alexandraerin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alexandraerin) wrote2008-07-13 12:25 pm
alexandraerin) wrote2008-07-13 12:25 pm
(no subject)
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.)
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.)
D&D 4e
I too just got my D&D 4e books and while I haven't been able to play yet (not enough of the old RP group still around these days) I have been reading through all the books quite a bit. I like your comment on not looking at it as an improvement or fix for 3.5; but as a whole new game. I think that attitude will help me get through my big disappointment and distaste at what I've seen so far.
My big beef, that makes me cry at night is the extreme gimping of my beloved skills. Skills were the best part of a character in my opinion. They were how you interacted with the game world on so many levels. Plus they were a huge tool for customization and characterization. If I'm playing someone without the Listen skill as a class skill; I didn't bemoan my inability to keep up with those who had high Listens; I saw an opportunity to play a character who maybe daydreams too much and just doesn't notice whats going on around him. That leads to fun things. :-P But now it just seems that everyone will have a skill set thats like 80% the same. Thats just boring to me. And the lack of the skill points system doesn't let you just bump skills to crazy high levels just for the fun of it. I want to be able to get myself up to a +40 Balance just cause. Hehe.
Another thing that I don't really like, the caster classes seem to have taken a bit of a gimping. At least the wizard. Of course I haven't played it like I said; so I could be wrong. But one Fireball a day? Sadness.
There are things I like. I do like the skill condensing on some levels. I do like that half-elves are finally a decent choice as a race. I think the powers system has a lot of cool points. But I don't know.
But hey, not like I have to play it. Hope I'm not coming across too whiny. :-) And hey, if those who have experienced it have some knowledge or insight that might alleviate my fears or just help me understand the changes better; feel free to pipe up. I'm an optimist and I'd love to see the system work better than I think it will; cause it has lots of shiny good things that I do want to play with.