Olbie returning, 4e question - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Olbie returning, 4e question

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
bromordra
Sep 11, 2008 16:05:56 Hi, I used to play D&D a few years ago and was thinking about taking the hobby back up. I still have all my old 3.5 stuff, and the people I'm thinking about playing with have nothing at all.

My question is is it worth it to spend the eleventy-bajillion dollars to get the stuff needed to DM in 4e? Is it really that superior to 3.5e that it's worth it?

Thanks in advance, Bromordra
#2
brewksy
Sep 11, 2008 16:14:53 It's a different style of play, for sure. If you were a huge fan of 3.5 and loved the rules complexity and flexibility, then stay away. If you want a simple, elegant system that is all-new, then go ahead

haha - I am waiting for a ton of people to get on here and bash both sides - first one to start bashing, loses!
#3
bromordra
Sep 11, 2008 16:31:02 I liked 3.5 alot, but never fully got used to it (then again, i don't suppose you ever can fully understand 20-something books worth of rules), but I heard that 4e was like some kind of crazy mix of RPG and FPS that ended in fail, I just want to know how biased that opinion is.

Oh, and how much do the core 4e rulebooks cost?
#4
zillah
Sep 11, 2008 16:33:45 its worth it. its more fun.
you don't need that much money. amazon.com order the bundle for like 50 bucks. if you really feel like, order a DM screen. thats like 10-15. ok, if your players have nothing, let them use your stuff, copy it down, and then print off power cards. these niffty things can be found online, and you can use them for all player abilities instead of the books.

all in all, if you have dice paper pencils and players, all you really need are the 3 bore books. thats 50 bucks. not "eleventy-bajillion" like you think. have fun! :P
#5
rainkiss
Sep 11, 2008 16:42:18 The opinion is, like most opinions, biased. I, personally, like the new system. It balances the classes nicely, so you can actually be happy at most levels with most characters. (I've played 1st level mages in all editions, gimme 4e every time. LOVE not being a walking one-shot magic item! And a high-level warrior actually has a snowball's chance up against an equal-level mage.)

As Zillah said, check Amazon.com, their 3-book bundle is cheap. The DM screen gets a big thumbs-up from me, lots of useful information and nice artwork.
#6
drmorganes
Sep 11, 2008 20:52:18
Hi, I used to play D&D a few years ago and was thinking about taking the hobby back up. I still have all my old 3.5 stuff, and the people I'm thinking about playing with have nothing at all.

My question is is it worth it to spend the eleventy-bajillion dollars to get the stuff needed to DM in 4e? Is it really that superior to 3.5e that it's worth it?

Thanks in advance, Bromordra

Since you - like nearly everyone else - is coming to 4E "on the ground floor", eleventy-bajillion dollars isn't necessary to be a competent DM. I think the only new sourcebook that's actually been released is the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, though Martial Power and whatever the treasure one has been renamed this week are due shortly.

$50 for the 3 core rule books is a steal any way you slice it.

My impression of 4E?

Love it.

I've been playing D&D for 25 years, starting with the Red Box rules when I was 9 (and moving to AD&D shortly thereafter). 4E was a breeze to learn, the classes are actually worth something ALL THE TIME, and the new focus on team-oriented thinking is just a plus all the way around.

I don't have time to run a game right now, but the DMs I know say the new rules for encounter building actually make sense, and that putting together the encounters for a scratch-built adventure is actually the least time-consuming part of the entire process.
#7
bromordra
Sep 11, 2008 21:12:39 Okay everyone, you have convinced me. I belive I'll investigate the amazon deal, though I do feel kind of.... like I'm leaving behind a friend in 3.5. Bah, maybe I'm crazy
#8
bromordra
Sep 11, 2008 21:15:02 Woah now, I just looked on Amazon, it's $70, not $50, that's quite a difference for me.
#9
squarecircle
Sep 11, 2008 21:43:05 Did you play any editions prior to 3.5? 4e is like 2e and its predecessors in spirit, but still mechanically similar to 3e.

The classes are much more balanced than in any previous edition. Encounter building is as easy (or easier!) as it was in 2e, not the chore it was in 3e.

It does borrow some concepts from MMOs, but not in the way that most people think. It's still very much a board game, probably even more so than 3e, in fact.
#10
hopelessoptimizer_dup
Sep 11, 2008 22:22:45 I think you are just looking at the "Buy New" section on amazon. If you click on the "New and Used" section you will see that its only about 55 bucks + shipping. Just because its in a section marked used doesn't mean it really is. They have a condition area in it that tells you if its still new (in the original plastic covering wrap) or used.

Really with shipping your looking at right about 60 dollars but still, for something that retails at 104.95+tax, that's a good deal.
#11
brandonn
Sep 11, 2008 22:45:57 I just looked: $55.32 + $3.99 shipping New, from "COMICS-NOW"

$50 for a computer game, and that's a one shot deal, D&D id forever.
#12
d1tremere
Sep 12, 2008 0:48:07
Hi, I used to play D&D a few years ago and was thinking about taking the hobby back up. I still have all my old 3.5 stuff, and the people I'm thinking about playing with have nothing at all.

My question is is it worth it to spend the eleventy-bajillion dollars to get the stuff needed to DM in 4e? Is it really that superior to 3.5e that it's worth it?

Thanks in advance, Bromordra

Is it worth $100 or so for a game which provides countless years of fun and adventure?
Show me any thing of comparable value.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 bromordra Sep 11, 2008 16:05:56	Hi, I used to play D&D a few years ago and was thinking about taking the hobby back up. I still have all my old 3.5 stuff, and the people I'm thinking about playing with have nothing at all. My question is is it worth it to spend the eleventy-bajillion dollars to get the stuff needed to DM in 4e? Is it really that superior to 3.5e that it's worth it? Thanks in advance, Bromordra
#2 brewksy Sep 11, 2008 16:14:53	It's a different style of play, for sure. If you were a huge fan of 3.5 and loved the rules complexity and flexibility, then stay away. If you want a simple, elegant system that is all-new, then go ahead haha - I am waiting for a ton of people to get on here and bash both sides - first one to start bashing, loses!
#3 bromordra Sep 11, 2008 16:31:02	I liked 3.5 alot, but never fully got used to it (then again, i don't suppose you ever can fully understand 20-something books worth of rules), but I heard that 4e was like some kind of crazy mix of RPG and FPS that ended in fail, I just want to know how biased that opinion is. Oh, and how much do the core 4e rulebooks cost?
#4 zillah Sep 11, 2008 16:33:45	its worth it. its more fun. you don't need that much money. amazon.com order the bundle for like 50 bucks. if you really feel like, order a DM screen. thats like 10-15. ok, if your players have nothing, let them use your stuff, copy it down, and then print off power cards. these niffty things can be found online, and you can use them for all player abilities instead of the books. all in all, if you have dice paper pencils and players, all you really need are the 3 bore books. thats 50 bucks. not "eleventy-bajillion" like you think. have fun! :P
#5 rainkiss Sep 11, 2008 16:42:18	The opinion is, like most opinions, biased. I, personally, like the new system. It balances the classes nicely, so you can actually be happy at most levels with most characters. (I've played 1st level mages in all editions, gimme 4e every time. LOVE not being a walking one-shot magic item! And a high-level warrior actually has a snowball's chance up against an equal-level mage.) As Zillah said, check Amazon.com, their 3-book bundle is cheap. The DM screen gets a big thumbs-up from me, lots of useful information and nice artwork.
#6 drmorganes Sep 11, 2008 20:52:18	Hi, I used to play D&D a few years ago and was thinking about taking the hobby back up. I still have all my old 3.5 stuff, and the people I'm thinking about playing with have nothing at all. My question is is it worth it to spend the eleventy-bajillion dollars to get the stuff needed to DM in 4e? Is it really that superior to 3.5e that it's worth it? Thanks in advance, Bromordra Since you - like nearly everyone else - is coming to 4E "on the ground floor", eleventy-bajillion dollars isn't necessary to be a competent DM. I think the only new sourcebook that's actually been released is the Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, though Martial Power and whatever the treasure one has been renamed this week are due shortly. $50 for the 3 core rule books is a steal any way you slice it. My impression of 4E? Love it. I've been playing D&D for 25 years, starting with the Red Box rules when I was 9 (and moving to AD&D shortly thereafter). 4E was a breeze to learn, the classes are actually worth something ALL THE TIME, and the new focus on team-oriented thinking is just a plus all the way around. I don't have time to run a game right now, but the DMs I know say the new rules for encounter building actually make sense, and that putting together the encounters for a scratch-built adventure is actually the least time-consuming part of the entire process.
#7 bromordra Sep 11, 2008 21:12:39	Okay everyone, you have convinced me. I belive I'll investigate the amazon deal, though I do feel kind of.... like I'm leaving behind a friend in 3.5. Bah, maybe I'm crazy
#8 bromordra Sep 11, 2008 21:15:02	Woah now, I just looked on Amazon, it's $70, not $50, that's quite a difference for me.
#9 squarecircle Sep 11, 2008 21:43:05	Did you play any editions prior to 3.5? 4e is like 2e and its predecessors in spirit, but still mechanically similar to 3e. The classes are much more balanced than in any previous edition. Encounter building is as easy (or easier!) as it was in 2e, not the chore it was in 3e. It does borrow some concepts from MMOs, but not in the way that most people think. It's still very much a board game, probably even more so than 3e, in fact.
#10 hopelessoptimizer_dup Sep 11, 2008 22:22:45	I think you are just looking at the "Buy New" section on amazon. If you click on the "New and Used" section you will see that its only about 55 bucks + shipping. Just because its in a section marked used doesn't mean it really is. They have a condition area in it that tells you if its still new (in the original plastic covering wrap) or used. Really with shipping your looking at right about 60 dollars but still, for something that retails at 104.95+tax, that's a good deal.
#11 brandonn Sep 11, 2008 22:45:57	I just looked: $55.32 + $3.99 shipping New, from "COMICS-NOW" $50 for a computer game, and that's a one shot deal, D&D id forever.
#12 d1tremere Sep 12, 2008 0:48:07	Hi, I used to play D&D a few years ago and was thinking about taking the hobby back up. I still have all my old 3.5 stuff, and the people I'm thinking about playing with have nothing at all. My question is is it worth it to spend the eleventy-bajillion dollars to get the stuff needed to DM in 4e? Is it really that superior to 3.5e that it's worth it? Thanks in advance, Bromordra Is it worth $100 or so for a game which provides countless years of fun and adventure? Show me any thing of comparable value.