Rules that still feel unneeded (to me)

[Benimoto]

Did anyone else notice that some of the stat blocks we've seen include action points for monsters? That combined with some of the "when bloodied" abilities have a lot of potential (in my mind at least) for even more action-packed/dramatic fight scenes.

Right, another use of action points other than simply to give players some more resources to manage, is to give certain monsters, like elite/solo monsters, more actions at certain points while not overwhelming the players.

 

[atom crash]

It's funny - although there are a lot of things I really don't like about 4e, these three are things actually I do like. In fact, my opinion of Action Points was reversed when I learned they were used to give the character an extra action, once per encounter. I had no use for the d20 Modern/Unearthed Arcana/Eberron implementations.

I agree. With the one caveat that I think PCs get too many healing surges and are therefore probably more resilient than I'd expect, I dig these three 4E-isms.

4E Action Points look a lot simpler to implement than earlier versions.

I like Action Points as presented in Unearthed Arcana, but mang that's a lot of different usages to remember. I like being able to use them to emulate a feat you don't have but qualify for, since in general I feel that 3.5 PCs have too few feats. But that's also quickly remedied by handing out more feats, which 4E also apparently does.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I too really like those three rules.

Second Wind gives a very cinematic, of muttering through the pain and forcing yourself back into the fight. Also while it may not entirely get rid of the need for Healers; Second Wind, Potions and Heal-Checks can make it less necessary.

Action Points also very cinematic, it is when you have stretched yourself to your limit and give into that one last reserve of strength to pull off one more thing. I would like though as a optional rule, some kind of negative effect to show this, perhaps certain skills/roles have a bonus if you have a Action Point available, or it takes -5 (scaleable) off your Healing Surge when there is not a Action Point, something.

Bloodied, once more very cinematic and gives a bit more flare and variety to combat. It is no longer simply repeating the same actions till either side is dead. Now with Bloodied, half way through the fight the action surges again as PC/enemies grow weaker and the opposing side takes advantage or this weakness causes special powers to awaken, ie: rage.

With Milestones as people have stated it can encourage people to go from encounter to encounter. But also, I am hoping the Milestone: 2 Encounter is simply a base formula for simple things.

I could very well see either through official rules or houserules where certain abilities or items only becoming usable after a Milestone is crossed and these Milestones are true life-changing or atleast campaign changing Milestones. Heck Quest Items could have built in Milestones for a Quest.

So:
Item: Key of the Door (Implement)
Ability: May open a Gateway to the Feywild
Milestone: Must first find and be blessed by a Eladrin Priest to activate.

There could be tons of interesting Milestones this way.

Or perhaps certain items/charater abilities/plot points can only be activated or begin to become awakened after a series of different Milestones. This could be called a Pilgrimage (taken from Promethean) where a Pilgrimage is a series of Milestones one must cross to complete the requirement for whatever the items/charater abilities/plot points are.

 

[Stalker0]

I actually was hoping that AP did more, like you could reroll a roll or prevent yourself from dieing. But these AP are quick and easy, I think there a solid, though small part of 4th edition.

 

[Simon Marks]

I think Action Points will do more. At least one feat uses them.
I don't think you are limited to using only one action point per encounter, instead that you can only use one per encounter to gain an extra action.

I hope so, anyway. If not my first house rule could be to rename them "Momentum" and allow you to use more than one in an encounter.

That way, you "build momentum" as you push your way through the dungeon.

 

[helium3]

I agree---this one seems totally unnecessary. I'm reserving final judgment until I see the rule in context, of course---but I'm fairly unimpressed with this one.

Yeah. I sorta thought it was a little . . . out there. Not in a weird sense. In more of a "what the? what's a Milestone? Huh?"

Based on what a "Milestone" is in reality, I suspect it has something to do with the Quest Mechanic. Perhaps as part of the Quest Mechanic the DM is supposed to divulge how many Milestones will need to be passed in order to finish the Quest.

 

[FadedC]

I like the way action points accumulate....how the longer you adventure for the more you get, and as soon as you rest they reset back to one. But I do wish they had more uses, and that there might be more of a reason to save them up if you were so inclined.

But......there may be more uses that we don't know about. There was a feat shown awhile back that let you use an action point to not be surprised in combat. We don't know if the feat still exisits (apparently a lot has changed over the past few months) but I'm hoping there will be more uses for action points.

 

[hong]

Yeah, Bloodied is actually an improvement AFAIAC. Removes one of the my four great hangups with HP in D&D. (And is sort of in line with a house rule I already had for 3.x)

Now you want to talk about rules changes that weren't needed (and intentionally skirting the fluff changes that weren't needed), let me once again restate:

Diagonal movement.

Diagonal movement (2008) is the one true whinge. All others are pale imitations of the real thing.

(insert hong Dragonborn breast post here)

Hong's dragonborn breasts inserted.

 

[Ktulu]

I agree---this one seems totally unnecessary. I'm reserving final judgment until I see the rule in context, of course---but I'm fairly unimpressed with this one.

Milestone was also mentioned in the clerical magic holy symbol. It mentions the power recharging when a milestone is reached.

Looks like other things will be tied to it, as well.

Ktulu

 

[Imp]

In case I'm seeming too negative around here, I'd like to state that I also like the action points/ second wind/ bloodied elements of the new edition.