4th Ed Dungeons and Dragons - Unofficial OCAU Pen and Paper RPG Thread. All games wel - Page 6

darth_wolf · 25th May 2012, 12:57 PM

Copy the contents of the email and save it as a .html file

ddk · 25th May 2012, 1:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cape_Horn

Depends.
Have they removed the dependence on miniatures that 4e brought in?If not, then I'll stay with exalted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace Rimmer

On that note my group likes the more 'boardgame' style of 4E so I hope that stays.

Your both right.

The game uses '5-ft' movement increments. You can use a board or not use a board. It's totally up to your gaming preference.

Then again, you could've done the exact same thing with 4e. The only thing stopping you from doing that, was you. But that's ok, 'cause now the rules give you permission to do it!

ddk · 25th May 2012, 1:37 PM

I think it's pertinent to note that this is a PLAYTEST. It's not even an alpha of the system. It's specific elements given in a specific fashion to test specific aspects of the system in order to get specific feedback that can be judged in a very specific fashion.

Saying, "This suxxorz cuz it duzzent do wot i wantz!!1!!" is an essentially absurd reaction. There will be surveys conducted to get feedback on this playtest, and then another playtest will be issued next month with other elements that they're looking for feedback on through another survey.

Speculation puts the release date at around 18 months from now and even then, that's an optimistic estimate given that it has been clearly stated several times that they will release it 'when it's ready'. So the final version of this game could be radically different from what we're seeing in this very first open playtest.

darth_wolf · 25th May 2012, 1:44 PM

This would actually be classified as a beta test due to it being open to non internal parties.

just had a read of the elf wizard, not bad, i do like how they read a lot more like adnd pc's but with at-wills.

Halfling: Racial Feat: Lucky.
This reads as though Halflings have 4e style Elven Accuracy twice a day.

ddk · 25th May 2012, 1:48 PM

And just to be annoying and post three posts in a row without just editing and adding to the first, I'll let you know what I think of the playtest.

So far the only thing that has made me wince, or even flinch, has been the surprise mechanic. I'm really hoping this is something that gets redone as I much prefer the previous iteration's method where a surprise round is determined and THEN initiative starts. A "-20" just feels clunky and arbitrary.

I am really loving the 'advantage/disadvantage' system. IIUC, statistically it means a +/- 2.5 but it also means a high percentage of both crits and fumbles, which I think has always been such a vital part of rolling a d20

This is going to make rogues really awesome since they need to attack with advantage in order to get their sneak attack bonuses.

I also like the simplicity of the check system and how it's simply extended to take care of just about everything in the system, from contested rolls, attacks, skill checks and even saving throws. That's just nice.

Backgrounds and themes are also very cool. I'm really liking the idea of being able to mix'n'match backgrounds and themes with classes and races in order to come up with some really cool characters. This could result in a very flexible and yet simple character creation system that should also be fairly easy to balance.

I think possibly my favourite thing about what they've presented so far is that I, as a person who mostly DM's, feel like I've been given back control of the game. One of the things that took me a long time to realise when adopting 3e was that I'd lost control of the game to the players. This wasn't a good thing. 4e made it worse despite being a system I quite liked. But if the core mechanics remain the same, then I'm confident that I'll be back in the saddle, where I should've remained from the start.

ddk · 25th May 2012, 1:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darth_wolf

This would actually be classified as a beta test due to it being open to non internal parties.

Not really. A beta implies that the system is ready for launch and only needs a few tweaks. The system itself isn't even in alpha and the designers have already stated that whilst developing this playtest, they've continued developing the overall system and that they're already going to make changes to what we are seeing in the playtest, they're just waiting on feedback to confirm the direction of those changes and see if any anomalies pop up.

darth_wolf · 25th May 2012, 1:53 PM

Im specifically ignoring the Caves of Chaos pdf as i want it to be a surprise when i play it.

Coup de Grace is INSTA-KILL, not max damage, insta-kill!

apsilon · 25th May 2012, 2:58 PM

This available for anyone to download? I'm interested enough to at least take a look.

We're starting a new campaign tomorrow and were seriously considering stepping back to tweaked 3.5 but decided to give 4ed another go.

darth_wolf · 25th May 2012, 3:00 PM

not sure, do you have a DDI account?

if so then goto the wizards site and in the dnd section click on playtest and follow the instructions, although i know there is a public mirror up somewhere...

Spoiler below, highlight to read:
http://delascabezas.com/blog/2012/05/dndnext/

apsilon · 25th May 2012, 3:13 PM

Thanks.

I did have a DDI account but that was a while ago and didn't see any value in it as they never got around to adding everything that they said was coming for 4ed (unless they've done so in the past couple of years).

ddk · 25th May 2012, 6:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apsilon

Thanks.

I did have a DDI account but that was a while ago and didn't see any value in it as they never got around to adding everything that they said was coming for 4ed (unless they've done so in the past couple of years).

You don't need a DDI account to participate in the playtest.

darth_wolf · 30th May 2012, 8:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddk

You don't need a DDI account to participate in the playtest.

You do need an account on the wizards site, but i does not have to be a subscriber account

meggala · 24th June 2012, 6:31 PM

wow I remember waiting for the first edition of the dungeon masters guide to come out in print that was a long time ago.
I did manage to get a copy of dm;s guide, players hand book and original monster manual. thats it for me too old to play any more.
I still play moria occasionally.
glad to see the game is still going.
cheers

25th May 2012, 12:57 PM	#76
darth_wolf Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,634	Copy the contents of the email and save it as a .html file __________________ Canon 7D - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 - Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 - Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS MKII - Helios 44-2 Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1E {Halfling Thief "Xury" lvl7} : Dungeons and Dragons 4E {Eladrin Mage "Soone Umeyna" lvl12} Warmachine - Khador

25th May 2012, 1:44 PM	#79
darth_wolf Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,634	This would actually be classified as a beta test due to it being open to non internal parties. just had a read of the elf wizard, not bad, i do like how they read a lot more like adnd pc's but with at-wills. Halfling: Racial Feat: Lucky. This reads as though Halflings have 4e style Elven Accuracy twice a day. __________________ Canon 7D - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 - Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 - Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS MKII - Helios 44-2 Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1E {Halfling Thief "Xury" lvl7} : Dungeons and Dragons 4E {Eladrin Mage "Soone Umeyna" lvl12} Warmachine - Khador Last edited by darth_wolf; 25th May 2012 at 1:48 PM.

25th May 2012, 1:53 PM	#82
darth_wolf Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,634	Im specifically ignoring the Caves of Chaos pdf as i want it to be a surprise when i play it. Coup de Grace is INSTA-KILL, not max damage, insta-kill! __________________ Canon 7D - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 - Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 - Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS MKII - Helios 44-2 Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1E {Halfling Thief "Xury" lvl7} : Dungeons and Dragons 4E {Eladrin Mage "Soone Umeyna" lvl12} Warmachine - Khador Last edited by darth_wolf; 25th May 2012 at 1:56 PM.

25th May 2012, 3:00 PM	#84
darth_wolf Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,634	not sure, do you have a DDI account? if so then goto the wizards site and in the dnd section click on playtest and follow the instructions, although i know there is a public mirror up somewhere... Spoiler below, highlight to read: http://delascabezas.com/blog/2012/05/dndnext/ __________________ Canon 7D - Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 - Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 - Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS MKII - Helios 44-2 Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 1E {Halfling Thief "Xury" lvl7} : Dungeons and Dragons 4E {Eladrin Mage "Soone Umeyna" lvl12} Warmachine - Khador

24th June 2012, 6:31 PM	#88
meggala Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: melbourne Posts: 356	wow I remember waiting for the first edition of the dungeon masters guide to come out in print that was a long time ago. I did manage to get a copy of dm;s guide, players hand book and original monster manual. thats it for me too old to play any more. I still play moria occasionally. glad to see the game is still going. cheers __________________ http://meggala.com Stuff on nissan import cars & drifting. heavy tilt VK3MEG

25th May 2012, 1:37 PM	#78
ddk (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,577	I think it's pertinent to note that this is a PLAYTEST. It's not even an alpha of the system. It's specific elements given in a specific fashion to test specific aspects of the system in order to get specific feedback that can be judged in a very specific fashion. Saying, "This suxxorz cuz it duzzent do wot i wantz!!1!!" is an essentially absurd reaction. There will be surveys conducted to get feedback on this playtest, and then another playtest will be issued next month with other elements that they're looking for feedback on through another survey. Speculation puts the release date at around 18 months from now and even then, that's an optimistic estimate given that it has been clearly stated several times that they will release it 'when it's ready'. So the final version of this game could be radically different from what we're seeing in this very first open playtest.

25th May 2012, 1:48 PM	#80
ddk (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,577	And just to be annoying and post three posts in a row without just editing and adding to the first, I'll let you know what I think of the playtest. So far the only thing that has made me wince, or even flinch, has been the surprise mechanic. I'm really hoping this is something that gets redone as I much prefer the previous iteration's method where a surprise round is determined and THEN initiative starts. A "-20" just feels clunky and arbitrary. I am really loving the 'advantage/disadvantage' system. IIUC, statistically it means a +/- 2.5 but it also means a high percentage of both crits and fumbles, which I think has always been such a vital part of rolling a d20 This is going to make rogues really awesome since they need to attack with advantage in order to get their sneak attack bonuses. I also like the simplicity of the check system and how it's simply extended to take care of just about everything in the system, from contested rolls, attacks, skill checks and even saving throws. That's just nice. Backgrounds and themes are also very cool. I'm really liking the idea of being able to mix'n'match backgrounds and themes with classes and races in order to come up with some really cool characters. This could result in a very flexible and yet simple character creation system that should also be fairly easy to balance. I think possibly my favourite thing about what they've presented so far is that I, as a person who mostly DM's, feel like I've been given back control of the game. One of the things that took me a long time to realise when adopting 3e was that I'd lost control of the game to the players. This wasn't a good thing. 4e made it worse despite being a system I quite liked. But if the core mechanics remain the same, then I'm confident that I'll be back in the saddle, where I should've remained from the start.

25th May 2012, 2:58 PM	#83
apsilon Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 4,307	This available for anyone to download? I'm interested enough to at least take a look. We're starting a new campaign tomorrow and were seriously considering stepping back to tweaked 3.5 but decided to give 4ed another go.

25th May 2012, 3:13 PM	#85
apsilon Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 4,307	Thanks. I did have a DDI account but that was a while ago and didn't see any value in it as they never got around to adding everything that they said was coming for 4ed (unless they've done so in the past couple of years).