Comments on: 4E Economy! http://bankuei.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/4e-economy/ From geekdom to freedom Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:20:42 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: bankuei http://bankuei.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/4e-economy/#comment-141 bankuei Fri, 16 May 2008 19:55:21 +0000 http://bankuei.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-141 I've been finding the reactions to 4E really interesting. For example, Red Box D&D was an even more focused design, yet I find few people complaining about that. I think really, what's bugging people is seeing the design theory behind the game. Like, if WOTC released it without telling the why's and how's of design, people probably wouldn't be freaking as much- they'd play the game a bit and then decide if it's for them or not. I’ve been finding the reactions to 4E really interesting. For example, Red Box D&D was an even more focused design, yet I find few people complaining about that.

I think really, what’s bugging people is seeing the design theory behind the game. Like, if WOTC released it without telling the why’s and how’s of design, people probably wouldn’t be freaking as much- they’d play the game a bit and then decide if it’s for them or not.

]]> By: Tommi http://bankuei.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/4e-economy/#comment-140 Tommi Fri, 16 May 2008 19:29:32 +0000 http://bankuei.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-140 One can hope that the new situation will inspire an era of homebrewing like none before, for D&D and other games. I'm not quite certain I like to actually play very focused games, but they do make for excellent idea mines. One can hope that the new situation will inspire an era of homebrewing like none before, for D&D and other games.

I’m not quite certain I like to actually play very focused games, but they do make for excellent idea mines.

]]> By: bankuei http://bankuei.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/4e-economy/#comment-139 bankuei Thu, 15 May 2008 15:18:50 +0000 http://bankuei.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-139 I think we're about to enter a fascinating time for D&D over the next 5 years. And not just 4E- also 3.75 via Paizo, all the retro-hack games, and OGL games. D&D is splintering and people are making the D&D they want, but no longer in this isolated houserule/"His DM'ing style is great" kind of way. Without folks trying to toe the line of compatibility to the D20 line, they have room to veer further into experimental design to make the version of D&D they want. The best part that 4E brings to this is the attitude -towards- design, which means even if 4E isn't folks cup of tea, they can take that attitude and apply it towards the D&D game they DO want to see. I think we’re about to enter a fascinating time for D&D over the next 5 years. And not just 4E- also 3.75 via Paizo, all the retro-hack games, and OGL games. D&D is splintering and people are making the D&D they want, but no longer in this isolated houserule/”His DM’ing style is great” kind of way.

Without folks trying to toe the line of compatibility to the D20 line, they have room to veer further into experimental design to make the version of D&D they want.

The best part that 4E brings to this is the attitude -towards- design, which means even if 4E isn’t folks cup of tea, they can take that attitude and apply it towards the D&D game they DO want to see.

]]> By: Tommi http://bankuei.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/4e-economy/#comment-138 Tommi Thu, 15 May 2008 10:40:28 +0000 http://bankuei.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-138 The new ideas look more balanced, certainly, but somehow less organic, which really is a pity. D&D 4th will certainly be a focused design, just not focused on where I'd like it to be. The new ideas look more balanced, certainly, but somehow less organic, which really is a pity.

D&D 4th will certainly be a focused design, just not focused on where I’d like it to be.

]]> By: Doug http://bankuei.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/4e-economy/#comment-137 Doug Thu, 15 May 2008 00:03:41 +0000 http://bankuei.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-137 I recently ran a D&D game for players I wasn't familiar with, and it got me thinking of how to streamline D&D 3.5 a bit (something I think about a lot). One solution I came up with was to give characters a Renown score equal to their level, and then to have them spend that Renown to get magic items they can use. The Renown sort of represents their heroic status. Heroes often have to quest and take risks to prove that they are worthy of magical treasures from the depths of time, and this seems more satisfying to me than shopping in the DMG. I've always been bothered by the D&D economy in all of its incarnations (where I can sell a +1 longsword and then hire 1,000 manual laborers for two weeks or buy thousands of pounds of food or whatever), and I've always thought that magic items should be mythological rather than economic realities. Anyway, the post is here: http://robosnake.blogspot.com/2008/05/hack20.html I just mention it because this post brought it to mind as one solution among others. Feel free to let me know what you think on the other stuff as well. I recently ran a D&D game for players I wasn’t familiar with, and it got me thinking of how to streamline D&D 3.5 a bit (something I think about a lot). One solution I came up with was to give characters a Renown score equal to their level, and then to have them spend that Renown to get magic items they can use. The Renown sort of represents their heroic status. Heroes often have to quest and take risks to prove that they are worthy of magical treasures from the depths of time, and this seems more satisfying to me than shopping in the DMG.

I’ve always been bothered by the D&D economy in all of its incarnations (where I can sell a +1 longsword and then hire 1,000 manual laborers for two weeks or buy thousands of pounds of food or whatever), and I’ve always thought that magic items should be mythological rather than economic realities.

Anyway, the post is here:

http://robosnake.blogspot.com/2008/05/hack20.html

I just mention it because this post brought it to mind as one solution among others. Feel free to let me know what you think on the other stuff as well.

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