Fourth Edition
/Rant alert.
I picked up a copy of Wizards Presents: Races and Classes. I figured I would get a head start on seeing what the new game looks like.
Normally, I am very optimistic, but I have to say, this time I have never been more concerned for the future of Dungeons and Dragons.
Now the good news is that this book is just a fluff piece, and much of the bad news may not come to pass.
On the surface the idea is sound, a ground up re-imagining of the entire game, discarding what does not work, and streamlining game mechanics to reduce complexity, and make things run smoother. If that was all they intend to do, we will have a significant improvement to the game.
Instead, it looks like, as ever, they are in love with complexity. An example, they are thinking of adding spell like powers to warrior classes. If you bothered to pick up that horror in printed form the "Book of Nine Swords", you can see where they are headed. In fact, according to this, that tome was inspired by the 4th edition design team. I saw nothing good at all in the "Book of Nine Swords", all I saw was power gaming run amok, game shattering complexity, and a host of nonsense that was clearly not thought out in any terms at all, much less in how it will destroy the game.
I am reminded of misguided MMORPG designers giving fighter classes "something to do" so they can repeatedly press different buttons instead of just hitting the same one over and over again.
There are other bad ideas from MMORPG finding their way into the core of Dungeons and Dragons. Namely the concept of class roles. "Gee, your party has a striker and a defender already, I guess I will play some sort of controller or leader class..."
If you have ever tried to form a group in Everquest or in World of Warcraft, you know where this is headed. LFG, anyone?
It just so happens that if I wanted to play MMORPGs, I would. I don't see why Dungeons and Dragons would become a pale shadow of games that in themselves are just pale shadows of Dungeons and Dragons. (Don't even get me started on Dungeons and Dragons Online, I think the numbers speak for themselves on that).
/Spoiler alert, what are the races that made it to the game?
Humans, Dragonborn, Dwarves, Eladrins (yeah, thats what I said too), Elves, Halflings and Tieflings.
Slated for later addition will be Celestials, Drow, and Warforged. Gnomes? Not sure what the plan is there, but it sounds grim for them so far.
This is still early, they may have changed the lineup, but here are my comments:
Humans. Naturally.
Dragonborn. I guess we are designing the abusive power classes right into the core of the game. The new flavor of half-orc...
Dwarves. Good choice.
Eladrins. No. No no no. No.
Elves. Good choice.
Halflings. Not so much. I would have preferred to keep Gnomes and leave the short folk job to Dwarves.
Tieflings. Good enough, as long as you don't get carried away with the back story...
Well, from the looks of things, if this book is any example, we are going to get tons of back story text. I think they might do well to fire half their writing staff, they love to see the written word on the page.
Next, the "party roles"... Defender, Striker, Controller, leader.
And now the classes.
Clerics (leader)
Fighters (defender)
Rogues (striker)
Warlocks (striker)
Wizards (controller)
And later
Barbarians (a striker?)
Bards (leader)
Druids (who can tell? The text is useless)
Monks (striker)
Paladins
Rangers (probably like EQ, ranged strikers)
Sorcerers
Swordmages
Warlords (huh? This is a class?)
So it looks like the warriors get to become "tanks", and probably get taunting skills, or something silly like that.
I will try to keep an open mind, and hope I hear some good news.
4E Pre-release Rules Compilation
Unofficial D&D 4th Edition Info Page
Any additions, comments or questions for the webmaster?