Powers dropping out...

[Lord Mhoram]

If I never hear the phrase "flavor it however you like" again, it will be too soon.

While I don't agree with you, I can understand your position on it. But then I also play Hero where "Flavor it yourself" is a fundamental element of the game.

 

[Wormwood]

From a balance and gameplay standpoint, the ridiculous number of spells high-level casters get has always been a problem (as was the proliferation of powers for everyone in 4e). If they can reduce the complexity of high-level characters while still giving them enough to make them them feel high-level, they'll make a lot of people happy.

Vancian magic with built-in limits to prevent spellcasters from dominating high-level play.

Happy.

 

[Fanaelialae]

If we're changing the system, I'd rather something along the line of the casters gaining more insight about their favorite spells due to their studies & experiences, thus learning ways to improve them. His mastery becomes more refined.

So instead of MM competing for space with acid arrow, the caster learns to make his MMs acidic...or fiery...or more numerous...or do more damage, etc.

The way it sounds, a mage who favors fireball will be able to memorize it in a higher spell slot, thereby improving it.

It reduces the number of spell slots a mage has at high levels, reducing the chance for certain associated issues to arise. Those being, that a mage had so many spells that they had an answer for everything and no longer had to practice spell conservation, and that a mage who wanted to change his prepared spells could hold up play for quite a long time, while he played with about 40 spell slots.

There's also the issue that if you want to add unique upgrades to each spell, you're spending a lot more designer time and effort, not to mention page count, on the magic system. That's not to say that it wouldn't be an interesting option, but I think it would belong in something like the Tome of Magic, not the PHB.

 

[Ahnehnois]

If we're changing the system, I'd rather something along the line of the casters gaining more insight about their favorite spells due to their studies & experiences, thus learning ways to improve them. His mastery becomes more refined.

So instead of MM competing for space with acid arrow, the caster learns to make his MMs acidic...or fiery...or more numerous...or do more damage, etc.

One of the things from 2e that really worked was the tiered weapon proficiencies. Being a grand master in a particular weapon was really nice. If they could do something similar for spells (first, you know X spell, then you take it again and get better at casting it) as well as being the weapon masteries back, that would be great.

 

[Mark CMG]

If we're changing the system (. . .)

I think the assumption is that it will be a whole new system with Frankensteining from many. I think they'd be crazy to try and trot out a 4E rewrite with some add-ins and optionals for making it quasi-feel like other editions. That'd more than likely be a non-starter for anyone who stayed away from 4E and half of the 4E fans would be pissed that a rewritten 4E was making their game books "obsolete" while the other half wouldn't switch. (Cue outcry of those who claim game books are never obsolete as they ignore what that means in context and how edition cycles work ) Naw, I don't think they have room to peddle a rewritten 4E given what they announced and how the community is currently divided. Maybe this warrants a poll.