What are the biggest threats?

[Baby Samurai]

I thought that the Spell system & Alignment were going to be changed for 4E?

Oh, they definitely are (thank god) – magic will have per day, per encounter and at will abilities/powers/spells etc (and up to 30th level spells), and alignment will have no mechanical affect on play (finally!)

 

[Imaro]

The designers not understanding why some of the legacy crap things that have been around for far too so long.

Whew, took some work but I fixed that for you...

-The antiquated, over-powered, Gygaxian magic/spell system.

-The clunky turning rules.

-Alignment having a mechanical affect on play.

-Elven secret door weirdness.

-Random hit points and ability scores.


Some of these were almost direct cut & pastes from previous editions.


I'll get back with some more (I'm at work)…

Spell system...easily grasped by new players.

Alignment...models such things as Moorcock's multiverse where your "alignment" does have real effects.(Would love for them to stick with this but make it more of an allegiance type system.)

Elves...Heightened senses

Hit Points...some people like it and for those that don't they include alternete methods in the DM guide.

The only one I can see as pointless is a complicated turning mechanic.

 

[Baby Samurai]

1.) Spell system...easily grasped by new players.

2.) Alignment...models such things as Moorcock's multiverse where your "alignment" does have real effects.

3.) Elves...Heightened senses

1.) Actually, the opposite in my experience.

2.) I don't remember Elric casting detect evil or Moonglum having an unholy weapon.

3.) But the implementation and mechanics suck.

 

[wgreen]

The two biggest mistakes WotC could make:

1. Not listening to what people say on the internet about 4e.
2. Listening to what people say on the internet about 4e.



-Will

 

[Imaro]

1.) Actually, the opposite in my experience.

Compared to what? Mage, Gurps, Talislanta, or Earthdawn. You pick your spells and cross them off as their cast...what exactly would be simpler to grasp?

2.) I don't remember Elric casting detect evil or Moonglum having an unholy weapon.

No but Elric wields an Unholy Weapon and Gaynor has been granted powers in his service to Chaos. Also the level of influence the gods of different alignments have in the world is definitely shaped and directed by those who follow Chaos or Law. Both also have very real effects on those who follow them in the form of appearance, powers, etc.

3.) But the implementation and mechanics suck.

Eh. I don't know, it's simple and easy enough to implement in game.

 

[JDJblatherings]

--Alignment having a mechanical affect on play.

Alignment doesn't have enough mechanical effect on play. It can be fantasy where there is Good and Evil not just how folks look at the world. It barely impacts the game now, beef it up make it mean something.

 

[Baby Samurai]

No but Elric wields an Unholy Weapon and Gaynor has been granted powers in his service to Chaos. Also the level of influence the gods of different alignments have in the world is definitely shaped and directed by those who follow Chaos or Law. Both also have very real effects on those who follow them in the form of appearance, powers, etc.

Well, Stormbringer is more a of Cosmic Chaos entity in the form of a sword in the World of the Young Kingdoms.

I can kind of see what you're saying – wasn't The Noose of Flesh a spell only usable by someone dedicated to Law?

 

[JustinM]

Compared to what? Mage, Gurps, Talislanta, or Earthdawn. You pick your spells and cross them off as their cast...what exactly would be simpler to grasp?

Have you ever tried to explain this stuff to a new player? It's not nearly as simple as you're describing.

 

[JDJblatherings]

Have you ever tried to explain this stuff to a new player? It's not nearly as simple as you're describing.

You have to prepare your spells ahead of time before you use them. Not very difficult if you ask me.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Biggest Threat? Starting out with a new ruleset that is cleaner, faster and easier to use, then piling on the supplements and options until all that is lost.