reason they will give you is because that's the way they've always done and they prefer it (occasionally you'll hear "that's the only right way").

2. Powergamers - The players looking for the "jackpot." They know they can do better with point buy. They'll tell you they don't mind the occasional poor character. In fact, when they roll poorly they don't end up playing those characters, or at least don't play them for long.

3. "Role-players" - The players who want random characters so they can build a character around random stats. They like weakness in their characters (most want strengths as well). They find it a challenge to build their character around some sort of random base.

The last group is hard to judge though until you get to know them. I know many who have claimed it and found they really fit in type 2 when they tried to get out of playing a poor character, or played them so poorly.

 

[EvilDwarf]

Wow, I can't believe that an article that gives the first look at at will, per encounter, and per day spell mechanics became 3 pages of obsession with rolling dice vs. point buy. Esp. considering both methods have always been options. Esp. considering both methods will still be options in 4E. Can someone say something about the mechanics we just caught a glimpse of, rather than "I prefer to play this way or that?" If you prefer to play this way or that, fine--play that way. Sheesh.

I'm guessing that Magic Missile is losing its auto-hit, and the wizard uses her INT bonus as a To Hit bonus (no more touch attach AC). Also, the Reserve Feat "Fiery Burst" from Complete Mage sounds something like the other at will spell, and Reserve Feats function essentially as at will.

I'm also guessing that the once/day spells will be automatically maximized, thus taking care of managing some Meta-magic feats.

 

[Rechan]

Wow, I can't believe that an article that gives the first look at at will, per encounter, and per day spell mechanics became 3 pages of obsession with rolling dice vs. point buy. Esp. considering both methods have always been options. Esp. considering both methods will still be options in 4E.

Welcome to the 4e boards!

Here, when we are given four feats, the name of one spawns several threads, and multiple pages worth of arguing. When we are told there's a mechanic that allows for awarding completion of goals and adventures, we have twelve pages of arguing whether it should be written down on note cards and if it's railroading.

Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy six months.

 

[kennew142]

Wow, I can't believe that an article that gives the first look at at will, per encounter, and per day spell mechanics became 3 pages of obsession with rolling dice vs. point buy. Esp. considering both methods have always been options. Esp. considering both methods will still be options in 4E. Can someone say something about the mechanics we just caught a glimpse of, rather than "I prefer to play this way or that?" If you prefer to play this way or that, fine--play that way. Sheesh.

Yes, daddy. I'm going to agree, even though I was guilty as charged.

I'm guessing that Magic Missile is losing its auto-hit, and the wizard uses her INT bonus as a To Hit bonus (no more touch attach AC). Also, the Reserve Feat "Fiery Burst" from Complete Mage sounds something like the other at will spell, and Reserve Feats function essentially as at will.

I think you are probably right about magic missile losing its autohit. I believe that the attack roll will probably be 1/2 level + class bonus + INT and the target number will be reflex save. When they said they were getting rid of touch AC, I think they meant that it is replaced by Reflex Save, computed as 1/2 level + class bonus + DEX. It is functionally equivalent to touch AC, since it is basically AC less armor, shield, etc... bonuses.

I'm also guessing that the once/day spells will be automatically maximized, thus taking care of managing some Meta-magic feats.

This I doubt. I think that area effect spells and spells that disable an opponent (a la sleep and hold person) will be restricted to per day or possibly per encounter.

 

[Dormammu]

I think you are probably right about magic missile losing its autohit.

I agree. It will also be interesting to see if it retains its multi-shot element because...

This I doubt. I think that area effect spells and spells that disable an opponent (a la sleep and hold person) will be restricted to per day or possibly per encounter.

I agree with this too. Sleep is clearly too powerful to be a per encounter or at will power. Burning Hands is also probably too good for at will. AE attacks being cast every round would be clearly extreme (thus wondering whether Magic Missile will be at will and multi-shot at higher levels).

Not knowing what Fireblast does, the other three spells seem to be placed at exactly the usability that I would think is reasonable. Sounds good so far!

 

[Scott_Rouse]

Shelly is actually an Associate Brand Manager and manages our Young Adult book Line. She was a Promo Coord. over seven years ago when I was her boss and has worked on pretty much every product at the company from M:TG to kids games. She is a very bright and talented marketer plus she writes her own plays, volunteers at a dog shelter, and can bake cookies that will make your heart stop.

Don't try to cut her down (you know who you are) because she doesn't fit into some preconception of who should be writing D&D articles. She's not writing The Cute Girls Guide to Curing Cancer in the JAMA. It's D&D, a game, and it is supposed to be fun. :\

Although it took her a few years at WOTC before she discovered D&D and doesn't have the depth of knowledge of a Chris Perkins, she is passionate about playing the game and shows up at our game every week to kick ass.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

It's much easier to say, "choose your path" or "we'll be using this one" in just one book.

Until some guy gets a bunch of 11's and a 12 with rolling, then starts whining that the other guy "rolled" a bunch of 18's. Honestly 3.5 editions of this crap was enough.

 

[ForumFerret]

Fails Will save and gives into to the corruption of message board...

Opens draft of PHB, goes to chapter 1, page six, and looks at last paragraph regarding Determining Your Ability Scores and low and behold you can still roll dice to determine ability scores. It says so on page 7 in the third paragraph. But if you like to use the Standard Ability Array you can do that too, it says so on page 7. Not happy? Wait there is more. If you want to use a Customized Array you can do that as well, it says so. Where you ask? If you guessed it is on page 7 you get a

Scott, for all the crap you and the other developers get, it's posts like this that make me happy to to be a D&D gamer. To have a development team that is willing to slog through all the mud flung at them and still keep a cheerful attitude and toss us the occasional tidbit, or even to have a development team that even -knows where the non official message boards regarding their game are located- is a great feeling.

Thanks for that.