Comments on: Reading D&D 4E: Concerning Combat http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/ Topics and Ideas for all sort of Game Creations Sat, 21 May 2011 08:45:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: extrakun http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-90 extrakun Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:06:33 +0000 http://www.gamestopica.net/?p=1314#comment-90 TBH, I also like to have shinny RPG books cluttering my shelves :P Well, there are other reasons. Though first I would acknowledge that everyone's imagining of a game is different, so I am not mortified that the game is not story-breaking for others. Second, the game is actually fine. In fact, if even great, just not my cup of tea for an actual pen and paper game. However, I also do get involved in computer games development, and there are a lot of things that D&D 4E can impart in that area. TBH, I also like to have shinny RPG books cluttering my shelves :P

Well, there are other reasons. Though first I would acknowledge that everyone’s imagining of a game is different, so I am not mortified that the game is not story-breaking for others.

Second, the game is actually fine. In fact, if even great, just not my cup of tea for an actual pen and paper game. However, I also do get involved in computer games development, and there are a lot of things that D&D 4E can impart in that area.

]]> By: wickedmurph http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-89 wickedmurph Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:32:28 +0000 http://www.gamestopica.net/?p=1314#comment-89 Hm, it sounds to me like you wasted your time and money by buying and reading the 4e books. You describe yourself as a "narrator gm who prefers rules-lite systems", so lets be honest here - you didn't go in prepared to like it, did you? I mean, there is plenty of info out there about what sort of RPG it is - there's no surprises here for you. You spent $100 bucks and some hours of your time so that you could say "I hate it, but look, I was fair". And if that makes you happy, so be it. The system works just fine, and nothing in it keeps you from running it narrative-style. My 4e games tend to run half and half narrative and combat, just like they did in Vampire, 3e, 2e and well, pretty much all the other systems I've ever played. I applaud your desire to appear fair, and your willingness to buy and read the rules. But you could have saved yourself the cash and time by just leaving it alone. Hm, it sounds to me like you wasted your time and money by buying and reading the 4e books. You describe yourself as a “narrator gm who prefers rules-lite systems”, so lets be honest here – you didn’t go in prepared to like it, did you? I mean, there is plenty of info out there about what sort of RPG it is – there’s no surprises here for you.

You spent $100 bucks and some hours of your time so that you could say “I hate it, but look, I was fair”. And if that makes you happy, so be it. The system works just fine, and nothing in it keeps you from running it narrative-style. My 4e games tend to run half and half narrative and combat, just like they did in Vampire, 3e, 2e and well, pretty much all the other systems I’ve ever played.

I applaud your desire to appear fair, and your willingness to buy and read the rules. But you could have saved yourself the cash and time by just leaving it alone.

]]> By: Wyatt http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Wyatt Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:05:48 +0000 http://www.gamestopica.net/?p=1314#comment-88 I've never suffered any problem sustaining disbelief in a D&D 4e game. But I do know that anyone self-describing as a rules light GM would have problems doing so. I can't really describe the phenomenon, since I run 4e games with a lot of narrative, atmosphere and "fluff" if you will, and haven't encountered any problems on my behalf or those of my players with the relationship between story and game (or lack thereof). In fact I'm a pretty story-primary DM and yet I run for, write extensively for and prefer D&D 4th Edition for my fantasy gaming. I’ve never suffered any problem sustaining disbelief in a D&D 4e game. But I do know that anyone self-describing as a rules light GM would have problems doing so.

I can’t really describe the phenomenon, since I run 4e games with a lot of narrative, atmosphere and “fluff” if you will, and haven’t encountered any problems on my behalf or those of my players with the relationship between story and game (or lack thereof). In fact I’m a pretty story-primary DM and yet I run for, write extensively for and prefer D&D 4th Edition for my fantasy gaming.

]]> By: Tom http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Tom Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:12:36 +0000 http://www.gamestopica.net/?p=1314#comment-87 OMG this game has been out for so long. When can we move on? Just play some game you enjoy and ignore the one you don't. OMG this game has been out for so long. When can we move on? Just play some game you enjoy and ignore the one you don’t.

]]> By: extrakun http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-86 extrakun Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:01:18 +0000 http://www.gamestopica.net/?p=1314#comment-86 I didn't say the game is horrible. I said the combat system, for the purpose of resolving of combat is effective and could be fun and challenging, in a tactical sense. But as a combat system for a RPG, I personally feel it is horrible, because I prefer more flexibility during combat. I know what I like, I know what my group like. It would be a horrible choice for us. And the reasons that the system is 'horrible' to me I have also admit that it could be a boon for others - the consistency, the ability to master the rules and etc. And likewise, I also have pointed out the good parts of it from D&D 3.5. This is not a one-sided D&D 4E bashing. I have listed the reasons for not liking it, for a RPG, and I think they are valid. I could imagine how the game is played while reading through it, and it's not after a casual read, but in reading through the powers, the rules and others, multiple times. To be honest, I don't even think I will run a game of D&D 4E. If this somehow doesn't let me post what I think and feel about the game which I have painstakingly read through and bought (almost 100 USD!), then I suggest to move along. I'm doing this so that I can make more responsible statements about a game which I made always make reference to, instead of just assuming blindly. (I be sure to include the disclaimer that I have only read the game, not played it). Well it could be worse. I could say the system is horrible just by observing a few players playing the game or just by glancing through a borrowed copy. I didn’t say the game is horrible. I said the combat system, for the purpose of resolving of combat is effective and could be fun and challenging, in a tactical sense. But as a combat system for a RPG, I personally feel it is horrible, because I prefer more flexibility during combat. I know what I like, I know what my group like. It would be a horrible choice for us. And the reasons that the system is ‘horrible’ to me I have also admit that it could be a boon for others – the consistency, the ability to master the rules and etc. And likewise, I also have pointed out the good parts of it from D&D 3.5. This is not a one-sided D&D 4E bashing.

I have listed the reasons for not liking it, for a RPG, and I think they are valid. I could imagine how the game is played while reading through it, and it’s not after a casual read, but in reading through the powers, the rules and others, multiple times.

To be honest, I don’t even think I will run a game of D&D 4E. If this somehow doesn’t let me post what I think and feel about the game which I have painstakingly read through and bought (almost 100 USD!), then I suggest to move along. I’m doing this so that I can make more responsible statements about a game which I made always make reference to, instead of just assuming blindly. (I be sure to include the disclaimer that I have only read the game, not played it).

Well it could be worse. I could say the system is horrible just by observing a few players playing the game or just by glancing through a borrowed copy.

]]> By: Scott http://www.gamestopica.net/2009/10/reading-dd-4e-concerning-combat/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Scott Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:54:31 +0000 http://www.gamestopica.net/?p=1314#comment-85 So you haven't actually played the game yet, but you already know it must be horrible even though, by your own admission, the only things you're able to judge with any sense of reliability (the mechanics) are solid? It's a shame that you've decided to pass judgment on a product you haven't tried yet, as this will certainly cloud your ability to enjoy the game once you do start playing it - you will spend a great deal of time searching for ways to affirm your already-held convictions. So you haven’t actually played the game yet, but you already know it must be horrible even though, by your own admission, the only things you’re able to judge with any sense of reliability (the mechanics) are solid?

It’s a shame that you’ve decided to pass judgment on a product you haven’t tried yet, as this will certainly cloud your ability to enjoy the game once you do start playing it – you will spend a great deal of time searching for ways to affirm your already-held convictions.

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