Yeah, but those features you just mentioned are for a tiefling warlock only (prime shot and the +1 vs bloodied opponent), not really hard and fast rules to remember. Besides, your DM should tell you when your opponent is bloodied (it means at 1/2 hitpoints).

IMO there are far more things you have to keep track of in 3.5--ok, so I have shield, mage armor, haste, dex bonus, but I have a curse on me, but it's a day of the week that ends in a "y", etc etc.

Something that helps a lot with 4e--power cards. I suppose you could buy them when they get released, or you could download people's homebrew versions, but I just made my own on index cards. At will powers right in front of me with the description and numbers (to hit, damage)--those never go away. Encounter powers--once per encounter. When you use it, turn it upside down. After the encounter (really a "short 5-min rest"), turn used encounter powers back right side up because they're available to you again. Daily powers--flip it over when it's used. You can't use it again until tomorrow.

Yeah, that's kinda what i was talking about with the mathyness of 3.5.

It's all just numbers. I've got a Shield (2) + drank a potion of Mage Armor (4) + my own Natural Armor Bonus (3) + and CaptainNifty gave me a Ring of 'nyah nyah, you can't hit me' (6) = 15. Oh shoot, i just got myself cursed by Mbauers (-4) = 11.

That seems simpler to me, than trying to figure out what the heck a constitution vs fortitude attack is.

What you just described there sounds like Solitaire .


In comparison: I ALWAYS forget to use my ranger's favored enemy ability. Having a whole system based around 'if this happens, you may use this' abilities just really turns me off.

I think it's prolly just a brain thing. Like people who are math heads vs. people who are book heads. I think it's just a preference of complexity

I don't mind math at all, it's just like you said there are so many things to remember in 3.5 that it can become a hassle sometimes.

In 4e, fortitude, reflex, and will are all static defenses, like Armor Class. Some attacks target AC, some target fortitude defense, etc. I actually like this change.

The power cards are a great way to keep 4E stuff organized. I haven't thought about that yet, but I do that kind of thing with my 3.5 Warblade.

Yeah, I've done that with a Monk/Druid I had. I'm not opposed to the idea of it, but it seems a little unnecessary.

I'm still working on wrapping my head around it all.

3.5 is definitely more complicated.

I still can't help but feel that: 3.5 is to Heroclix as 4E is to Heroclix: Alpha.

I really like the change in skills. Having 'only 12' makes much more sense to me, because having skill points in Dungeoneering controls many things together. It controls (I don't have a book with me) what you bonus is for rolls against traps (I think), reading dungeon markings, determining certain monster types. You don't need to have 40 different skills that you need ranks in and I think it makes way more sense.

Athletics covers skill rolls for climbing, jumping, swimming, etc.

I also really like the free action monster checks.

I like the combination of skills, I'm not sold on the skill mechanic of trained or untrained.

You mean having the +5 if you train and only training once?

Or is it something else?

Yeah, I don't like not having degrees of knowledge. This whole you either know it (+5, + 1/2 lvl, + Abil mod) or you don't (no +5) takes away a lot of flavor from the game. It's just limiting, and another example of pidgeon-holing.

Maybe I'll feel differently after playing, but I feel that paticular mechanic is overlysimplified.

I could see that. However, the Wizard I rolled up is trained in Arcana, History and Religion. Not a whole lot of knowledge outside of that realm. Plus, it makes diversity in the party a good thing. When has that not been the case though?

I don't necessarily mind the simplification of skills in terms of the trained/untrained thing. I do think that getting rid of craft skills was a bad move. How are potions getting here if no one can brew them?

Our DM is thinking of house ruling something with craft skills, like each character gets 2 craft skills that have to be related to one of their trained skills, or something.

Ok Sorry I disapeared (trying to find a teaching job had many job fairs to attend). I am going to update the front page with the list of persons interested in playing. If the folks willing to DM would PM me I'll put that up there too.

I agree With GA1 that this thread should be used as a recruitment thread and I can put the list of active campaigns (Once we have them) on the 2nd post so we can try and keep this organized

Are craft skills gone, or do they just fall under other catagories?

It's under something called a 'Ritual', which is a new mechanic. You can preform the ritual 'Brew Potion'. Just browsing through it, i think it's just a plot device given by the DM.

me! I don't have the books yet... but I want to be part of the group.

I can also volunteer my message board as a home, if we find this board a bit clustered and difficult to maintain the game information.