It might be that I've just become what some people call 'hippy gamers' because I prefer stuff like Fudge, The Burning Wheel, Dogs in the Vineyard, Sorcerer. Although I don't follow The Forge and this whole narrativism versus gamism or whatever that hotly debated topic is.

I guess it more a matter of me not caring *how* your character does it- Triple damage backstab l337 stealth boot with flying expert daggers over a 12 square shotgun pattern at the level 3 guards behind the level 6 diplomat.
As to *why* your character does- Because you framed my father and I've been searching for evidence since I was a child. Frustrated by failure to find the needed evidence is why I am skulking in the shadows to stab the diplomat in the back while he takes his evening nightcap.
Both styles can be intertwined but I prefer a more free flowing system rather than what 4th edition seems to be offering on the plate.

I guess I prefer to be Hamlet rather than the '@' sign in Nethack.

Well, the move in design towards a tactical combat game is sort of obvious in 4th edition, as is the cookie-cutter approach on characters and their emphasis of making them like positions on a football team (Blocker, Ranged Hitter, Area Hitter, Striker, etc.) rather than any real 'backstory' in design.

But, this started under 3.0, and so it is an expected transition. It's all about selling stuff. They want to sell the miniatures, the online service/supplements, etc.  

If you don't like it, then don't encourage it. Don't buy it, buy something that does have the elements you want, run games of it, push it and talk up your local game store ownership about it. Be willing to spend the money to support it and show them there is demand (money talks in retail, period).

I tend to agree with you.  Ultimately, I feel that an RPG should be about telling a story.  The rule-system chosen is just the template I've laid over the world I am running.  While there are plenty of systems I don't like using, I could (and have) run a game with no system implemented based merely on my stories and the players description of their characters.   However, I prefer to have a game that has a little meat.  Not so much that it takes the mechanical control of the game out of the GMs hands and places it in the players', but one that allows me to tell the story without getting bogged down in rule questions or boring repetitive mechanics. 

Doesn't mean I don't love to tinker with those dang rules.  Their just so tasty in their raw state.  

Your Happy Rules Lawyer and Storyteller,

Tuchok 

I think this is the attitute that is causing the game to head down the path of mechanics over story... http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1040334

The thread is opened with the pre-gen pc's are ripped apart for not be optomized and then it follows with all the ways to make your character the strongest it can be. 

Maybe the real problem is the constant communication and boards like http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1040334?

Ah, Yes 4E is very minis heavy and you bring up some very good points. The healing and combat issue is one that I had not quite thought through yet. I could see that within the demos but was only think of them as combat demos. I am currently working on building my first adventure using 4E and I will work on how to deal with the video game style healing. I still think that with a bit of work they can all be over come. I am sure the Bard issue will be dealt with soon. There are many folks out there looking to play a bard.

Thanks for the comments! Keep them coming.