Check out Keith’s thread on his experiences with 4th edition.
“I’m really enjoying 4th Edition right now and just wanted to talk about the game I am running right now, what we have learned in playing the game, and how the rules have impacted our thoughts on play.“
Githyanki Diaspora 
Maybe I’m just being stubborn and an unyielding curmudgeon, but I still can’t stand the game. I’ve played it a handful of times now, and despite giving it my best, and approaching it with an open mind, I find it is pretty much anathema to everything I find desirable in gaming these days. My AP experiences have only made it more intolerable to me, despite my best efforts.
I’ve noticed a strange trend these last few weeks, though, in which several unconnected “hardcore” indie gamers I know are finding it pretty chic to “respect” and “appreciate” 4th edition, having seen it under a “different light” or some such malarkey. No, I’m not accusing this Keith person of this at all, and I hope this doesn’t come across as otherwise. However, I do find it oddly coincidental how several of my more story-driven gaming fellows have all at the same time suddenly found some unexpected new soft spot for this game. I think that, should any of them offer me Kool-Aid in the next few days, I will politely decline.
A bunch of folks in Story Games like 4e and some do not.
A bunch of indie rpg folks liked 3e and a bunch of others didn’t.
It ain’t about being chic, just perceptions.
Well, my “perceptions” tell me this:
* On the day following the VP elections, I had more people post about Sarah Palin than during any other similar span of time.
* During the week following the death of Gary Gygax, I had more people post about D&D and their gaming memories on my friends list than during any other similar time frame.
* During the last week, I’ve seen more people post about my brother than before, due to him being in a serious car wreck.
* During the two weeks, I’ve had more people post about how either they or some friend of theirs has decided that “4th Edition is pretty great in this or that light” than during other times.
Again, no accusations being thrown… but is this a coincidence? Or a psychic phenomenon? You decide. Either way, I want to game, and badly…
Not to generalize, but I find that those who have drunk of the *indie* kool-aid tend to be a lot more appreciative of games for what they are than most of the D&D/StoryTeller/Palladium/Whatevah diehards I encounter.
4e is a very focused, well-honed design that does one main thing really awesomely. This is totally the way indie fanboys (like me!) like their games. Ergo, of all the RPG communities on the intarwebs, it was places like Story-Games that that were really positive about 4e. These are people who generally don’t have any baggage or self-worth associated with D&D. To them, it seems, 4e is just another RPG, and it happens to be one that has a clear goal it supports exceptionally well.
Honestly, I find it refreshing. ENWorld, e.g., has been quite grim since 4e was released. And don’t even talk to me about Paizo’s boards.
Anyway, you should be glad that 4e doesn’t float your boat. For once, D&D has a really clear agenda that it advertises unabashedly, warning you to stay away if that’s not what you’re after. In some ways, I consider this 4e’s greatest triumph.
Anyway, you should be glad that 4e doesn’t float your boat. For once, D&D has a really clear agenda that it advertises unabashedly, warning you to stay away if that’s not what you’re after.
I completely agree.
Anyway, you should be glad that 4e doesn’t float your boat. For once, D&D has a really clear agenda that it advertises unabashedly, warning you to stay away if that’s not what you’re after.
I completely agree.
QFT. Happily for me, it’s the game experience I thought 3/3.5e was offering back when I was running D&D. And happily for Phasmaphobic, it’s that much easier to discover whether or not it’s the right game for you. It’s frustrating as hell to try playing a game that isn’t what you thought or wanted.
QFT. Happily for me, it’s the game experience I thought 3/3.5e was offering back when I was running D&D. And happily for Phasmaphobic, it’s that much easier to discover whether or not it’s the right game for you. It’s frustrating as hell to try playing a game that isn’t what you thought or wanted.
so what is that agenda?
Killing things and taking their stuff. 🙂
I.e., team-based, high-challenge, tactical play in the classic D&D mold.
Killing things and taking their stuff. 🙂
I.e., team-based, high-challenge, tactical play in the classic D&D mold.
so what is that agenda?
Not to generalize, but I find that those who have drunk of the *indie* kool-aid tend to be a lot more appreciative of games for what they are than most of the D&D/StoryTeller/Palladium/Whatevah diehards I encounter.
4e is a very focused, well-honed design that does one main thing really awesomely. This is totally the way indie fanboys (like me!) like their games. Ergo, of all the RPG communities on the intarwebs, it was places like Story-Games that that were really positive about 4e. These are people who generally don’t have any baggage or self-worth associated with D&D. To them, it seems, 4e is just another RPG, and it happens to be one that has a clear goal it supports exceptionally well.
Honestly, I find it refreshing. ENWorld, e.g., has been quite grim since 4e was released. And don’t even talk to me about Paizo’s boards.
Anyway, you should be glad that 4e doesn’t float your boat. For once, D&D has a really clear agenda that it advertises unabashedly, warning you to stay away if that’s not what you’re after. In some ways, I consider this 4e’s greatest triumph.
Well, my “perceptions” tell me this:
* On the day following the VP elections, I had more people post about Sarah Palin than during any other similar span of time.
* During the week following the death of Gary Gygax, I had more people post about D&D and their gaming memories on my friends list than during any other similar time frame.
* During the last week, I’ve seen more people post about my brother than before, due to him being in a serious car wreck.
* During the two weeks, I’ve had more people post about how either they or some friend of theirs has decided that “4th Edition is pretty great in this or that light” than during other times.
Again, no accusations being thrown… but is this a coincidence? Or a psychic phenomenon? You decide. Either way, I want to game, and badly…
A bunch of folks in Story Games like 4e and some do not.
A bunch of indie rpg folks liked 3e and a bunch of others didn’t.
It ain’t about being chic, just perceptions.
Maybe I’m just being stubborn and an unyielding curmudgeon, but I still can’t stand the game. I’ve played it a handful of times now, and despite giving it my best, and approaching it with an open mind, I find it is pretty much anathema to everything I find desirable in gaming these days. My AP experiences have only made it more intolerable to me, despite my best efforts.
I’ve noticed a strange trend these last few weeks, though, in which several unconnected “hardcore” indie gamers I know are finding it pretty chic to “respect” and “appreciate” 4th edition, having seen it under a “different light” or some such malarkey. No, I’m not accusing this Keith person of this at all, and I hope this doesn’t come across as otherwise. However, I do find it oddly coincidental how several of my more story-driven gaming fellows have all at the same time suddenly found some unexpected new soft spot for this game. I think that, should any of them offer me Kool-Aid in the next few days, I will politely decline.
Maybe I’m just being stubborn and an unyielding curmudgeon, but I still can’t stand the game. I’ve played it a handful of times now, and despite giving it my best, and approaching it with an open mind, I find it is pretty much anathema to everything I find desirable in gaming these days. My AP experiences have only made it more intolerable to me, despite my best efforts.
I’ve noticed a strange trend these last few weeks, though, in which several unconnected “hardcore” indie gamers I know are finding it pretty chic to “respect” and “appreciate” 4th edition, having seen it under a “different light” or some such malarkey. No, I’m not accusing this Keith person of this at all, and I hope this doesn’t come across as otherwise. However, I do find it oddly coincidental how several of my more story-driven gaming fellows have all at the same time suddenly found some unexpected new soft spot for this game. I think that, should any of them offer me Kool-Aid in the next few days, I will politely decline.
A bunch of folks in Story Games like 4e and some do not.
A bunch of indie rpg folks liked 3e and a bunch of others didn’t.
It ain’t about being chic, just perceptions.
Well, my “perceptions” tell me this:
* On the day following the VP elections, I had more people post about Sarah Palin than during any other similar span of time.
* During the week following the death of Gary Gygax, I had more people post about D&D and their gaming memories on my friends list than during any other similar time frame.
* During the last week, I’ve seen more people post about my brother than before, due to him being in a serious car wreck.
* During the two weeks, I’ve had more people post about how either they or some friend of theirs has decided that “4th Edition is pretty great in this or that light” than during other times.
Again, no accusations being thrown… but is this a coincidence? Or a psychic phenomenon? You decide. Either way, I want to game, and badly…
Not to generalize, but I find that those who have drunk of the *indie* kool-aid tend to be a lot more appreciative of games for what they are than most of the D&D/StoryTeller/Palladium/Whatevah diehards I encounter.
4e is a very focused, well-honed design that does one main thing really awesomely. This is totally the way indie fanboys (like me!) like their games. Ergo, of all the RPG communities on the intarwebs, it was places like Story-Games that that were really positive about 4e. These are people who generally don’t have any baggage or self-worth associated with D&D. To them, it seems, 4e is just another RPG, and it happens to be one that has a clear goal it supports exceptionally well.
Honestly, I find it refreshing. ENWorld, e.g., has been quite grim since 4e was released. And don’t even talk to me about Paizo’s boards.
Anyway, you should be glad that 4e doesn’t float your boat. For once, D&D has a really clear agenda that it advertises unabashedly, warning you to stay away if that’s not what you’re after. In some ways, I consider this 4e’s greatest triumph.
Anyway, you should be glad that 4e doesn’t float your boat. For once, D&D has a really clear agenda that it advertises unabashedly, warning you to stay away if that’s not what you’re after.
I completely agree.
QFT. Happily for me, it’s the game experience I thought 3/3.5e was offering back when I was running D&D. And happily for Phasmaphobic, it’s that much easier to discover whether or not it’s the right game for you. It’s frustrating as hell to try playing a game that isn’t what you thought or wanted.
so what is that agenda?
Killing things and taking their stuff. 🙂
I.e., team-based, high-challenge, tactical play in the classic D&D mold.