Why is the WoW influence a bad thing?

[jasin]

In any case, I posted before on a different thread that I do think that there are some similarities between WoW and D&D4E:

*Defined Party Roles

My impression is that party roles are already pretty clearly defined in 3E. Perhaps they're not quite as tied to class as they might be in 4E and they're not explicit... but hasn't it been common wisdom for a long time that an adventuring party should have a fighter, rogue, cleric and wizard, or suitable replacements, or expect big trouble? Unless the DM adjusts the play style to fit a particular party, of course, but I see no reason to expect that the DM won't be able to adjust the play style in 4E.

 

[F4NBOY]

I have never had that problem with my games that I have run or played. The party breaks camp, have at least 4 to 5 encounters before midafternoon, they keep going to nightfall to camp. I have never played in a game in which the party needed to camp at 10 am just to replenish spells. Sure, by the end of the day the wizard and the cleric might be running low but that is how it is suppose to happen.

Why are your wizards running out of magic so early in the game day while mine are not?

Maybe your the encounters are just too easy, or our enconters too tough.


I still didn't see any valid (logical) point to believe D&D becoming WoW is a bad thing, yet. I hope everything concearning rules, powers and playability in 4E can be as good and smooth as they are in WoW. Adding to that the real roleplaying aspect, a DM to create new plots in every game, the face-to-face experience and the fact we don't need to enter the same dungeon multiple times and kill the same monsters and complete the same quests multiple times, it will be a fantastic RPG.

 

[mmu1]

I dislike the idea of D&D becoming more like WoW, on multiple levels.

Primarily, though, it's because - in absolute terms - I do not like the WoW combat mechanics. They're ok for a videogame, but even in that context, they're not especially original or entertaining. They're just the typical MMORPG mechanics, which came about because of all the limitations of the computer platform - because of all the ways in which MMORPGs can not even begin to handle the (potential) complexities of tabletop play.

The MMO character roles evolved the way they did not because that's the most fun way to play, but because that's the easy formula the designers have found (and doggedly stuck to, ever since the days of EQ) that allows for somewhat "balanced" multiplayer real-time play.

So the idea of D&D moving closer to WoW does leave a bad taste in my mouth - because I don't see why anyone would think incorporating elements from something as primitive (in terms of gameplay) as a MMORPG is actually a good idea. I want D&D to move away from being "videogamey", but I don't have high hopes that this'll actually be the case. I'll be very happy if my fears prove unfounded, though. (I don't think I'll find myself needing to play 4E to find a game, but I'd rather it was a fun system, obviously.)

 

[jasin]

Running away & other avoidance techniques (points #1 & #3) are ingredients in intelligent play.

In a world of entangles, dimensional anchors, walls of stone, teleports and fire-breathing lizards that fly at 30 mph, running away and other avoidance techniques often require a significant expenditure of resources themselves.

 

[Jedi_Solo]

I dislike the idea of D&D becoming more like WoW, on multiple levels.

Primarily, though, it's because - in absolute terms - I do not like the WoW combat mechanics.

So you don't like the combat mechanics of WoW. But what exactly don't you like about them that you are afraid they are going to port over? What exactly is it about D&D's combat that you like better?

I'll admit I've never played WoW but I have played FFXI and EQ1 (not to mention numerous CRPGs that aren't MMOs).

 

[Sunderstone]

Its never been a mechanics issue for me. It's a flavor thing. And judging from others it seems more of a flavor thing as well. YMMV.
I dont know why the Pro-4E people try keep trying to blame the negative comments of 4E into a "mechanics" issue. Its not. The Warlock example that someone stated above proves that its well executed. Its just the flavor, at least for me.

Dont get me wrong, I dont hate WoW at all. I play daily on the Fenris server with 2 70s on alliance (Priest,Mage), and 3 horde (64 Hunter,56 Shaman and 49 Druid for pvp). After this post ill be looking for some Warsong Gulch WoW goodness.

Id just prefer D&D with less of a "warcrafty feel" to it.

 

[Kesh]

Id just prefer D&D with less of a "warcrafty feel" to it.

And the rest of us are trying to figure out what this "feel" is. If it's not the mechanics, what are you talking about?

 

[Vlos]

What my concern is that WoTC would take from WOW is the factions and such. WOW is a grind, anything in WOW is a grind. I have never seen or felt that D&D is a grind, for playing over 20+ years I have never felt like I have had to "grind" anything out in a character to achieve anything.

My fear is that they take elements of factions or reputation and enter it into D&D. It would be easy as basically it's already built on levels and quests. To enter a PrC you have to have a certain reputation to a faction, which is done by doing quests for the faction, which in return return faction XP points the DM awards you. Only then can you enter the PrC. No more requirements of +5 BAB, or Saves, etc. But rather Faction, this would truely make it the PrC class that they wanted them to be in the first place.

And Yes I play WOW way too much, but it is still a grind, I also try to play D&D once a week.

 

[Rechan]

My fear is that they take elements of factions or reputation and enter it into D&D. It would be easy as basically it's already built on levels and quests. To enter a PrC you have to have a certain reputation to a faction, which is done by doing quests for the faction, which in return return faction XP points the DM awards you. Only then can you enter the PrC. No more requirements of +5 BAB, or Saves, etc. But rather Faction, this would truely make it the PrC class that they wanted them to be in the first place.

Eh, I doubt that. Namely that, despite a vocal minority's affection for playing monster PCs, there will never be a Faction of monster races. That's way too far from what I think the developers see D&D as; if anything, the Points of Light article should designate that.

 

[GSHamster]

And the rest of us are trying to figure out what this "feel" is. If it's not the mechanics, what are you talking about?

Well, sometimes it is mechanics. I like WoW, and consider it to be a very good game. That being said, I'm not sure that adding a "taunt" mechanic (like the Knight got) is a good move.

WoW is a threat-based game without collision detection. Its central gameplay revolves around manipulating threat. The person with the most threat gets attacked. It's a simple concept, but one that leads to pretty deep gameplay. That's why a Taunt mechanic is essential in WoW.

In contrast, D&D is a position-based game with collision detection. A monster attacks the fighter instead of the wizard because the fighter is between the monster and the wizard. Positioning in combat is or should be the central gameplay element of D&D, and a Taunt seems to be out-of-character with that.