WoTC Interview with Rob Heinsoo

[Spatula]

If Wizards Did Call of Cthulhu

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Call-Cthulhu-Horror-Roleplaying-WotC/dp/0786926392/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237241999&sr=1-15"]They did.[/ame]

 

[MerricB]

Precisely. D&D appealed to certain tastes, and 4E appeals to different ones. The trouble comes from slapping the "D&D" name on it. Spirit of the Century is (from what little I've seen) a splendid game, but so is CoC -- and SotC is not CoC (or Daredevils, or Justice Inc., or anything but itself).

You could really make the case for AD&D not being D&D because of its divergences from oD&D (and there are some big ones).

 

[ki11erDM]

slapping the "D&D" name on it.

What? Do you think they just slapped D&D on a card game or something? Do you think the devs did such a half arse job that it should not been published? /sigh

 

[catsclaw227]

Much like such support stopped at 20th level in 1E, 30th level in 2E, and 40th level in OD&D.

<snip>

Thats all the 30th level cap means, don't expect WOTC to support play past 30th level. 3 pp's will have to do that.

While I agree with the sentiment of your post, my 1E players handbook has caps for levels for many classes and most races at much lower than 20th.

Monk, Druid and Assassin all had level caps and didn't support anything past their max and even said that the highest level hero in each of these was one of a kind.

Also races were severely capped for non-humans, most all well below 10th.

 

[DaveMage]

It's funny - I never played any of the classes in 1E that had level caps. I guess I felt that it would be better to play the other classes because they didn't have limits!

Although back then, min/maxing was the *only* way to play for me.

(My 25th level cleric can beat up your sad, little, LIMITED, 14th level druid. )

 

[MerricB]

It's funny - I never played any of the classes in 1E that had level caps. I guess I felt that it would be better to play the other classes because they didn't have limits!

Although back then, min/maxing was the *only* way to play for me.

(My 25th level cleric can beat up your sad, little, LIMITED, 14th level druid. )

LOL.

My human magic-user was human for mostly the same reason. Only our DM decided that the level limits and racial limits were unfair and used as an NPC an unlimited Elven Paladin...

Cheers!

 

[Logan_Bonner]

Thats all the 30th level cap means, don't expect WOTC to support play past 30th level. 3 pp's will have to do that.

True, but there's more to it. The higher level you go, the fewer people are playing the game, and supporting that level of play is less practical. So the intent of the epic destinies is to give a satisfying climax to the PCs career at that point instead of simply having the game peter out. It's there to give your character a great goal—one you choose for yourself—to achieve as part of your character's life story. Yes, it's ending support of gameplay, but the 30th-level "cap" alone doesn't paint the whole picture because there's a story motivation to hit that cap.

 

[Wormwood]

Precisely. D&D appealed to certain tastes, and 4E appeals to different ones.

I respectfully disagree.

The fact the some of us didn't like certain aspects of 3e doesn't mean we dislike D&D in general. Personally, I tried my best to tease as much fun as possible from the 3e version, but in the end the fun:work ratio was just too low.

To be fair to 3e, it did bring my group back to the D&D brand after years of exploring other games. And while our gaming expectations moved past 3e, our love for the concept of D&D never did.

Now with 4e, I find myself playing---and enjoying --- more D&D than I have since I was 15 years old.

 

[Wormwood]

Yes, it's ending support of gameplay, but the 30th-level "cap" alone doesn't paint the whole picture because there's a story motivation to hit that cap.

And knowing that our characters story will reach a (simultaneous) climax is very exciting from a player's perspective.

I don't think I have a single player who doesn't have some really awesome plans for their character's final, Epic fates.

 

[MerricB]

True, but there's more to it. The higher level you go, the fewer people are playing the game, and supporting that level of play is less practical. So the intent of the epic destinies is to give a satisfying climax to the PCs career at that point instead of simply having the game peter out. It's there to give your character a great goal—one you choose for yourself—to achieve as part of your character's life story. Yes, it's ending support of gameplay, but the 30th-level "cap" alone doesn't paint the whole picture because there's a story motivation to hit that cap.

I really appreciate the explanation; it's a very strong motivator in my opinion and can really drive good stories.

After all, didn't BECM D&D have a similar goal and cap?

Cheers!