What would soften the blow?


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DragonLancer said:
Its just me but I can see WotC turning Eberron into the default setting.

So isn't the proper solution to wish that WotC not make it the default setting, as opposed to wishing it's dropped entirely?

That said, I don't foresee them making it the default setting. It'd be a bad idea. While Eberron is popular, there's a sizable market share that doesn't like it, and it's way too far from mainstream views of fantasy to really serve as a solid baseline. Eberron's a great example of what you can do when you deliberately go far afield, but you need to start from more common ground.
 

Reduce the number of overall classes but have the classes they keep generic but with more versatility, much like what they are doing in the new Star Wars Saga edition. Instead of having Barbarian, Monk, Ranger, Paladin, and Fighter all being warrior types.... Have a Warrior class with feat and talent options that will mimic the others... and then blend Prestige classes into the mix as well, so instead of PrC specifically seperate, just have their abilities be advanced Talents, perhaps in their own Talent List that a person can tap into.

Instead of having Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock, Warmage, and others... Have Mage, then feats and talents that can mimic all of these.

Keep it d20, but lose the focus on classes and prestige classes and focus more on customizable feats and class talents. Doing this would eliminate Prestige Classes altogether.

Have two magic systems... keep the Vancian for those who like it (why anybody would like it is beyond me)... but also have a Magic Point system, and put them both in the core rules player's handbook. This way the players can choose which magic system they want to play with without the need of a DM coming up with his own version and trying to convince his players to try it out. I don't know how many times I've had players resist something simply because it wasn't in the core rules.

Ummmm... that's about it really.

Have fewer class with more options. Have two magic systems. Have an adaptation guide of adapting characters from 3.x to 4e.
 

The best way they have to soften the blow would be the same thing they did when 3.0 came out- price the books as cheaply as possible. The 3.0 books were only $19.99 each when they first came out. Hook 'em with the cheap initial cost and most people will convert over.
 

Sejs said:
People clamming up about how 4e is coming, just around the corner, no honest, and when it gets here I'm totally gonna say I told you so... just cramming a sock in all that would be a nice start.

Sejs and I are finally in total agreement. These rumors have been going on for two years or more now. If it happens, when it happens, it will happen and there is not anything to be done about that. If anything, all this chatter raises the topic more and more, and what those who make decisions may hear out of "people are asking about 4th edition" is that we want it right away.

What I would like to see is a common OGC wiki where rule improvements would be made. This is the promise of the SRD that is unfulfilled. If someone comes up with a total point buy system, I'd like to see that. ENPublishing's grapple system as a replacement, that would be awesome. Fixes for feats, classes, and spells that are broken, right on. We have a thousand improvements to the system over a thousand publications and PDFs with no central source to review, feedback, modify, and most of all collate. That would be a worthy cause, perfectly legal, could be grassroots fan-based, and effective.

Sadly, with a 75 hour work week I have not the time nor know-how to accomplish such. Instead all I get to do is read about why it shouldn't be done in other threads.
 

Kunimatyu said:
Ditch Vancian spellcasting in favor of Magic Points. Keep one class with mechanics that are pretty much Vancian to appease the groggies, but D&D needs a magic system that newer players don't run screaming from.

I'd go further. Strip out all the crap thats baggage from previous editions. Alignment, random character creation methods, random hit die, vancian casting.

Rework how casters work - in general, the model should be like the BoNS style. You have your basic abilities available unlimited, but with some recharge mechanic, be it 5 minutes of rest, prep, etc. Have powerful but limited per day mechanics. This will scrap the irritation of the D&D day, where its a couple encounters, then playing cards in a rope trick because you are out of heals.

Buffs need to be altered as well. Fewer of them on, but keep them always on. I hate tracking durations.
 

Put me squarely in the "make it do what i like better then 3.X does" camp. As for what that might be, I'm not even sure. I was not happy with 2e by the time 3e was announced and I'm finding my interest in WotC products is reduced with each year of 3.X. I may be ready for 4e as I find myself trying new systems left and right in an attempt to get what I want.

as for lessening the blow, I don't want the huge lead up time we got last time. I would preffer to hear about it in february and get it in august (not nessisarily this year). It drove me nuts knowing it was out there but not having access to it.
 

Roman said:
No oversimplification!

Sure, some streamlining of rules would be fine, but this should be supplemented by also adding new and exciting rules adding new potential to the game. :)

The calls for easier creation of line NPCs should be heeded through simplified NPC classes, but options for PCs and important NPCs should remain manifold and extensive. Some, indeed I dare say many of us, enjoy character creation and world creation as much as playing the game itself.

Hear, hear!
 

JVisgaitis said:
- An open beta test. Insane, I know, but it would be cool.

Yes! I suggested this a long time ago and people did think I was crazy. "Too many cooks", or somesuch reasoning.

I say, the more cooks the better. Especially experienced, table-playing, rules savvy cooks.

Only makes sense to me for WOTC to let their target audience get a preview before setting things in stone, printing the books, and making 4E conventions final. Otherwise there we go again with erratas and 4.5E.
 

The thing that softened the 3.5 blow for me was when they updated the SRD. I suppose the same would go for 4e.

If they OGL'd (or otherwise opened) classic D&D, I'd go out & buy some WotC products even if I never intended to use them.
 

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