(no subject)

[alexandraerin]

I didn't get Tales of MU updated for Saturday until just a few minutes ago. My friends just got copies of D&D 4th edition and abducted me at d20-point for an all-day-and-night gaming session. My first impressions of the new version:

1) They're trying really hard to capture the MMORPG market.
2) Combat plays fast and snappy (assuming you've got your character's moves down) but with infinite variety, rules are less than robust in other areas.
3) As with any roleplaying game, how fun it is depends on the players and a flexible DM.

This is probably the biggest example of a "pure product" release. There was nothing wrong with 3rd edition that 4th edition fixes, except that it was losing ground against World of Warcraft and not selling as many new copies as when it first came out.* The core rulebooks, apart from resembling MMORPG play in its mechanics, notably don't involve very many non-combat abilities or abilities that would require roleplaying/human judgment to "mechanic" (no animal companions/mounts/cohorts/thingies, no paladins falling, etc.), which makes me wonder what they've got in the pipeline after D&D Insider (which looks awesome) is up and running... both in terms of electronic adaptations, and supplement books that will no doubt add back in some of the more popular deleted features... and make more money for WotC.

*(Note that I'm not criticizing them for doing this. We've all got to eat.)

Comments

Re: 4th Edition

[alexandraerin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, in all honesty, it seems to me like the risk of a "five minute work day" would be exacerbated by the new system, where every character has some of the weaknesses of a Vancian wizard. I could see an opposite problem coming about, too, where players inadvertently designate their favorite Daily Power "too good to use"... "I can't use it on this encounter, it's too early and I might need it later."... the same problem that a lot of limited use items get in console RPGs. This might ensure that they have it available for "boss fights", but on the other hand, the boss could be too resistant for it to be effective or it might be something that works better on a group of lesser foes.

Or they just might not realize that they're at the Absolute Last Battle of the day. Though I throw roleplaying and plenty of flavor and atmosphere into my battles when I DM, so there's not a lot of risk of that.

Anyways, I truly think that as long as a system isn't completely broken, the fun depends on the group and the DM and I had fun playing 4th edition and have already planned about 50% of the first adventure I'm going to run when the D&D Insider tools become available.

Re: 4th Edition

[(Anonymous)]

Kewl and good luck with the DDI tools. Our group gets together in person, but we are still looking forward to the mapping software to use during play. If it turns out ot be a good system, we will be very happy to have that projected on the wall or on the big TV. It'll save loads of setup time.

:-) If your games are as fun as your stories, I know at least 1 MUnkey that would like to play.

Re: 4th Edition

[alexandraerin.livejournal.com]

I don't have a group here locally, as most of the people I'd care to play with live one state down, so online tools would just be easier. I know there are alternatives like RP Tools, but... I think a tile-by-tile map builder would be a better fit for my artistic (in)abilities.

Re: 4th Edition

[mindwright.livejournal.com]

Actually, since you always have a couple of at-will options, and half or more of your attack powers are encounter powers, I've discovered that you can in fact get through fights without using your dailies. Unfortunately, saving your daily powers only helps if you eventually get to use them, so the best rule of thumb is to wait until you see a moment where your daily would be cool, and then go for it.

Definitely if you are about to spend an action point, consider using a daily ability that round. Especially if you have a tactical warlord around, or you are a human or half-elf with action surge.