Echo Screen #2: D&D 4th Edition - One Year Review

It's been one year since Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition premiered. Now that we've had months to play the game and absorb the supplemental material that's come out since the beginning, it's time for a verdict. What worked? What didn't? And did we really need to move on from 3rd Edition?

To watch this video uncut (or download as an mp3), as well as see all of our other content, visit http://www.clanofthegraywolf.com

The Echo Screen is a podcast that features the Commodore, Roo, and Boomer as they celebrate and discuss all things geek culture: gaming, movies, tech... whatever it is that they feel the need to talk about.

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[nozzer2002]

you guys still playing 4th or did you move over to pathfinder?

[ClanOfTheGrayWolf]

@nozzer2002 We wound up still playing 4e, but making quite a few adjustments. If you're interested, you can read about them on Boomer's blog on the website.

[petep4peace]

Seriously, guys. Try Pathfinder by Paizo. 4th edition strongly pigeon-holes characters, reduces many roleplaying interactions to a simple mechanic, and you have to buy nearly a dozen books to really have a decent campaign. I have tried it several times, as I have also tried Pathfinder several time. Pathfinder (popularly known as D&D 3.75) wins hands-down. All you really need is the Core Book and the Beastiary to get your campaign rolling.

[ClanOfTheGrayWolf]

@petep4peace As time goes on, I'm more and more interested in what Pathfinder has to offer... I think I'll be picking up a Core Book sometime soon to check it out - just to make sure it's not rose-colored 3e glasses at work.

[TheNewOldVeteran]

Hope you grey wolf guys answer. I felt like dnd games are like bridges. A bridge can be big and heavy ( How thick are the rules). But its also inportant how big of a load it carries (Fun). Its not inportant if your bridge is HUGE but only carries 3 pouns. I felt like although 3.5e (Try 3.75 pathfinder) was very big, it could hold more in comparison to 4e. The Balancing out of classes was a VERY bad decision because it strongly pigeonholes me.

[ClanOfTheGrayWolf]

Roo here. I agree with your reasoning. My group plays 4e and we have fun with it, but I still miss all the options that were available to characters in 3.5e. I could spend hours picking out skills and spells for my wizard in that, but now I feel limited. I'd love to play some pathfinder, but my group feels pretty invested in 4e now.

The class balancing was crazy at first, but each class is getting more flavor as supplemental materials come out. I think we'll need to do a 2 year review podcast.

[anarchopinko]

I played 4E for 1 year. I was a fan boy. Then I sat in on a Pathfinder game. After 1 session I ordered the Pathfinder Core Rulebook and sold my 4E set and I have never looked back. I just purchased the Tome of Horrors book yesterday. My wife is mad.

[thejimm2009]

@shawnthedm. Thanx for the input. That's one of my gripes about 4E...combat takes way too long. I'm DMing a group of new players. We're playing an extensive 1st Edition campaign.I love going old school with new players. Peace.

[shawnthedm]

@thejimm2009 I played in several games, and besides the balance issues, I just don't seem to care for it that much. It bogs down combat and I really dislike the skill system. My two cents.

[shawnthedm]

After playing in several 4th edition games and getting bogged down in 2 hours of combat, I actually look forward to playing pathfinder. It seems to be a great game, and I am kind of disappointed I waited so long to try it.

[Mitsukaibaka]

I'm so tired of seeing person after person say "Just play pathfinder, forget 4e.". It's bull. I like both systems, and I play both, because they are DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, and both have their merits. 4th edition has alot over pathfinder. First and foremost being that new players can actually understand it the first session or two. My girlfriend was able to make her own 4e character 2 sessions in. She just now, about 5 or 6 sessions in, completely understood how to make one in pathfinder. 4e is good.

[thejimm2009]

I've been playing since the days of 1st Edition,and recently have played the 4th for the first time. Wow.It was great..very streamlined.I love the idea of classes not being restricted to certain races.As much as I have always enjoyed playing Paladins and Rangers...I'm really starting to love the Warlock.I recommend the Fourth Edition to the novice players and to the old-timers like me! Thanx.

[melak6]

lol fellow geeks is right ....keep up the good work boys

[anchorbass24]

Sweet video guys, I think you missed an important positive aspect of 4th ed. - New players & New DMs - I have had lots of people interested to try D&D for the first time. Even longtime players are wanting to run their own game because 4th ed is so easy to run as a n00b. I have very little complaints overall.

Keep Rolling 20's.............. :)

[doombybbr]

@petep4peace reality check - 4th edition is the first one TO ACTUALLY HAVE COSTOMISATION