Playtesting vs a .5 Edition

[broghammerj]

However, the changes have been in playtest for... quite a lot of the duration of 3.5e. We've been seeing more and more per-encounter abilities in supplements. It looks new if you only compare core 3.5e to core 4e. If you detour to the supplements, you see a lot of 4e in its initial stages.

Cheers!

Merric brings up a good point with one's point of reference and definition of core. I don't consider the power creep of all the 3.5 splat books core. I own 3.5 PHB/DMG/MM and maybe 1 or 2 supplements. Bo9S, the addition of swift actions, etc are all non-core to me and as a result 4E appears to be a big change.

As for the playtesting of 4E going on for years via Bo9s, SWSE, etc....well I have been through this once before. Unlike most, I was an avid fan of the 2E skills and options book as well as Alternatiy fan. Those might have contributed to the mechanics in 3E, but in no way were they 3E. The sum of the parts was not the whole. Obviously it's speculation, but I suspect a similar finding will be true of 4E. Now consider the fact that a lot less playtesting has been done. It makes me cautious and a bit apprehensive.

 

[Silvergriffon]

Huge changes from 2e to 3e

The d20 System's fundamental rule: d20 + modifers, high is always good
Unified system of modifiers for all Ability scores
Ability scores are incredibly more relevant
Base Attack Bonus
Multiple Attacks for all characters
Totally revamped multiclass system with modifiers stacking class to class
Prestige Classes
Feats (arguably the single largest, most important change)
Skill system as core rules
Ability score increases commonplace and expected
Consistent core rules for magic item creation by players
Metamagic
Cleric Domains and spontaneous healing
Much more liberal armor/weapon proficiencies (Clerics using something besides a mace and a sling, armored arcane casters, wizards with crossbows, etc.)
Monsters created with actual rules for design instead of "that looks good"
Monster Templates
Monsters as players in the core rules
Move actions
Standard actions
Full-round actions
Readied actions
6 second rounds
Attacks of Opportunity
The 5 foot step

IMHO, just the addition of feats and attacks of opportunity alone changed the fundamental way the game is played so much that it completely dwarfs any rules changes from 3e to 4e that I have seen so far.