340 – I know this place like the back of my hand!

Don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m looking forward to Wizards of the Coast releasing the playtest rules for D&D Next. I just hope that they haven’t dumbed it down, which was a common complaint when 4E came out – everyone claimed that it was trying to turn D&D into an MMORPG . One heartening thing I heard was that, as it stands now, the next iteration will not require the use of miniatures. The phrase I heard in one of the PAX East videos was (paraphrased) “while we don’t want to require the use of miniatures, we want to support their use.” Here’s the link to that video, in case you’re interested in hearing more.

See you all Monday!

~Rob

11 Comments

Nearly invisible you say… Bad wizard, no biscuit.

Could be that she’s visible to forms of divination that can be used to, say, verify that she’s still alive, but not to anything that’s useful in tracking her down.

And it could be than any divination just reveals what shampoo she’s using.

Not the first time I eared about the 5th rule set for D&D, but I am still surprised about the short lifespan of the 4th.

As bad as the fourth ed is, I’m not surprised at all. I still use the second edition rules, myself. I think WotC is just releasing more and more new editions so they can sell more manuals.

Meh, I don’t really care about D&D Next. Skipped 2nd, 3rd, 3.5, and 4th ed. Skipping 5th won’t kill me.

Played 2nd, 3rd, 3.5, had friends buy try and hate 4th, so I never played it. If/when I find another gaming group, I figure I’ll play whatever version they do. LOL

The Mutants and Masterminds D20 system isn’t too bad. Good set up for heros and super heros.

Despite all of its problems, 4E was the best designed of all D&D systems to date. Whatever the circumstances, your character could always contribute at any level. Table consensus mattered more the ability to read your DM’s mind.

Detractors have maintained that it discouraged roleplay, when all it did was make it easier for players to do without it, if they wished. I still know tables that go several sessions in between every combat encounter, so rp isn’t suffering where people want it to occur.

The system handles mass warfare a lot better than 3rd did, and much more cost effectively (and quickly) than either 1st or 2nd. Changing the universe isn’t a matter of having the right build or spells. Believe it or not, the loss of Wish has better enabled player creativity.

What impressed me most is how easily people have custumized 4E to different standards. Low magic? Easy. More challenge from mundane hazards? Easy. Living beyond the impossible? Dead easy.

Fun? Yes.

@zuche: All of that is true. I run a 4E game set in Eberron adapting the Scales of War adventure path and so far, it’s gone well. The only real complaint I have is that, especially when your PC gets to higher levels of play, trying to keep track of all the powers, item powers, and applicable feats becomes a herculean task. Here’s hoping D&D Next can streamline that a bit. Either that, or I become a better DM. Either or.

Yeah, I admit that upper level tracking can be a real hassle. There is a lot that can be made better, and here’s to Next if it can address those hurdles effectively. I don’t know how it can meet its goal of accommodating everyone that knows any given edition was the best edition. Good on them if it does, and the ambition is still commendable.

Whatever happens, I hope it doesn’t spell an end to the store supported programs. I’ve enjoyed watching that evolve over the last two years.

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MeatShield by Rob Chambers

Bi-Weekly D&D-style Fantasy Hijinks!

340 – I know this place like the back of my hand!