Thoughts on 4E
Now that 4E has been leaked it’s safe to say some more about it.
Talent trees still bug me. I don’t think that will ever stop. However, I think it’s tastefully done, and the different choices are varied enough to still be able to build the character you want. The powers you get are divided into three groups: at will, once per encounter, once per day. No more “3 times per day for each level of wizard rounded down and add your Spellcraft bonus and Int modifier, stir and just add water.” This is an improvement in my book, and it makes the game easier to get into for new players. Of course I still have to see it in action, but I’m not going to switch systems in the middle of a campaign.
The silly rule that bugged the crap out of me in 3.5 is gone: small weapons for small characters do small damage. While I suppose it makes logical sense I don’t think people needed any more reasons NOT to play a small character.
Which brings me to the new core races. I like the addition of Tieflings, and the fact that Elves have reverted back to being anti-social tree-huggers. The new wizard-Elves whose name escapes me at the moment are okay… I guess… still a bit poofy, though. I like the exclusion of Half-Orcs. Sue me. They presented interesting RP opportunities but I still think Orcs should be evil, full stop.
Another thing I like is that the non-human races are tied into the Feywild, some sort of magical fairytale-world where they all come from, originally, instead of being some sort of evolutionary fluke. Makes me wonder how they’re going to integrate this new backstory into the existing settings like Greyhawk and Ebberon, which Wizards have said would continue to be supported and developed.
Next up is classes. There’s a good selection of them, and including the Warlock as core is obviously a good idea, seeing how popular it was. No more Sorcerers or Druids, just one class per magic type. Good.
Then there’s the Warlord.
Big name for what’s in essence just a pimped-up Bard.
The specialisation that you undertake at 11th level, sort of a forced Prestige Class, seems a bit arbitrary and reminds me of Ragnarok Online. Then at 21st level, class progression is gone in its entirity and you pursue your DESTINY instead. Or something. I’m gonna have to see this in action before I can judge.
Either way, 4th edition is a good edition, with much less hassle and much more accessibility. Even though I don’t want to, what with all the money I shelled out for 3E and 3.5E, I know I’ll probably end up buying it anyway. Damn you, Wizards!