Too old for the first time?

[Kunimatyu]

I actually think that many of the 4e changes will bring D&D closer to its Mouser/Conan roots than it ever has been before, even if the next generation of gamers is more used to other fantasy archetypes and means of storytelling.

 

[Treebore]

I like Dragonball Z, Air Bender, Full Metal Alchemist, and others.

I don't like 3E, and I am not going to like 4E.

Why? Because I simply want "simple". I want a system that gets the job done and doesn't over do it.

Thats why I don't like 3E and why I'm not going to like 4E. I've found/gone back to what is fun for me.

So I'll continue to buy 3E (recently bought a couple of Goodman products and PAizo products) and will likely buy a bit of 4E.

Why? Because they will give me new ideas for rules and ways to incorporate cool ideas and flavors.

So I like the ideas, the fluff, even some of the rules. I just don't like the complexity.

So I am kind of sad that I won't be into the "newest" version of D&D anymore as a system. But I will be into it for ways to use good ideas, which I will likely get from modules most of the time.

So I don't "hate" 3E and 4E, its simply that I don't like the level of complexity. Much like how many used to complain about GURPS being too complex. GURPS isn't a bad system, just not one I like. I still bought a lot of the books though. They had tons of good ideas and in them.

So 4E will just be a new GURPS to me. I'll know how to play it. Mostly it will just be another source of cool ideas for me to use in another system. A simpler system that gets the job done the way I like it.

I guess the best comparison I can make is that my situation is its the same as when you and a good friend are going separate ways. Like when I left Charleston a couple of years ago, and left a lot of good people. People I will likely never see again.

Thats the kind of feeling I get from my going a different way than 3E or 4E.

Still, just like how I love living here in Arizona, I love the gaming I am doing.

So now 3E and 4E are like long distance friendships that you keep going because its too painful to let go.

For me.

I'm glad for all of you who are moving to the new state of 4E. Part of me wishes I could make the move with you. I just know that my gaming happiness resides in a different direction, but I will be keeping in touch and up to date.

 

[Treebore]

I reject--absolutely, wholeheartedly, and completely--the notion that age or generation has any bearing on this.

Any.

I'm 33. Been playing since I was 9, with the red box set. I like classic fantasy. I'm not a fan of Final Fantasy, or anime fantasy.

The same holds true of the majority of my gaming group, in terms of general age range. (We're roughly split on WoW; some of us love it, some of us [like me] avoid it like the plague.)

Everyone one of us likes almost everything we know about 4E. And none of us feel that it's moving away from "our kind" of fantasy at all.

Preferences? Sure. Traditions? Sure. Both of those may come into play. Age and generation? Not even remotely. And I believe any attempt to cast the 4E "issue" as a generation gap is misguided at best, and in some cases (not talking about the OP in this thread) deliberately disingenuous.

I agree. Its definitely all about tastes and preferences. That is the root of what I was getting at in my previous post to this thread.

For the record I am 41 and started playing in March of 1985.

So don't worry Ari, I'll still buy any adventures you write that get PRINTED in 4E. Its the DI that I seriously doubt I will get involved in at any level. Still, I'm definitely old enough to not believe I can predict the future with any kind of absolute finality.

Heck, I'll probably even play in some 4E games. Its the DMing that I seriously doubt will happen. Still, I wouldn't have predicted that I would be DMing 3E for Game Day this coming Saturday either.

So I'll just have to wait and see how much the future actually matches up to my expectations.

 

[Delta]

Does Aragorn ever wield two weapons? I thought that came later (possibly from Drizzt, though I'm not certain exactly).

1E drow used two weapons --> UA drow PC's could use two weapons --> Drizzt was a drow ranger with two weapons --> 2E rangers got two weapons to support Drizzt.

 

[Mortellan]

Whats going on in the D&D demographic has to have some parallel with the demographic reasons behind movie remakes. I'm too tired to think of how right now, but there it is.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I'll add to the chorus of "it's not age, it's personal preference."

I game with guys in their 50s and older, and a couple of 15-year-olds, and one of the former is more interested in 4e than any of the latter.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Without any information to back up my feelings, I think WotC is trying to broaden the appeal of D&D as much as possible. They are adding things that might be more likely to attract a younger audience with more of their gaming experiences shaped by video games and MtG, but at the same time I don't see them abandoning the long-time gamers such as myself. Sure, with any change there is a risk of losing some of the established audience, but if WotC had no interest in keeping older gamers like myself, I think there would be even more changes than we have heard about.

Ultimately I think WotC is hoping that the flavor changes along with some of the mechanic changes will draw some new, younger gamers in, while the rules fixes, improved speed and preparation will interest the established gamers who are more likely to just ignore the flavor stuff anyway.

 

[Engilbrand]

I'm 25. I started playing D&D my freshman year at college. I've been reading the Drizzt books since 7th grade. I view 4E as finally being what I've wanted. I LOVED the last few books for 3.5. Magic of Incarnum, the Warlock, the Binder and the Bo9S were all phenomenal. I also love Avatar: the Last Airbender and different cartoons like that. I want my games to be more interesting. I think that the Lord of the Rings (books) are ridiculously boring. Then again, he only created them as a setting for a language, so I'm not surprised. The movies were good, though.
Getting back to Drizzt and Wulfgar: The characters in these books are impressive. Truly. They can do outrageous things and seemingly go forever. I'd like to point something out in regards to Salvatore's books, though. He never had a main character who was a spellcaster. Ranger, barbarian, fighter, archer. Classes that could go all day. What could they do? A ton of impressive things. 4E seems like it's finally going to make it so that you can actually do the sorts of things that they do in the books. I'd be willing to be that he also creates a main character who joins the group who is a Wizard or something. Spellcasters will no longer be minor characters used to move the plot along. He'll be able to include Chico Harpell, the great-great grandson of Harkel Harpell, a Wizard who can go all day and meaningfully add to the party in an interesting and exciting way. (Made up character).
I look forward to the new edition precisely because it's what I grew up reading. While the main characters can constantly demolish things, they have their moments of greatness. Richard Rahl has his moments of super magic. Rand al'Thor has his moments of channeling doom. Wulfgar has his moments where he headbutts a dragon to get away. Avatar can't just sit there and crash waves forever onto a city, but he can definitely do a massive one and then smaller ones every now and then. That's why I'm looking forward to 4E as a 25 year old.
Anyone else excited about the Avatar: the Last Airbender movie? Anyone want to see it as a game system?

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I don't like 3E, and I am not going to like 4E.

I really don't get this. How can you possibly know?

 

[Greg K]

1E drow used two weapons --> UA drow PC's could use two weapons --> Drizzt was a drow ranger with two weapons --> 2E rangers got two weapons to support Drizzt.

Actually, TSR told Salvatore that rangers in 2e would have two weapon fighting and so he gave it to Drizt to be consistant with the upcoming 2e ranger. Later today or tonight, I'll find and post the link from a WOTC/TSR designer stating this.