I have really been thinking hard about 4E and I stumbled across THIS post on Unnatural20 that neatly sums up some of my issues with the game. Namely that combat encounters grind on way too long and that there is a certain 'sameness' to all the character classes because of the powers system.
Do I think 4E is a bad game? No. I just think it might not be the game for me. so, if not 4E, what should I be playing? 2nd Edition AD&D? 3.5 D&D? HARP? Something else? I just don't know right now...
7 comments:
Check out Labyrinth Lord for some back to basics and then house rule the hell out of it ;-)
I use Labyrinth Lord as a base and then expand the spell list with the entire AD&D 2nd edition set and its working very well.
I would play 2nd Ed. if I had the people to play with...
I'm enjoying 4th, but 2nd will always be my fav.
I'm having similar reservations - almost every encounter I have run feels very similar (despite different terrain and monsters) and the game largely is build around stringing combat encounters together.
@Recursion King - I'm actually considering switching to red box or LL with the kids at the game club because the MMO-style play is something most of the kids can't break out of.
I'd suggest something different. It sounds like you're a little burnt out on D&D.
Maybe HERO? There's a bit of a learning curve, though, and it is kinda rule-intensive.
Maybe Savage Worlds? That's pretty much the opposite of HERO in a lot of ways.
I have been hearing the same complaints about 4E from numerous gamers including myself. My response to the situation has been to finish developing my own game system that does things the way I want. I am also posting the rules on-line for free as I finish them up so let me know if you would like to look at them
Miller J. Wilson
Hey, thanks for the link-love, Anthony!
I'm sticking with 4E for at least a couple more long sessions (8 hours+) and using all the advice and feedback from my posts to revamp how I run encounters and skill challenges (and probably a few other things, as well).
Good luck funding a new gaming system (but be sure to check out all the great feedback I got at U20—maybe there's something there you haven't tried that could save 4E in your eyes). Frankly I'm really excited to use some of that advice.
I came to the same decision. My 4E campaign has one more session to play then it's game over, for good. I'm going back to 3.5... luckily I kept all my books.
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