Things that you've heard that you especially like

[Imp]

what I like:
2) christmas tree effect hopefully gone (but need to see if this is truly a fact)

This I also have to see in the flesh before I am sold on it. I am very much for the idea, but what little I've seen so far doesn't point much towards actual implementation.

5) party dynamics changed so that don't need a cleric (one note, we'd had a party with no cleric..just druid, and it works fine since they still can get a lot of healing; just can't spont. cast them)

This on the other hand I am less reserved about – I hate mandatory party priests – except for the part where I will constantly confuse the martial healer with the warlock... but hope springs eternal that the WOTC copy editors will mount a coup and all will be set right.

 

[WyzardWhately]

Oh yeah, and I like the fact that Mike "Iron Heroes" Mearls is in on it. I love the hell out of Iron Heroes.

 

[Quicken]

- More character focused than magical equipment
- Giving everyone more per encounter and per day abilities
- Your magic missile critically hit!
- No Gnomes (yet)

 

[Baby Samurai]

So far, the thing I've heard that I've liked the most is the de-emphasis on Vancian magic. I'd like to see it gone, totally, but I can hope that it will happen next edition, or a significant optional book will have a new spell system.

That's the part that has me most excited about 4E. Took 'em long enough.

Yeah, I know, I was really bummed when I first opened my 3.0 PHB to find that the magic/spell system was still basically a cut & paste of the antiquated, overpowered, Gygaxian magic system from previous editions.

I'm serious, go read your 1st edition PHB and you'll see.

Hopefully the designers now have the balls to let go of some of the legacy crap that has persisted for far too long.