Comments on: What if: 4e came before 3e

By: klaus Krammer

klaus Krammer — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:15:02 +0000

By: Eclipse

Eclipse — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:28:40 +0000

Awesome post! While I don’t agree with everything (for instance, I love the interchangeability of monsters and classes), I think this is a great take on the two editions. Definitely an original and amusing way of doing it.

By: Windjammer

Windjammer — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:11:39 +0000

@Bartoneus: point taken :) If the amount of die increases at higher levels (not to mention sneak damage) the 4E mechnic has a point. And you’re right to point out how magic items grant extra damage die as well.
@Greywulf: yes, I’ll keep them coming. Here’s number 3:

3. Goodbye to standaridized game complexity! Remember how all classes played equally hard/equally easy? Well, that’s gone now. If you got a newbie player keen to join a group of 10th level players, he need not flip through a half dozen of pages to make up his choices. He can play a class with considerable more ease – e.g. a fighter. On the other side, if someone wishes to amp up on the mechanical complexity, the wizard received a considerable overhaul. I think this will appeal to long time players who wish more variety in their gaming when trying out new classes. I mean, switching from rogue to ranger wasn’t that exciting in the last edition, but it now makes a world of a difference.

By: Bartoneus

Bartoneus — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:16:45 +0000

@Windjammer: I really have to contend that last one on criticals, it's clearly written only considering the first level or two of play in 4E. Once you get a magic weapon the critical damage goes up by a lot and it can't be reduced to a "measly 3 extra damage". That and calling added rolls and complications, not to mention creatures that are completely immune to crits, I'd hesitate in calling something like that more simple and elegant. Bartoneuss last blog post..Play Auditorium

By: Greywulf

Greywulf — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 10:06:00 +0000

@All Excellent! Keep ‘em coming :D

By: Windjammer

Windjammer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:04:04 +0000

Great one, Gray Wulf. May I add two in a similar vein.

1. Things are more intuitive now, if mechanically more complicated. When you move diagonally, you count every second moved square as if you’ve moved two squares. Makes sense. Also, squares are called “5 foot steps” now. Weird. But I love how it alters talk at the table. Also, burst and blast spells (slightly renamed) now have more intuitive shapes. No more spherical blast spells having square shapes – God knows how we ever endured such nonsense for the past 8 years.

2. God I love the new math. Just love it. Ever felt that critical hits never earned that epiphet? I mean, you score a “critical”, and all you get in place of 1d8+2 was a 10? How great is that? I rolled a 20 man, a damn 20, and all I am given is a lousy 3 extra points above the average result? Guess what. The guys at SotC have come up with a really elegant solution. Criticals get rarer, but all the more special. You first “confirm” (meaning, you roll an extra attack roll), and if you hit again you score – not just measly 3 extra points, but DOUBLE or – take that – TRIPLE damage! Wow! Genius. I just love the math: they reduced the frequency of criticals by 50%, and then made them 200% more special. It’s simple, elegant, and really brings a superior experience at the table.

By: Dirk Remmecke

Dirk Remmecke — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:15:13 +0000

I wonder what this does to the powers powered Microlite 4? Now it has to be stripped down as well, and that means that it could fit on two pages!? It boggles the mind! Dirk Remmeckes last blog post..Energy Plague?

By: Alex Schröder

Alex Schröder — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:14:19 +0000

I laughed. Thanks. :) Alex Schröders last blog post..Labyrinth Lord With Claudia

By: What if 4E came before 3E? | Rollenspiel-Almanach - Infos News und Rollenspielmaterial

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:35:25 +0000

[...] Zum Artikel: What if 4E came before 3E? [...]

By: 4e Supplements from an alternate world | Greywulf's Lair

4e Supplements from an alternate world | Greywulf's Lair — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:40:15 +0000

[...] wormhole has deposited a file onto my hard drive from the same alternate universe that provided this 3e review. This time it’s an excerpt of their 4e D&D product list – and perhaps an insight into the [...]