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.)
no subject
The racial specialization is really through racial feats which enhance or add racially themed powers. We'll have the rest of the classes we're used to next year, but the power system kind of causes classes to use a lot of pages in the book.
I find it a little weird that you object to epic destinies because they are too rigid when one of the four epic destinies, Eternal Seeker, has versatility as its primary benefit. It is true that Archmage and Deadly Trickster are fairly specialized, but Demigod should work well for any character, and Eternal Seeker actually allows you to choose powers from any class list.
Power cards work really well in lieu of a cheat sheet, since you can turn them over to indicate when they've been used.
I personally like the skill changes, but I miss profession and craft skills. My current game allows you to pick a talent, profession or craft, and gives you a +5 if you are making an ability check related to the chosen specialty. When you write a module or adventure in 3.5, if you include a skill check it is very easy, especially at high levels, to set a DC that is impossible to make unless someone in the party specialized in that skill. The change to skills fixes that problem, a party with no one trained simply has a harder time with that obstacle.
Heroic tier feats are much weaker in 4th edition. Power choices are what really distinguish characters and feats are a little added bonus. Then again, you get more of them and when you look at the higher tiers and remember the retraining option they start to look more attractive.
There are a number of heroic tier feats that everyone can use. For example most characters should either take Quick Draw or Improved Initiative; you don't want both since the initiative bonus doesn't stack, but both are excellent feats. Skill Training and Skill Focus are solid choices. Durable, Toughness, Alertness, and Defensive Mobility will work for anyone. And of course you can upgrade your armor options or choose to dabble in multiclassing.
For your dual wielding Ranger you should definitely take Two Weapon Fighting, Two Weapon Defense, and Weapon Focus. Oh, and Lethal Hunter, Agile Hunter and Precise Hunter are all good if you qualify. So I think you should have enough options to keep you in feats for a few more levels.