Gary Gygax R.I.P.

[Humakty]

I don't like the system mostly because it changes D&D to the very bone : if dominions 4 was a FPS, I'd complain a lot. D&D4 is that much different than it causes the various game worlds created for it to need major overhaul, which is sad, those were great. There is no solution of continuity between 3.5 and 4. Of course this will allow to publish tons of new books, to fill the gaps.

My only real gripe with 3.5 was the advanced class system, which was seemingly only here to allow maximum optimization of a given character, but no one forces you to use it.

For my part, the automatic healing you can use to magically recover between combats has a bit too much of a PC game feel, as well as many other options. It's simplified too, streamlined, and that is totally unDDish.

A level 15 mage/priest in 3.5 definitely add a high fantasy feel to the game, and they're far from invincible.

[Burnsaber]

Originally Posted by Humakty

I don't like the system mostly because it changes D&D to the very bone : if dominions 4 was a FPS, I'd complain a lot.

D&D 3.5 was a high fantasy adventure RPG. Characters in D&D 3.5 are nearly demi-gods starting from about 6-9nth level* and up bending reality, teleporting and jumping 20 meter long jumps with every turn they take. It's a not "serious" RPG, not by any standards. This might perhaps be because I didn't play 3.0 or the older editions (I started with rolemaster and move 3.5 from that), but D&D was never a "serious" system for me. The fourth edition really embraces the point of the series (for me), easy to play high fantasy adventure and cuts all that extra baggage that was weighing it down in the previous edition.

*depending on the character builds

Originally Posted by Humakty

For my part, the automatic healing you can use to magically recover between combats has a bit too much of a PC game feel, as well as many other options.

And the cleric casting four or more "Cure Light/Minor/Serious Wounds" after each battle did not feel like a PC game?

"I pray to my god to *slightly* heal you" [rolls dice]
OC:You still wounded?
"I pray to my god to *slightly* heal you, again" [rolls dice]
OC:You still wounded?
"I pray to my god to *slightly* heal you, once more" [rolls dice]
OC:You still wounded?
"I pray to my god to *slightly* heal you.."
OC: *sigh*

And 3.5 Cleric had no incentive to heal *anybody* during battle because it cost them their whole turn. But if the battle got rough, the cleric was forced to sit in the sidelines healing while others do the fun stuff.

It's a heroic fantasy game and I like it that wounds work like in movies -> a'k'a bandages and being a general badass can cure anything. If you want a more gritty campaign, you can just cut the amount healing surges the playes have to half.

Originally Posted by Humakty

It's simplified too, streamlined, and that is totally unDDish.

I know it's a matter of opinion but rules should be simple and fluent. There is no reason to make rules more complicated than they need to be. Grappling? "Change Shape" spells? Any of those ring a bell? By making the rules simple you eliminate the time needed to flip books and make the game a lot more newbie friendly. I really see no harm in eliminating that part of the game and also I see no reason to make rules complicated *just because* it's a tabletop RPG.


Now that I wrote this I have to admit it's kind of moot. This is a issue with taste afterall. If you don't like something you just don't. But I really don't like all the hate that 4th edition gets. It's a good game, it's just not for everybody. It's a silly game but isn't coming to some guys house and pretending to be elves sort of silly in the first place?