Unearthed Arcana - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Unearthed Arcana

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
joydyhee
Sep 02, 2010 6:57:31 Interesting.

I like the idea that Unearthed Arcana will be a recurring article, not just one (or multiple books), so wonky ideas can leak out as they come up.

I understand why they would not be official, although it is a bit upsetting that the stuff will not be in the tools. If anything, default the CB and other tools to not include that source (have Unearthed Arcana material build on a separate source), but let it be in there.

If a particular group likes something, it would be nice to have it integrated into existing tools.

Thoughts?
#2
greatfrito
Sep 02, 2010 8:03:03 Interesting, yes. But I think you hit it on its head here - they should have at least given the option of using these things with the tools.
#3
VaultDweller
Sep 02, 2010 8:11:39 I'd also like to see these options available within the tools.

However, it does sound like they're aiming for more esoteric options that would be non-trivial to drop into the existing tools.

Anything that can be added to the tools, though, definitely should be.
#4
Astromath
Sep 02, 2010 8:59:14 With UA coming out, I also would like to see what they come up with in CB. If failing that, I would definitely like to see the houserules part of CB actually incorporate the mechanics into the character sheet so we can add them ourselves. There's been small pushes here and there for this to happen, but now, with UA coming out, there's even more reason to update the customizability of CB.
#5
sfurtwangler
Sep 02, 2010 8:59:56 I'm always interested in new and homebrew ideas - but this article read as though they're going to be setting aside space in Dragon to give us half-baked ideas, at full price - and that they think this is a special treat for us.

It didn't sound as though this was actually bonus content - at least, it doesn't sound like Dragon magazine is going to be longer each month, with space set aside for these articles. Instead, in place of some other articles (which, presumably would have had to go through their full development cycle, and would be supported by DDI) they're going to shave off some of their workload, and call it "unearthed arcana". They'll be doing less work in editing/reviewing the articles and less work because these things won't be supported by the tools (which we are also paying for)... so I am having a hard time understanding why this is supposed to be good news.

Frankly, the thing I used to hate about Dragon magazine back in the 2nd edition era was how untested, and obviously broken a lot of the options were, and the fact that none of those rules were actually official and, so, were usually off-limits. I loved that WotC decided to change that with 4E, and I'm sad to see that the overall quality and support of Dragon articles is intentionally being reduced.
#6
sfurtwangler
Sep 02, 2010 9:08:15 And, to be fair, the article doesn't mention how common these articles will be. They may only sprinkle them around as cool ideas come up.

I don't necessarily like the direction of UA, but spicing things up with one UA article every once in a while would still be an interesting read at work, if nothing else.
#7
ekio
Sep 02, 2010 10:16:23 Hell. Yes.
#8
sirkaikillah
Sep 02, 2010 10:30:49 I really like the idea of unearthed arcana. We get to try ideas that just may throw game blance out the window. I know some of the other guys that DM our group will just love this stuff. It might just get them to check out DDI for more than just the CB and MB.
#9
sirkaikillah
Sep 02, 2010 10:34:39
I'm always interested in new and homebrew ideas - but this article read as though they're going to be setting aside space in Dragon to give us half-baked ideas, at full price - and that they think this is a special treat for us.

...

For some the glass is always half emtpty. You read half baked ideas and assume the worst, I read ideas to weird to catogorize and market with othesr in a book and assume the best.Finally an avenue for developers to share there Ideas that really push the envelope of what is possible with the 4e system.
#10
Garthanos
Sep 02, 2010 10:52:05 I have a love hate relationship with UA - for instance this one I adapted to 4e - > near the bottom (Player makes all/most of the rolls). The untested bit annoys me but many of the rules are still cool and a good read and tempting once in a while something like the aforementioned arises which is perfectly balanced and contributes entirely good stuff.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 joydyhee Sep 02, 2010 6:57:31	Interesting. I like the idea that Unearthed Arcana will be a recurring article, not just one (or multiple books), so wonky ideas can leak out as they come up. I understand why they would not be official, although it is a bit upsetting that the stuff will not be in the tools. If anything, default the CB and other tools to not include that source (have Unearthed Arcana material build on a separate source), but let it be in there. If a particular group likes something, it would be nice to have it integrated into existing tools. Thoughts?
#2 greatfrito Sep 02, 2010 8:03:03	Interesting, yes. But I think you hit it on its head here - they should have at least given the option of using these things with the tools.
#3 VaultDweller Sep 02, 2010 8:11:39	I'd also like to see these options available within the tools. However, it does sound like they're aiming for more esoteric options that would be non-trivial to drop into the existing tools. Anything that can be added to the tools, though, definitely should be.
#4 Astromath Sep 02, 2010 8:59:14	With UA coming out, I also would like to see what they come up with in CB. If failing that, I would definitely like to see the houserules part of CB actually incorporate the mechanics into the character sheet so we can add them ourselves. There's been small pushes here and there for this to happen, but now, with UA coming out, there's even more reason to update the customizability of CB.
#5 sfurtwangler Sep 02, 2010 8:59:56	I'm always interested in new and homebrew ideas - but this article read as though they're going to be setting aside space in Dragon to give us half-baked ideas, at full price - and that they think this is a special treat for us. It didn't sound as though this was actually bonus content - at least, it doesn't sound like Dragon magazine is going to be longer each month, with space set aside for these articles. Instead, in place of some other articles (which, presumably would have had to go through their full development cycle, and would be supported by DDI) they're going to shave off some of their workload, and call it "unearthed arcana". They'll be doing less work in editing/reviewing the articles and less work because these things won't be supported by the tools (which we are also paying for)... so I am having a hard time understanding why this is supposed to be good news. Frankly, the thing I used to hate about Dragon magazine back in the 2nd edition era was how untested, and obviously broken a lot of the options were, and the fact that none of those rules were actually official and, so, were usually off-limits. I loved that WotC decided to change that with 4E, and I'm sad to see that the overall quality and support of Dragon articles is intentionally being reduced.
#6 sfurtwangler Sep 02, 2010 9:08:15	And, to be fair, the article doesn't mention how common these articles will be. They may only sprinkle them around as cool ideas come up. I don't necessarily like the direction of UA, but spicing things up with one UA article every once in a while would still be an interesting read at work, if nothing else.
#7 ekio Sep 02, 2010 10:16:23	Hell. Yes.
#8 sirkaikillah Sep 02, 2010 10:30:49	I really like the idea of unearthed arcana. We get to try ideas that just may throw game blance out the window. I know some of the other guys that DM our group will just love this stuff. It might just get them to check out DDI for more than just the CB and MB.
#9 sirkaikillah Sep 02, 2010 10:34:39	I'm always interested in new and homebrew ideas - but this article read as though they're going to be setting aside space in Dragon to give us half-baked ideas, at full price - and that they think this is a special treat for us. ... For some the glass is always half emtpty. You read half baked ideas and assume the worst, I read ideas to weird to catogorize and market with othesr in a book and assume the best.Finally an avenue for developers to share there Ideas that really push the envelope of what is possible with the 4e system.
#10 Garthanos Sep 02, 2010 10:52:05	I have a love hate relationship with UA - for instance this one I adapted to 4e - > near the bottom (Player makes all/most of the rolls). The untested bit annoys me but many of the rules are still cool and a good read and tempting once in a while something like the aforementioned arises which is perfectly balanced and contributes entirely good stuff.