D&D 4E Response to "Should I play 4E?" from the official rules updates thread

[Zinovia]

Ok I have played D&D in the past (1st edition). Some friends and I decided to take it up again with me as the DM. They rolled characters and I inputed some of the info online. I used 4th edition online thing and the saving throws are a lot higher than 1st edition.
They asked me why? I said "Oreo" and we cant decide if we should just stick with first edition or go 4,(I went and bought 4E Manulals already and I would really like to run 4E!
we were all wondering why some of the stats are different.
Should we go 4E or stick with 1??

4E and 1st edition are very different games. So which you go with depends on your playstyle. I happen to like 4E. From 1E there's a ton of changes all around. Big AC numbers are good, low ones are bad! No THAC0, no save vs. death magic, they have added rules for skills, characters all have powers that they use, etc. etc. Very different games.

The "saving throws" in 4E aren't saving throws as they were in 3E; they are defenses. Attacks now target a given defense: AC, Fortitude, Reflex, or Will. You roll your d20, add your bonus, and if it equals or exceeds the target's defense, you hit.

If you have the books, read them over, and give it a try in a couple combats. See how the group likes it. Then decide. Good luck and welcome to ENWorld!

 

[Amaroq]

The jump from 1st edition to 4th edition will take some getting used to - one or two adventures alone won't be enough to get the kinks out.

People resist change; I know I didn't like 4e when I first got into it! But I have to admit, there are some things about it that I really like ... while at the same time there are things about it that I don't, places where I still think some of the earlier versions did a better job ...

... but in the end, what matters most to me isn't the mechanics of resolving a combat, or a skill check, or a saving throw, its the group that I play with, their maturity, and their ability to play a role rather than a table-top wargame. And for that, the system matters much less than the people.