Where is the focus of the game (Forked Thread: 4E reminded me how much I like 3E)

[Mallus]

3e isn't particularly difficult either if you limit yourself to the 3 core books...

... and the first 10 or so levels. Wait, make that 7, no 6...

 

[MichaelSomething]

I think we know that already - they don't like it that much. Something is missing for them - because it is. The entire meta-game part is cut way shorter then in 3E.

Thanks! I hope those out of table stuff people funnel their energy into something cool, like a site that talks about D&D! I wonder where we can find one?

 

[Rechan]

I will agree that 4e is much less "Away from the table" than 3e (something I really like about it).

However, I will say this: There still remains an aspect of "Away from the table", and that is the Monster Manual. I love pouring over that book and comparing monsters, seeing what's appropriate, and what has synergies with what. I like weighing my options, and the potential for scaling back or forth. Away from the table, monsters feel like playing with Legos.

There's also the matter of complimentary builds for PCs. The guy who likes to "build characters" might be better suited to take everyone's character sheet home, and see which powers they chose work with what. ("Bill's human wizard with Action surge, when next to the tactical warlord, gets a +6 when using an action point!")

 

[Hussar]

Of course, it's maybe a bit unfair to compare 3E with its hundreds of books to 4E with just the three of them right now.

I honestly don't know anymore whether it was the same with just the three 3E Core rulebooks, but it surely was a lot less "away from the table" gaming than during the later years.

In 4E I also see that you could spend quite some time just looking through the available options (instead of playing), though building characters is obviously a lot more streamlined and focused now, mainly because it is more limited, more predetermined.

To draw in new players, this is certainly a step into the right direction.

Whether it will hold up in future, only time can tell.

I think they will have to make lots of books with new options to keep things interesting. Just like the MMOs, which have to constantly evolve and expand to keep the players interested.

The 3E Core (on their own) books definitely had a longer longevity just by themselves than what I believe the 4E Core books (alone) will be able to provide.

limited options = limited fun in the long run

Bye
Thanee

But, there was never a time in 3e you didn't have splat books. Relics and Rituals was out, what, the same day that 3e hit the streets? I mean, there were splats right from day one.

I think it's a bit premature to say that 3e core had longer longetivity just yet. It's been a month. Repeat that in a year and see what happens.

But, in any case, I agree with Wulf about the away from table bit.