D&D 4E Owen Stephens Thoughts on 4e

[Dragonblade]

Nice! Thanks for posting that.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Oh no! He used the F-word!

On the bright side we got a post that only uses the C-word 3 times and then only in part 2. (the C-Word of course being "Cool")

 

[Mercule]

I think 4e is a better version of D&D than 3e.

That's the answer to the question I've most wanted to ask.

I've been excited by what I've heard about 4E, but one comment I've made to my friends is, "It sounds like it'll be a really great/fun game, but I'm not sure it'll be D&D." Since I'm more interested in "fun" than "D&D", that hasn't been an issue for me, but I still find the idea that it still feels like D&D to be reassuring.

 

[psionotic]

"But there's a catch?"
"Of course, Catch-22. You can't say anything positive, because your words will be perceived as empty and false, in any case without merit; being that saying anything negative is strictly verboten. Additionally, those upset that you can't be specific in your praise will condemn your non-specificity, and will perceive your vagaries as offensive in their lack of specifics. You can't say anything negative, because to do so would be to admit that the restrictions on what cannot be said are not overly uneffective, coupled with the fact that WotC is not forcing those who have nothing not negative to say to say them (within the bounds of the NDA, of course), but only strongly suggesting that those with things that aren't positive to say to say nothing at all, except to WotC themselves."

 

[Owen K.C. Stephens]

There's ALWAYS a catch.

I knew not everyone would want to hear what I had to say. And not everyone will agree with it once they get the books. And some people will feel that because I can;t say everything, it's worse than my saying nothing.

from a practical point of view, Wizards has given me a chance to promote myself as a game designer to those who may want 4e designers sooner, rather than later. I want to do that.

At the same time, it sucks to work on a game you don't like. I've done it. I have less reason than ever to do it now, because I got an office job last year. My financial stability isn't connected to my ability to write about elves anymore.

If I didn't like 4e, I wouldn't want more 4e work. If I didn't want more 4e work, I wouldn't say anything. And, since I may get hired by other 4e publishers, I certainly wouldn't say anything I can't back up with other people who -do- have access to the new OGL and the current rules.

But most importantly, I told some people who like what I read I'd say more when I could. I can now, so I did.

Most of you have been very cool about my limited speaking options. Thanks.

Owen K.C. Stephens

 

[Gundark]

I say that if you can't say anything meaningful, don't say anything at all.

Ah...but meaningful is in the eye of the beholder!!