D&D 4E Review of 4E from a Playtester

[Brown Jenkin]

Are you saying the verdict is still out because your opinion may differ from his? Congratulations on stating the obvious.

If, however, you're saying the verdict is still out because you think he's being held back by the "speak no evil" clause, I question your ability to read the English language - the guy clearly loves 4E and is never going back. He explicitly says that at least 5 different times.

I don't doubt he loves 4E, just like I don't doubt our vampire rodent. But as long as the reviews are all covered by the speak no evil clause I can only make so much use from a review without knowing that the other reviews are all so positive as well. Just for example take movie reviews, most films receive a mix of positive and negative reviews and on ENWorld polls for any given films have people voting at both ends of the scale. I read multiple reviews and then weigh the pros and cons. If I know that all the reviews for a given movie are positive because there are no filters and everyone loves it I have a different level of trust than if I know that all the reviews are positive because no one with a negative review is allowed to express it.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

Hell, since we're all apologizing, I'm gonna go ahead and edit out my h4ters thing. I should know better.

Sorry.

There is so much love in this thread!

 

[Mercule]

4wesome

I always read that as "foursome". Just sayin'.

 

[Darrin Drader]

I really can't wait to play this game just so I can finally make an informed decision for myself. I was pretty resistant to change when 3E first came out, but I did what I felt was my duty and bought it with the intent of mining it for some good ideas and incorporating them into my 2E game. A week later we were all converted over to 3E while trying to still use the 2E Monstrous Compendium and DMG.

I'm not crazy about the flavor changes they're making because that challenges the mental images I've held about the game for more years than I care to admit, but a streamlining of the game is something that I've been advocating for a number of years. If this is it, then that will be a plus. I've been playing True20 for my modern and future games simply because it was the streamlining I was looking for. I never did care for the idea of the Toughness save for the fantasy genre, so I've stuck with D&D for that. Maybe 4E will be what I've been looking for. I'm going to buy the core books for sure and give it a shot. We'll see what happens from there.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Nope. He's talking about Epic effects.

Apparently, the designers are not only recognizing that death is trivial to Epic characters---they are counting on it as a springboard for cool 4wesome effects.

My guess for them is that they involve some sort of "death rage" - sure, you are technically dead, but before you collapse you still smack a goodly number of mooks down (think of Boromir's death scene in LotR)...

At least, that's what I would write up.

 

[Green Knight]

Nope. He's talking about Epic effects.

Apparently, the designers are not only recognizing that death is trivial to Epic characters---they are counting on it as a springboard for cool 4wesome effects.

Oh, I hope there's going to be a power that allows one to pick up their severed head after it's been chopped off. Then I'll FINALLY be able to play the Green Knight in a D&D game.

 

[Carnivorous_Bean]

The comment thread below his article is.... amusing, in that clown-car train wreck sorta way.

That's an excellent description!

 

[Logan_Bonner]

Oh, I hope there's going to be a power that allows one to pick up their severed head after it's been chopped off. Then I'll FINALLY be able to play the Green Knight in a D&D game.

*takes a note*

Pick up... own... severed head...

 

[The_Fan]

Surviving decapitation? That's so anime.

 

[Lackhand]

*takes a note*

Pick up... own... severed head...

Synergy with Knife Eye Attack!