What I expect to see

[Remathilis]

I have no insider knowledge, but I'm going to go out on a line and say what I THINK Fourth is going to have.

KEPT:
* Six Ability Scores, Str, Dex, Con, Int Wis, Cha. Score generated and abilities mods the same.
* Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Half-elf, Gnome, Half-orc races.
* Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue
* Arcane/Divine Split in Magic
* 1-20 levels.
* Alignment.
* Feats
* Ability Score Bumps
* d20 Combat
* Prestige Classes

Changed:
* Flexible classes which some form of talent tree/bonus feat set up, either like Saga or Saga-lite.
* Three Defenses rather than Saving Throws.
* Simplified Combat maneuvers.
* Double or Triple Hp at 1st level.
* Magic/Special Abilities per encounter rather than per day.
* Action Points Core
* Simple Psionics Core (for monsters)
* Crits always 20/x2, no confirms.
* Skill System Simplified, Less skills, broader uses.
* Emphasis on re-rolls rather than bonuses.
* Types of Stacking Bonuses
* Some manner of Defense increasing by level.

GONE:
* Secondary Attacks (without a feat)
* Paladin as a Starting class. Sorcerer will be rolled into wizard. Barbarian rolled into Fighter.
* Vancian Magic (slots per day)
* Favored Classes
* Stat-Boosting Items and Spells (Bulls Str, Gloves of Dex)
* Armor Class as a separate stat from Reflex.

That's my take. Yours?

 

[wedgeski]

I think one of the most interesting questions will be how much the 'sacred cows' influence 4ed design. Vancian magic... saving throws... AC.... They clearly played a huge role in 3ed design, but now? Will the guys at WotC decide that they can risk a cleaner slate?

 

[catsclaw227]

I don't think they will make TOO many changes, since if they totally, radically change the game it won't be D&D anymore, it'll be some other RPG. They need to have some ability to build conversion notes for 3.x stuff.

 

[Wormwood]

I think one of the most interesting questions will be how much the 'sacred cows' influence 4ed design. Vancian magic... saving throws... AC.... They clearly played a huge role in 3ed design, but now? Will the guys at WotC decide that they can risk a cleaner slate?

From your lips to Crom's ears!

 

[TerraDave]

Mostly with the OP...

We know:

-3 core books: PHB, MM, DMG
-FRCS supported
-link to minis and online stuff

We probably know

-other companies can make stuff for it, but OGL may change
-at least as mini oriented as 3.5
-a lot of value added (ease of charecter creation) coming online.

I am 99.9% sure these stay the same

-six abilities
-classes and races (almost all familiar)
-9 point alingment
-roll d20, add stuff (and many other "D20" conventions)
-skills and feats (~80% familiar)
-magic items remain important for PCs
-"spells per day" magic default (~90% spells familiar)

I am 99.9% sure these will be tweaked
-class abilities
-particular spells
-particular skills and feats
-magic items
-monsters

So basically, I am sticking with the obvious. A lot of things that people say the would like to see changed, just seems unlikely its going to happen.

But that list above still leaves room for some pretty big things to change.

 

[TerraDave]

So you are predicting a lot of SAGA influence...

Changed:
* Flexible classes which some form of talent tree/bonus feat set up, either like Saga or Saga-lite.

Seems like something along these lines...but how far will they go?

* Three Defenses rather than Saving Throws.
* Simplified Combat maneuvers.
* Double or Triple Hp at 1st level.

Surprised, I hope, and Surprised.

* Magic/Special Abilities per encounter rather than per day.
* Action Points Core
* Simple Psionics Core (for monsters)
* Crits always 20/x2, no confirms.

Don't think, or hope, these happen.

* Skill System Simplified, Less skills, broader uses.
* Emphasis on re-rolls rather than bonuses.
* Types of Stacking Bonuses
* Some manner of Defense increasing by level.

Maybe, maybe, maybe...

GONE:

* Secondary Attacks (without a feat)
* Paladin as a Starting class. Sorcerer will be rolled into wizard. Barbarian rolled into Fighter.

maybe, and probably not.

* Vancian Magic (slots per day)

Doubt it

* Favored Classes
* Stat-Boosting Items and Spells (Bulls Str, Gloves of Dex)
* Armor Class as a separate stat from Reflex.

Maybe, doubt it, maybe

 

[Kaffis]

I'm hoping there's a fair amount of Saga influence.

Talent trees, in particular. The flexibility and streamlining this lends to a smaller class list will be a serious boon.

Bonus feat-heavy, I hope. Feats are limited enough that they do a lot to differentiate a character, IMO. Lots of characters with access to more than 7 is a good thing. Conversely, I would not be opposed to dropping several class features to feats (with, perhaps, pre-reqs) instead of talents.

I like the defenses system over the saves system. Operating on the same mechanic for spellish stuff and physical attacks just makes sense, and it really streamlines PBP play to have the aggressor (or, I should say, the actor) doing all the rolling.

I like streamlining skills, even if 4th Ed. doesn't convert to the trained/untrained + half level mechanic -- skill points are okay in D&D (it's a flavor difference -- Star Wars heroes are stand-out heroes amongst mooks, fantasy doesn't have to retain the heroes vs. mooks feel), but pare the list down severely and make corresponding cuts to some classes' skill points/level to compensate.

I like level bonus to damage, and I like damage threshold and generic condition. I expect 4th Ed. to not get as much mileage out of generic condition from spell effects as Saga does from Force effects, but I want to stick with it to lend some additional variety and flavor to how we slide up and down the HP scale.

I don't want to see stat-altering magic items eliminated. Nor do I want to see the weapon stats change significantly from 3.5.

I'd be okay with a change to encounter-based magic -- neither point-based nor Vancian has ever really grabbed me. Obviously, power levels of encounter-based magic would have to see some adjustment, and seeing a lot more AP enhancement of spells could make up the difference. I'd also throw in some rules for ritual-based magic for the spells too inherently powerful to use encounter-based for (plane shift, for instance -- no reason the ability to cast it at all means it should always be at the ready).

Overall, I'm curious and open to changes. I don't have a lot of sacred cows, but am a fan of simplicity (though depth is good, too, of course) and flow.

 

[TheCrazyMuffinMan]

My responses will be in the form (Is it likely? Do I hope they do this?)

I have no insider knowledge, but I'm going to go out on a line and say what I THINK Fourth is going to have.

KEPT:
* Six Ability Scores, Str, Dex, Con, Int Wis, Cha. Score generated and abilities mods the same. (Yes, Yes)
* Human, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Half-elf, Gnome, Half-orc races. (Yes, Yes)
* Fighter, Wizard, Cleric, Rogue (No, Yes with more control over variations in the classes)
* Arcane/Divine Split in Magic (Yes, Indifferent)
* 1-20 levels. (No, No. In fact, I remember them talking about extending it to 1-30.)
* Alignment. (Yes, Yes)
* Feats (Y, Y!!!!!!)
* Ability Score Bumps (Y, Y)
* d20 Combat (Y, Y)
* Prestige Classes (Y, Y)

Changed:
* Flexible classes which some form of talent tree/bonus feat set up, either like Saga or Saga-lite. (Y, Y)
* Three Defenses rather than Saving Throws. (N, N. It's mainly semantics)
* Simplified Combat maneuvers. (Y, Y)
* Double or Triple Hp at 1st level. (N, Y)
* Magic/Special Abilities per encounter rather than per day. (Y, N)
* Action Points Core (N, N)
* Simple Psionics Core (for monsters) (N, Y)
* Crits always 20/x2, no confirms. (N, N)
* Skill System Simplified, Less skills, broader uses. (N, Y)
* Emphasis on re-rolls rather than bonuses. (N, N)
* Types of Stacking Bonuses (Y, Y)
* Some manner of Defense increasing by level. (N, Y)

GONE:
* Secondary Attacks (without a feat) (N, N)
* Paladin as a Starting class. Sorcerer will be rolled into wizard. Barbarian rolled into Fighter. (N, N)
* Vancian Magic (slots per day) (N, Y)
* Favored Classes (N, N)
* Stat-Boosting Items and Spells (Bulls Str, Gloves of Dex) (N, N)
* Armor Class as a separate stat from Reflex. (N, N and I hope they make armor class represent DR (modded by CON ideally), while Reflex represents evasion capability.)

That's my take. Yours?