DnD 4e

[Innocentius]

So.

I've managed to acquire all three of the base 4e books, which I'll be reading through in my spare time. I'm not going to put the books up on Rapidshare, but I can perhaps point you in the right direction if you're looking to get copies of them. Alternatively, I could just summarize some stuff here and give my impressions of the system.

Discuss.

[Jongluer]

I've read through the PHB and all I can say is: overall disappointment.
It is the basis of a good system but for now it is just too bland. Way too many class powers that are identical and it reminds me too much of WoW for me to truly be impressed.
Perhaps when all 4 or 5 or however many PHBs are out it might be interesting but that's 2 years from now...so screw that.

[Beeb]

Well, we can still do a one-shot 3.5 thing before you and Avi head off again. Even so, I'd play 4th out of curiosity if it we do decide to do so.

Oh hey, everything deleted is back.

[Innocentius]

After reading most of it, it seems like the damage/HP ratio is way off: fights would just devolve into whacking each other until someone ran out of healing surges. Also, clerics aren't as handy as they used to be.

I probably won't post full impressions/summaries because I'm lazy and no one has expressed interest. If anyone wants the books let me know over AIM.

[Jongluer]

Btw, I already know when Druids and Barbarians (probably the two classes I am most awaiting) will be: in the next PHB. Apparently PHB 2 is Heroes of Psionic, Shadow, and Primal power sources. Guesses as to Shadow?

But yea, it does feel like there is some sort of disconnect between damage and hp total.
Of course one of the more interesting things I have noticed is that Tycho of Penny Arcade fame has given it a thumbs up if you can get past the fact that some things just plain don't make sense (like Clerics who hit people then heal everyone!).

[Beeb]

Yeah, and the PA guys have posted their character sheets in addition. They're in today's newspost. Doesn't sound as terribly different as I was expecting, although Cleave is seriously different.

I'd play, Tynan, I'm just not willing to spend more money on books for a game when we have no idea how it'll turn out. Perhaps we should go to the example at Monkeyhead?

[Jongluer]

Yes one of the extreme surprises given the advertisement of 4e and the previous differences between editions, is the supreme lack of differences you will find in 4e.

[Innocentius]

Shadow could possibly be a Ninja or something like that. Not really sure.

And yeah, I forgot about Cleave. It's pretty worthless now.