steve, the last words you stated can't be any more true. the fact is no one knows how the character/ story stuff is working out. the games been out for little more that a week, and i have heard ZERO feedback about someone plotline for a game. there may have been slight whispers in the wind about a general outline of events that get you from point a-to-b, but what has happened to the stories about " we went to this tavern, and the half-elf got totally $#!tfaced and passed out, the our rogue stole all his money and spent on wenches. is it just me, or is the key element of role-playing actually missing here?
hack-n-sliash is fine in dandy is small doses, but there comes a time in a gamer's life, that the role-playing aspect becomes more important, and that sometimes it's better to think outside the box.
i know this dnd 4E is just a fledgeling, and that it eeds time to grow, but its the difference between drink kool-aid with sugar and with splenda. this edition just isn't my taste.
Ah, MK, excellent point about how 4th Ed. D&D was originally intended to go online as a MMORPG of some sort. I can see the marketing idea there at least. If you like the tabletop, you'll like the MMORPG and vice versa. Heck, even if you don't like the MMORPG, the tabletop game may generate a few monthly membership fees at least.
Wasn't there (or isn't there) a D&D online game already in existence though? Also, isn't there a very fine D&D mini's game in Chainmail? I make these points because it seems that D&D has the means to make a mini/MMORPG hybrid gaming system without a total relauch of their core product without gutting all of the roleplaying aspects of their product.
I agree with you MK that it seems the aspect of roleplaying is missing from the latest incarnation of D&D and that is sad. I see no reason why D&D couldn't make two products-- a MMORPG supported mini's game (ie chainmail) and a tabletop, capial R, Roleplaying game.
*Sigh* Maybe I'm just older and jaded now. The sad thing is that I know D&D 4th Ed will sell and the sales of the core 4th Ed rulebooks will spurn sales of mini's and battlemats, etc and everything else that you need to play. Heck, I'm sure its even fun to play but I want my roleplaying sessions to contain stories and plot and not be a series of random encounters and group battle tactics.
with the incantation of this edition, WOTC have effectively tied together every product line they have (minis, dungeon tiles, rpg and modules) and that is always a "fiscally advantageous situation" for any company. long story short, buy everything in the line, to basically play dnd.
now, i happened to have the pleasure yesterday to do a podcast with my local game store about the newest edition, and we through ideas around, and i was able to hear more information about the future of the product.
1) ebberon and forgotten reals are both back in the mix as full blown settings, however, both now take place 100 years in the future from the previous editions. i really don't know what to make of it.
2) there will be an onlive/ live version of this where players can make online Pc's, make virtual miniatures for the game, and effectively creating virual tables for people to sit around and actually play a game. weather or not this will actually work with a teamspeak like audiosystem or as a chatroom is up in the air. so now you can sit next to a dungeon troll who hasn't taken a shower in a week, and skip the scent all together.( those who have ever been to a con know what i'm talking about)
2) there will be an onlive/ live version of this where players can make online Pc's, make virtual miniatures for the game, and effectively creating virual tables for people to sit around and actually play a game. weather or not this will actually work with a teamspeak like audiosystem or as a chatroom is up in the air. so now you can sit next to a dungeon troll who hasn't taken a shower in a week, and skip the scent all together.( those who have ever been to a con know what i'm talking about)
This actually sounds really cool. I'd love to have an easy to use virtual tabletop where I could get together with friends in other states once and week and play D&D. This could be a great social interaction tool and a way to continue to play games with people where logistics would make it impossible. Great idea.
I can also see D&D expanding this to where a GM could list their game and have players enter the virtual room on a first come, first serve basis. There is definitely some potential for pick up online games. Neat stuff.
BTW, MK-- several of us listen to rpg podcasts so if you wanted to share a link to your podcast, I'm sure the admins wouldn't mind and some may like to check it out.
i like the idea of virtual tabletop idea as well, simply because i can't always meet with my regular team during the summertime ( vacations and all). that might be for me the only reason to pick up the books myself, but i still feel the game lacks in some areas.
i also talked to my friend about his exploints in 4th ed this weekend. it did sound like the role playing aspect was alive and well, so time will tell if 4th edition is "the greatest evil of the 21st century" or not.
finally, for those of you who like podcasts, i toss to you this website. they talk about key elements in comics, games, and whatnot. last time i checked, the podcast i was assisting with was not posted yet ( would've been this past sunday's date) but here it is
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