Well, it took me some time, but I've finally embraced 4E! 
Its a friends of mine's fault, who ran a game a few months back. He had been saying for some time the game had finally adjusted to my DMing style (Cinematic), and I would like it, and he was right.
I had adopted "skill challenges" some time ago... requiring multiple skill checks for task resolution, and providing auto failures for things like intimidation. Seeing it in print was great... but that has been the way all these years, with each edition adopting many things that DMs were already doing. What I'm really liking though, is seeing some new and interesting mechanics introduced into the game~
For the first time in 30 years I believe D&D really "ahead of the curve" in gaming technology as opposed to playing catching up. Dave and Gary created an entirely new entertainment medium in the 70s, but since then none of the editions really added anything that could be considered "revolutionary" in the way RPGs are played. Even 3E (and later 3.5E) was really just "catch up" as skills and DC based task resolution was old hat by 2001. The "at-will", "encounter", and "daily" concept for powers in really something else. And the way each character class receives the same type of powers, just coming from different power sources is great. There are some nice "twists" to standard gaming concepts that really blow my mind.
The action classification is great too. The best word I can use to describe the new system is "clean." While sticking to many D&D tenants and concepts, the applications here are impressive. I still feel I'm playing D&D, and that doesn't appear to be the case when reading the rules from the cold page. Add in ddi, and the game is a blast, and ready for RPGs in the 21st century!
MORE TOOLS! Yay! This was the icing on the cake. The first time I prepped for a game and adjusted a monster from from 9th to 3rd level... in about 15 seconds, I was hooked. The character creater and monster builder are awesome.
Need a TRAP BUILDER!!
Keep up the good work WOTC, I'm baaaack!
I wouldn't call 4e revolutionary, but I'm glad you're having fun with the new edition.
Clap Clap Clap. Good on you, mate.
I wish some of my friends would finally grow a pair and give it a try.
I have converted to the dark side!
*multiple voices rhythmically chanting*
"One of us. One of us. One of us."
Welcome to the dark side.
You will find your cookies, fresh on the counter. Don't forget to grab yourself a glass of milk from the fridge on the way to the table.
welcome aboard.. my story matches reasonably closely to yours!
Hey Cpt Micha, i never got any cookies for coming back into the fold!
You were a convert that came early. (like me) we predate the Cookies program.
Damnit.. I always miss the cookies...
oh well.. at least I get to play some kick ass games!
did someone say COOKIES?
Yeah the Dark Side Convert program.
You've gotta convert to 4e to get em and have to be a new convert. Outlaw and I were just bemoaning the fact that we predate the Convert Program.
i converted to 4e a while ago...
I wouldn't call 4e revolutionary, but I'm glad you're having fun with the new edition.
Hmmm. I would submit that many of the ideas in the new edition are new mechanics, or well done redo's of older concepts: such as Skill Challenges and Action Points(not new, but a well done redos), and the "Power" model for character abilities that work based on in game triggers rather than a specific set time. i.e. At-Will, Encounter, Daily... rather than assigning a point cost and drawing from a pool. A very elegant solution that eliminates the ungainliness of point cost record keeping.
Combining all of this with online applications to faciltate table play IS revolutionary. No one has done it, or is doing it with their games. From a business standpoint its revolutionary as well as it combines table top RPGs with a subscription service and thus creates a recurring revenue stream.
Not to create an arguement, but by the very definition of revolutionary: "radically new or different", it is.
That's just it. I wouldn't call it radically new or different. Power systems have been done before. Certain powers that can only be used in certain time intervals, different for each class. MMORPGs have done that. That isn't to say that 4e is anything like an MMORPG (it's not), but the idea has been done before. Something very similar to skill challenges was shown in a 3.5 book called Unearthed Arcana, so it has been thought of before.
I'm not saying it's a bad edition. I'm just saying that I really don't think it's revolutionary. But you're entitled to your own opinion, so if thinking it's revolutionary makes you enjoy the system more, then go for it.
What do you get if you pretty much quit D&D altogether and switch to the World of Darkness? (Mage: The Awakening, okay?! None of that emo vampire crap!) I mean, the 4E converts get cookies. What do I get?
I don't know why 4e converts get cookies. I mean, 4e is just a game. Do you give cookies to people that play checkers? What about a guy that picks up Dominoes? A gal that tries out Uno for the first time? It's a game. Playing it does not warrant cookies.
Yes, it does. It does. It really does.
Maybe a cookie eating or giving game, but not a game that doesn't involve cookies.
I like cookies.
I brought cookies to my most recent game!
if you like cookies go bake some.
Cookies are overrated.
I will! When I get home.
Cookies are overrated.
ZB: what's Cotton Club's website? You live in Ohio... surely you have a can of Cotton Club soda around somewhere.
I'm trying to get the stuff imported down here.
I promise I'll link you to cheerwine goodness in exchange.
I honestly don't know. Never really went after the stuff. Maybe a few times when I was a young'n. For Ginger Ale, I always preferred Vernors or Canada Dry. I did like RC, though, and can recall drinkin' some of the others when I still lived back in Maple Hts. I looked for a website but only found a phone number that seems to be a modem line. Sorry!
I honestly don't know. Never really went after the stuff. Maybe a few times when I was a young'n. For Ginger Ale, I always preferred Vernors or Canada Dry. I did like RC, though, and can recall drinkin' some of the others when I still lived back in Maple Hts. I looked for a website but only found a phone number that seems to be a modem line. Sorry!
Thanks.
Damn. I can't even find a picture of the stuff on the net.
At least we Southerners are kind enough to let our Cheerwine be exported and photographed.
I haven't even heard anything about them in so long I don't even know if they still exist. Teh interwebz seemed fairly devoid of info, too. All I did was a really quick search, but still.
EDIT: This conversation reminds me that I need to get around to ordering some Tentacle Grape here soon ...
I haven't even heard anything about them in so long I don't even know if they still exist. Teh interwebz seemed fairly devoid of info, too. All I did was a really quick search, but still.
EDIT: This conversation reminds me that I need to get around to ordering some Tentacle Grape here soon ...
Yeah that has me kind of worried there. I couldn't really find anything on Cotton Club. Nothing substantial at least.. I do know Dr Pepper owns them. (Learned that today) And there is one website I supposedly can get the stuff from maybe, but I have to contact someone, rather than just put it in an online cart and pay for it.
I'd like to know a price before I have to talk to someone you know?
Yeah, that would sure be nice. I hate it when you have to do that amount of digging to give someone money. Stuff like that should be easy.
Yeah, that would sure be nice. I hate it when you have to do that amount of digging to give someone money. Stuff like that should be easy.
Especially when you KNOW it's going to be more expensive than if you lived there and could just go down to a gas station and buy the damn stuff.
Yep. It's amazing how difficult certain businesses make doing business with them. Like ****ss. They launch a friggin' ad campaign with loads of commercials advertising the celebratory 250 anniversary stout they're allegedly selling. I say allegedly because I've been totally unable to locate the mythical stuff. If you're going to advertise it, make it as easily available as possible.
EDIT: Ok. Now I'm p-issed. The friggin filter decided that ****-s-s was a bad word. **** you WotC word filter!
EDIT2: It's so bad I can't even get around it! Let's try this:
G
u
i
n
n
e
s
s
WTF? WTF indeed.
I'm confused. What's so bad about "****"?
EDIT: Also, that word has six letters, not four. Whatever. Does anyone know what's up?
I think they're trying to make it to where no one can understand each other's swearing.
I'm confused. What's so bad about "****"?
EDIT: Also, that word has six letters, not four. Whatever. Does anyone know what's up?
I have no idea. I couldn't find "****" in the urban dictionary, or through random internet searches. Maybe the forums are making up bad words?
It's been suggested (and it was my theory as well) that the filter may consider the first 5 or 6 letters of the name of my favorite libation a racial slur directed toward Italians. I do believe that the slur is spelled differently, but I don't know for sure. It's not like I go around writing down and spell-checking racial slurs every day. That's what you'd call a special occasion. 
Dammit. I hate these new smilies.