From what we've been told by WotC so far, the 4E rules will be so incompatible with what's gone before that it has been advised that any ongoing campaigns should be ended and new 4e campaigns started.
From all indications, some of the mechanics will be so different as to make converting old campaigns and materials to new 4e will be extremely difficult--if not nearly impossible--to do.
Most of the estimates I've seen are convinced that a conversion guide just would not be possible.
Statistics: Posted by Boric Glanduum — Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:46 pm
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WotC really needs to get away from this artist (Wayne Reynolds) who has done some of the WORST Dragon covers ever produced. All of his stuff has too much of a Manga feel.
Cross your fingers.
Statistics: Posted by Boric Glanduum — Wed Sep 12, 2007 5:09 pm
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Statistics: Posted by Boric Glanduum — Wed Sep 05, 2007 5:50 pm
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so I'll just reserve judgement for now...Statistics: Posted by Greylen — Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:04 pm
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Looks like the WotC guys finally figured out just how BROKE the Bard class is.... 4th Edition is supposed to address it.
Statistics: Posted by TheDM — Sat Sep 01, 2007 7:56 am
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Statistics: Posted by TheDM — Sat Sep 01, 2007 7:55 am
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Points of Light
by Rich Baker
08/29/2007
The Design & Development article series premiered on the D&D website back in September 2005, and has been a staple ever since. With the approach of 4th Edition, and our designers and developers focused on the new edition, this column will be the primary vehicle for 4th Edition coverage. We’ll not only give you peeks at what’s forthcoming, but also the “howâ€
Statistics: Posted by Boric Glanduum — Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:26 pm
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WARNING! Possible Spoilers!!!
Both the prologue and the epilogue are sett 100 years in the future and they mention that the "world went mad" during the "Spellplague" but that Mithral Hall survived the madness. The founding of the Empire of Netheril is also mentioned.
Statistics: Posted by Boric Glanduum — Thu Aug 30, 2007 4:25 pm
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This suggests that there will be no "conversion guide" for converting older campaigns to 4e as there was for 3e.
Same article suggested that while difficult rule sets such as "grapple" will be vastly simplified, there are other "useful" common rules (such as DR and AO) that are either done away with or nerfed.
Also:
Levels run from 1-30; these levels attempt to capture the feel of the "sweet range" of 3E, which is levels 7-14.
1-10 Heroic: foes are orcs and ogres, some giants, small dragons. Adventures tend to be local.
11 - 20 Paragon: on par with the current low to mid teens right now. Bigger threats are faced that might threaten a kingdom.
21 - 30 Epic: world or planar threats.
Fewer than 11 core classes -- Although two PCs may serve the same role, they may do it in different ways. (Like fighters with different styles.) The roles are geared towards combat; a PC's non-combat aspects can differentiate him further. He also said that they are still considering the possibility of there being a class or two that doesn't quite fit the four "roles". The four "roles":
Defender: fighter & paladin classes
Leader: cleric & warlord classes
Controller: wizard class
Striker: rogue & ranger classes
Fighter, Cleric, Rogue and Wizard definitely stay (multiple mentions and examples). Also mentioned Barbarian, Paladin and Ranger. Mentioned that wizard and sorcerer won't merge. Sorcerer will be different from wizards in more ways than just resource management. Monk and Bard are likely to be discarded completely.
Character Powers are to be sorted into at will, per encounter and per day abilities.
Spellcasting has been munchkinned: less focus on "prepared spells"--from an interview, a wizard who uses all his prepared spells will be at 80% power. Also: "A wizard will never completely run out of spells. They can run out of their 'mordenkainen’s sword, however'."
"Buff" spells will be of drastically changed duration.
Fireball will no longer do 1d6/level.
It will not cost XP to create magic items, and will be much easier for a caster to do.
There will likely be no "Fort save or die" from massive damage, unless it reduces you to -10 HP.
Confirmation rolls for critical hits possibly will go away.
And then this: "Social encounters. For those who don't just want to RP such things without some mechanical impact, the game has rules for non-combat encounters. The example given was social interaction. Unlike 3E, where negotiation amounts to a single Diplomacy check, it's treated almost like a combat in 4E. I make a skill check, but I also tell the DM what/how I'm doing. The opponent responds with behavior (and a check) of his own. I counter with a new check, and new words. And so forth."
Statistics: Posted by Boric Glanduum — Tue Aug 28, 2007 3:17 pm
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