So I’ve read a bunch of stuff about 4E, I’ve got copies of the books to look at and I’ve talked to a bunch of people from my local game store who have similiar tastes as mine in RPGs.
From everything I’ve seen and read, I was pretty on the fence about ever wanting to play 4E. I really, really like 3E/3.5E. Everything I’ve seen about 4E screams “This is for first time RPGers who only experience is WoW”. Which, in and of itself, is fine, I really don’t have a problem with it. My problem has come with people trying to convince me that 4E is in some way better than 3E/3.5E for people who like “realistic” mechanics in their RPGs. I’ve listened to the arguements, but haven’t heard anything convincing.
But now something has come along that has pushed me over the edge into the territory of having no desire to play it. DnD 4E is available as an application on Facebook.
I’ll say it again….FACEBOOK!
Any RPG system that can be distilled down to a minor application for a social networking program like Facebook is not something I would call worth playing. Will I never try it…probably not I’m sure at some point my Will save will fail and I’ll try it out to be fair, but I’m not encouraged by this discovery.
You know, I really think you shouldn’t decide you don’t like the new 4E D&D until you sit down and play a few sessions of it. I just played my first one, and I managed to have a good time. I haven’t made up my mind about the new rules yet, but again, I had a good time and that is what matters most to me.
As for the Facebook app, its marketing. I mean, did you give up on D&D 3/3.5E when the Miniatures game was released? How about give up on D&D when the cartoon was released? Or, how about those God awful movies they made a few years back? Those have little to do with the table-top, pen & paper RPG, and I think the same could be said for the Facebook app.
First, the cartoon was awesome and I’ll fight to the death anyone who says otherwise. Second, the cartoon was for 2nd edition. Third, while the movie sucked it really did have so little to do with the game that it didn’t matter. Fourth, the miniatures game is an entirely different kind of game than a pen and paper RPG.
4E, by all accounts and everything I’ve read, is a video game turned into a pen and paper RPG. “Realism” as it were has been completely sacrificed. The fact that you “managed” to have a good time isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of the game. I’ve seen some sessions in action at the local store and wasn’t impressed by what I saw. I really seems to be the version of DnD geared towards people who have never played DnD before, and don’t want to bother with actual mechanics.
Like I said, will I never try it? Probably not, but everything I’ve seen about it so far isn’t giving me a good opinion concerning it.
Done with DnD… well… looks like it’s time for Warcraft!
Naw, I’ve gotten big into playing Descent: Road to Legends. Fantastic boardgame. Granted, it has a few weak spots and an occasional balance issue but its still a lot of fun. I’d much rather play that than DnD at this point, either 3.5 or 4E.
4e is good. I am slowly being turned into a 4e fanboy.
4e > 3e
Can’t believe this is the first time I’m reading this blog! Descent, if I may say so, is pure awesome. All the action of RPG combat without any RP.
If all I want is a quick action fix, I pick up Descent. If I want a campaign/story, I head to D&D.
Send me an email if you’ve ever got a game going.