| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| #1havardAug 16, 2007 11:21:31 | Looks like 4e will be coming out next year: http://theminiaturespage.com/news/519193/ and http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd Will this have any consequences for Mystara? Will it mean Traianus will stop making 3e monster conversions? (I hope not!) Will Mystara be the flagship setting of the new edition? Havard |
| #2Traianus_Decius_AureusAug 16, 2007 11:45:02 | Looks like 4e will be coming out next year: Not sure, but they've ignored us since 2e so why stop now? Will it mean Traianus will stop making 3e monster conversions? (I hope not!) My goal is to finish them all. It took me long enough to come around on 3.5E, I'm not dropping everything to start over with 4e. Will Mystara be the flagship setting of the new edition? Only if they let loose a beholder at the HQ and 90-95% of the design staff is gone. I have a feeling that this "new" system will more or less be the Saga Edition of Star Wars that just came out, so similar, but different enough to screw things up. I realize this response is a tad negative- please forgive me, I had "Professional Licensing Exam Part 4 of 9" yesterday and I'm still a bit cranky ;) |
| #3gawain_viiiAug 16, 2007 12:37:38 | Of course this means my work has been for naught... Soooo! I'll just say "screw it" and go back to the tried and true--classic... I suppose this is a good reason to pick up my old project (which went to the waysaide when I started my Md20 work.) So now I have to take all the new material from the last 16 years and reverse engineer it to classic rules... :D Roger |
| #4eldersphinxAug 16, 2007 18:22:26 | 4e is not going to mean much to Mystara directly. Eberron and Forgotten Realms will continue to be the 'flagship' products towards which most new material will be directed, Mystara will remain unique and flexible enough to be worth playing and to accept outside material with some adaptation, and matters overall will be very similar to how 3e and 3.5e worked out for the setting. Stuff that might make 4e a better fit for Mystara: - Core levels are going up to level 30. This will create new debates over how to handle Companion/Masters level conversions, but will also make high-Masters conversion hopefully that much easier (as the gap between, say, Jaggar Von Drachenfels as an RC M-U 30 and Etienne d'Ambreville as an RC MU 36 is that much more easily expressed). - A better technique for multiclassing spellcasters than the 'multi-classed character in all but name' prestige class will hopefully be provided. This makes RC elves that much easier to convert and play. - Statblocks and character statting for high-level individuals will hopefully become simpler; such was a stated goal of Star Wars Saga Edition, at least. This makes broad, sweeping play in Mystara that much easier. Stuff that might make 4e a worse fit for Mystara: - Continued or increased emphasis on magical trinkets as part of an 'optimized' high-level character. Mystara has never been about having twenty magic items filling up every one of a character's item slots; even the iconic leaders of the setting generally get a magic weapon, some armor or similar defensive item, and maybe one or two 'miscellaneous' items, then turned loose. Having to say exactly which 150,000 gp worth of magical doodads is available to 3E-style Stefan Karameikos is incredibly obnoxious - and yet I don't doubt that such will continue to be a part of the game. - Increased emphasis on maps, miniatures, and timing as part of the gameplay. Again, this doesn't fit Mystara IMHO - the setting is more about flair, style and sheer grit than cold-blooded numbercrunching to identify the 'best' way to deal with an encounter. Again, though, I don't doubt that this is the way 4e is going to go in. All in all, I think it's possible for us to take some good aspects from 4e and run with it. It won't be the end of Mystara as a fandom, but it won't be the Second Coming either. Take that as you like. |
| #5CthulhudrewAug 16, 2007 19:37:35 | I'm a bit bummed to hear the news myself, even though I don't really play actively much at all anymore. In any event, at this point I'm thinking that if we want to try and herald Mystara into 4E at all, I think we'd be best staying away from mechanics as much as possible, and just trying to come up with a more comprehensive descriptive setting for our long out of print campaign setting. |
| #6zombiegleemaxAug 17, 2007 3:03:07 | Stuff that might make 4e a better fit for Mystara: I think thats a very strong argument for a Mystara resurgence; I'd hope that the publishers think that through, but I doubt it. |
| #7gazza555Aug 17, 2007 3:40:28 | Well, 4E was inevitable but unfortunately I don't see WotC resurrecting Mystara and even if they did would it be in a form we would be happy with? On a more personal level, I will not be buying 4E - I've spent enough money on 3.5E books as it is. Then again I (and perhaps you) stuck with BECMI and the RC when most people moved on to 1E and 2E. Regards Gary |
| #8walsinghamAug 17, 2007 3:44:28 | WOW, not sure I'm looking forward to 4E. I mean, I've been dragging and converting Mystara so long now, I'm not sure I could do it again for another rendition. It'd have to be a HUGE, and I mean, friggin GIHUGIC upgrade. If not, I'mma stickin with 3.5 for my sanity. :D Now, that being said, since I live in the Washington DC area, I will have to go to the preview in Feb. See what all the hub bub is about. On the issue of Mystara getting any light from the Powers That Be? Not likely. I think Ebberon is going to be their little darling world. Do we dare to hope? |
| #9MultizarAug 17, 2007 3:46:13 | Mystara is a "dead" world to the people at Wizards. I am happy with all of the fan material that we get from the dedicated core people no matter what "edition". I was just looking over some of the other threads about 4e. I never go to them, I only go to this one, man there are some whiny people out there. Reading the threads here at Mystara and then going over to the others is simply amazing! We have mature people here who do not constantly fight on the internet. I think I will stick to the BECMI rules. |
| #10walsinghamAug 17, 2007 3:51:21 | Okay, pardon my ignorance...what are these BECMI and RC rulesets? |
| #11gazza555Aug 17, 2007 3:57:28 | Okay, pardon my ignorance...what are these BECMI and RC rulesets? BECMI = Basic, Expert, Companion, Master, Immortal RC = Rules Cyclopedia Regards Gary |
| #12RobJNAug 17, 2007 7:25:04 | Joy. Another edition. Now we'll get all the 2nd-to-3rd angst all over again. Frankly, I don't see myself buying into 4th edition. Third never really "felt" right for the setting, and I somehow doubt that an evolution of that would recapture the "Red Box" sense of Rather than shoehorn the setting into 3rd/4th, I'll be continuing my tinkerings to turn it over to the Alternity system. |
| #13HuginAug 17, 2007 9:23:42 | I've since migrated from official 3.5E into my own system that is based on d20 but with an OD&D feel to it. I've been lucky in that I only purchased the 3 core books plus 2 others. The good news surrounding 4E is that I hear they will provide an SRD shortly after the books are released. This means I don't have to buy anything and still get a good look at the system. I'm hoping to find improvements for use in my own system (particularly regarding the magic system). Should 4E prove worth it then I will switch over as I feel no loyalty to any system or obligation to 'stay current'. The good thing about Mystara is that I've always felt that fluff comes first - the actual rules used are nearly irrelevant and just a reflection of tastes. D&D editions may come and go, but Mystara remains! |
| #14morphail_oAug 17, 2007 20:26:14 | Oh the dreaded day has come... I am getting too old for this! I think looking at your campaign setting through two rule systems is healthy (makes you think of what is important fluff-wise), but reworking it all again? I assume it is going to be a major change (unlike the 3.0=>3.5), so much of our work of converting to 3.0 and 3.5 is kinda wasted. Maybe it will be easy converting to 4e, we will have to wait and see, but I for one am a bit tired of it. On the upside, maybe the digital aids can be positive for Mystara. Making miniatures of all the famous NPCs could be nice. |
| #15yellowdingoAug 18, 2007 1:04:38 | I skipped 2nd Ed...picked up 3.0 with the hope it was genericly compatible...I havnt even considered 3.5...will probably skip 4 and just hold out for... DUNGEONS & DRAGONS EDITION 5 A GAME ENGINE DEVOTED ENTIRELY TO THE MYSTARAN SETTING. |
| #16havardAug 18, 2007 6:35:58 | I assume it is going to be a major change (unlike the 3.0=>3.5), so much of our work of converting to 3.0 and 3.5 is kinda wasted. 4e will still be D20 based. Conversions from 3e to 4e will most likely be alot easier than what we have had to deal with so far. Should we wish to do so. Havard |
| #17CthulhudrewAug 18, 2007 12:25:40 | 4e will still be D20 based. Conversions from 3e to 4e will most likely be alot easier than what we have had to deal with so far. Should we wish to do so. I'm not sure about that. From what's being said thus far, the suggestion is that people should be prepared to start entirely new campaigns with entirely new characters. One of the interviews with Andy Collins has him on record saying that they felt that the 2E to 3E conversion document didn't really work out too well, and that there wouldn't be any such beast at least initially, because the changeover is a lot more difficult than they've even had time to consider thus far throughout the design process. I think it might be akin to convert a 3E fighter into a Tome of Battle: Book of 9 Swords Crusader, for instance (that seems to be a general model of how the new abilities will be working out). Things like feats sound like they'll turn into the Stances and Maneuvers from that book. We'll know more as things go on, but in any event- it doesn't sound like there will be that much compatibility. Ability scores, levels, dice, maybe even DCs and things will be the same, but the class abilities and stuff sound like they're being completely reworked. |
| #18CthulhudrewAug 18, 2007 14:53:50 | Noticed thisearlier, and it was something that was a concern:Stuff that might make 4e a worse fit for Mystara: They want to get away from the reliance on magic items. Magic items will still be a part, but as tools; you'll be cool because of what your class lets you do, not because of your stuff. That's actually a pretty good read- it addresses some of my concerns about feats (they are still in, though feat trees aren't as long in some cases), it mentions that there will be more differences between Sorcerers and Wizards than just resource management, prestige classes are still in, though different, etc. |
| #19happylarryAug 18, 2007 17:27:27 | Thanks Cthulhudrew - helpful article. If all that turns out to be true (and there is not much downside) then I'll probably convert. I'll probably buy the core rulebooks eventually anyway - if only to have RC / 1st / 2nd/ 3rd / 3.5 and 4th to compare... As for Mystara - I agree with those who say the rules are less important than the setting. |
| #20havardAug 19, 2007 3:51:13 | We'll know more as things go on, but in any event- it doesn't sound like there will be that much compatibility. Ability scores, levels, dice, maybe even DCs and things will be the same, but the class abilities and stuff sound like they're being completely reworked. Good points. I guess we will just have to see. I dont know if further conversions to 3E will be futile though. I am glad to see Traianus continuing his thread. Im sure alot of people will be playing Mystara with 3E a good while after this weekend, right? Havard |
| #21iramusAug 19, 2007 11:02:20 | I must admit the second D&D trailer on youtube, the one showing a computerised version of the game looked interesting. My first thought was that people might get together and run an internet Mystara campaign online, I'd love to be part of that! The only complication I can see is people in different time zones struggling to find a convenient time for all to play. |
| #22CmdrCorsikenAug 19, 2007 11:14:02 | Mystara is a "dead" world to the people at Wizards. I am happy with all of the fan material that we get from the dedicated core people no matter what "edition". How true. I never knew this material was available until this year. The material compiled and created by this team is amazing and has opened up so many more possibilities for my Mystara campaigns. I, too, am sure that should Wizards ever 'revive' Mystara, we would not be satisfied with it. |
| #23stanlesAug 19, 2007 13:21:59 | How true. I never knew this material was available until this year. The material compiled and created by this team is amazing and has opened up so many more possibilities for my Mystara campaigns. I'm glad you ended up finding us. |
| #24stanlesAug 19, 2007 13:25:37 | WOW, not sure I'm looking forward to 4E. I mean, I've been dragging and converting Mystara so long now, I'm not sure I could do it again for another rendition. It'd have to be a HUGE, and I mean, friggin GIHUGIC upgrade. If not, I'mma stickin with 3.5 for my sanity. :D I would have thought that this would be the death knell for Eberron, campaign worlds, apart from what could be considered in the marketing sense to be the stable base, haven't really made the transition to new rules versions. And from similar marketing logic I would've thought a new campaign world for a new rules would've made sense. |
| #25stanlesAug 19, 2007 13:27:00 | Will this have any consequences for Mystara? as to the heart of the question I would've thought none at all, business as usual. |
| #26CthulhudrewAug 19, 2007 14:11:41 | I would have thought that this would be the death knell for Eberron Me too, especially since Eberron was basically designed around the 3E rules- developed to showcase them in a way that other worlds really haven't. Seems like they're paying a lot of attention to that, though, and are coming out with an Eberron update etc, so we'll see. I kind of wouldn't be surprised to see Warforged as a PC race in 4E but who knows. |
| #27Traianus_Decius_AureusAug 20, 2007 8:19:23 | Noticed thisearlier, and it was something that was a concern: Interesting read. It seems like a mixed bag at this point to me. It almost seems like they are trying to make it into a MMO of some type. I look forward to seeing the previews, but unless it really knocks my socks off, I won't be switching. Maybe there will be a Neverwinter Nights 3 with the 4e rules and I can evaluate the system the same way I used the original Neverwinter Nights to evaluate 3e. |