I think that there are alot of people right now who are thinking 4E is okay, but it just doesn't have the right feel.  Certainly I bought all three 4E base books hoping for the best, but I have to say that I somewhat disappointed in the system.  I was really getting to like 3.5 (with revisions), and I hoped 4E was going to bring D&D to its culmination.  However, 4E decided to adopt an entirely new system that is more streamlined and "pretty" lacks the customization that 3.5 did.  3.5 seemed a hell of a lot more versatile than 4E appears to be, as depicted by the horde of world books out there that easily adapt the the 3.5 system or tweak different aspects of the system (like magic or races or classes).  While there are some pieces and parts from 4E that I may adopt for a 3.5 game with some modifications, I think overall I would be happier and follow the example of those few Harn players out there.  Take the bits and pieces I like and make them my own and run the game I want to run and would like to play.  

I may be proven wrong one day, but I think Green Ronin (see www.greenronin.com) is actually looking at this new license for 4E in a realistic legal light.  While we can all hope that WOTC or HASBRO wouldn't take advantage of the license users like the examples that Mr. Pramas cites,  I have learned as a lawyer that you never put something in a contract or license for no reason.  You are either putting it in to protect yourself or to gain an advantage.  If they didn't plan on using a clause in the license, why put it in the language license.  If there is a language that appears to be suspicious, there is probably something there that can and will come back and bite you in the ass. 

Certainly, WOTC could have not allowed any open license and clamped down on all material, as TSR did in the 80's and 90's; however, the result of that was a decline in the quality at TSR product with little inovation to feed in-house, and new companies (i.e. White Wolf and FASA) hitting the market with a storm that left D&D in the dust.  3.0 by itself didn't revive D&D, the OGL license revived D&D.  Within months we had new companies and old, adding their ideas to the mix.  Don't like over-magiced, Forgotten Realms, try White Wolf's Sword & Sorcery world.  Want new ideas for character concepts, turn to mongoose publishing, fantasty flight games or green ronin for new material.  

So far the only companies I have seen really signing on to the 4E license and planning product output so far is the same companies that produce a bunch of dungeon-hack type adventures.   I don't want to be one among many decrying 4E as being totally combat driven, but if the guys producing quality "roleplaying" material and campaign worlds (like green ronin and paizo) are not adopting the 4E license, and companies that produce "dungeon-hack" adventures are, it seems to show a regression in the genre.  White Wolf introduced the art of storytelling in the 90's, and those publishers out there that embraced 3E and 3.5 seemed to embrace that concept.  With 4E, I feel that Gamemasters and Storytellers are being forced back to being Dungeon Masters.  

Tuchok

 

Tags: 4E 3.5 D20 Gaming D&D License

Well, its finally here.  Fourth Edition.  I was in lost goblin games in Raleigh, NC, picking up my reserved copy of the Players' Handbook (figure I will get Monster Manual next week or two).   Okay, how geeky am I that this was something I was looking forward to for about the last month. 

 So I get it home and open it up....and its pretty...lotsa color....everywhere....little bit of brain overload on this. I appreciate the new art...nice to see a book without recycled images...but wow, that sure is a lot of color.   

 Book is well organized, though I think either I am going to need some reference cards, or  I will be flipping around alot.  

Surprise.  Magic Items.  In the Player's Handbook. Not sure why.

More left intact than I originally anticipated, so I imagine I will still be able to steal stuff from old 3.0 or 3.5 once I start learning the mechanical differences and get past all those COLORS...... 

 Anyway, without being too much of a WOTC lap dog, it looks good overall.  Fairly simple layout with many of the old rules intact or streamlined.  

My biggest disappointment so far is no monk and no combat powers/feats/etc based around an unarmed combat build.  Oh well, its a supplement in the waiting I imagine.

 

Tags: D&D RPG D20 40 "4th Edition"

For those of you not quite ready to move to 4.0, Paizo has announced that they will continue to support 3.5 and have even come out with a the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game - a free 125 page download pdf that

"contains updates to the classic 3.5 fantasy RPG rules, including revised player character classes, a revamped skill system, updated spells, new combat options, a completely new way of looking at domains and specialist schools, and more, ready for immediate implementation into your current campaign"

 

 

I for one have already downloaded it.  Does this mean I will not be moving to 4.0.  Probably not.  Depsite the decadent amount of money I have invested in 3.5, I have already pre-ordered my copy of the Player's Handbook at Lost Goblin Games - www.lostgoblingames.com.  The previews I have seen and the people I have spoken with who have actually played the game say that play is smoother, faster and puts more back in the GMs' hands.  

I believe that these additions and competition in the market can only improve the quality of our gaming.  While there are some loyalist to 1st or even 2nd edition rules, we have come a long way from all 3rd level fighters having roughly the same abilities with only difference being the weapon or armor they wore.   Third edition was a great step towards my heroes not being defined by their magic weapons and doo-dads, but by their experience and fighting styles.  I expect 4.0 to continue this evolution with a more stream-lined, less number cruching effect.  Gladly will I say good-bye to Power Attack and Combat Expertise, the anathema's of any GM wishing for speedy combat resolution.  

But am I throwing away the some 30+ books in my collection, with a variety of settings, feats, classes, and adventure ideas.  Hell no.  I plan on grazing them for further fodder and ideas as I see how I can apply them to this new gaming system.   While publishing companies may be barred from publishing both 3.5 and 4.0 material at the same time, nobody can say what happens at my gaming table among my players and I.  If we choose to keep some of the old to enhance the new, more power to us.  So in that vein, I happily downloaded the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.  Not only will it supplement any Paizo purchases I have made and will make in the future, I'm sure there are pieces and parts my mad-rule slashing brain can put to use.  

So for now, your happy rules-lawyer and avid story teller will be signing off.  I'm glad to find the facebook of roleplayers.   Now if I can just figure out how to post in the forums..... 

Tags: D20 Rpg D&D Paizo 3.5 4.0