Review: 4th Ed

Yay! I get to be sort of first!

As an update to D&D it's a 'Not worth it'

As its own system: 'Not worth it'.


I will not switch. 3.5 does almost everything better.

I liked every one of the core books better in 3.5. The books all have
less content than their predecessors and are less detailed and more
juvenile in tone.

HUGE stat point increase, including +1 to *everything* at 11 AND 21...

The new magic system for Wizards manages mostly NOT to rid us
(finally) of the Vancian magic system. Weak spells are unlimited in
use.

Rangers are STILL limited to missile OR two weapon varieties.

Races adds Tiefling, Dragonborn, and a new Elf race (why???). Gnomes
and half-Orcs are gone.

Classes adds Warchief (or whatever). Barbarian, Monk and Sorcerer are
gone.

Everything is far more gamey, at the expense of role playing
interest. D&D used to have the potential to rival GURPS, no longer.

No more random hit points. Con does NOT add hit points per level
(adds 'recoveries' instead)

Multiple opportunites in combat to take a roecovery (or whatever they
call it). Each one restores 1/4 of your total hitpoints. Dog pile
tactics are de rigure...

No skill points, but everyone knew that.

Pretty much EVERYTHING is based on level / 2, skills, defenses, BAB...

Saves are entirely changed. You now have Will defense, Fortitude
defense, Dexterity defense and AC.


Magic Items are now in the players Handbook. Dms Guide now has no
interesting content and is almost all advice for Greenhorns. (if
there was anything else it was crap)


All in all a fiasco.

.

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