4th Edition Echelon?

[Jeff]

Ohhh! That's what you're talking about.

I'm not sure yet. Until it's really out. It sounds like it will provide the kinds of tools that we could try to use, but I know it's being designed for real-time play. Not sure how it could be utilized by play-by-post players.

Even if it does, I'm guessing we'd all have to be subscribers to it (which means $), but again, I just don't know yet.

[mike]

D&D Insider is an unmitigated (and as yet unreleased) disaster.

I don't expect that we'd be able to use it anytime in the foreseeable future.

[Jeff]

I won't go as far as Mike is to judge it, but I will agree that the previews shown of it aren't all that promising. But it's not even available yet, so I reserve my judgment.

[Jeff]

Guys: I'd say the 4th Edition conversions of your characters are 90% complete. When you get a chance, please look over your 4E thread in the private area and see if I missed anything (for those of you know know what you're looking at!). Each of you had an NPC class (artistocrat, expert, commoner, etc.); for that you've each got an extra skill you're trained in and some of you got more weapon proficiencies for it.

Just some thoughts about the characters:

Belarin: A fairly direct conversion, since his 3rd edition class is one of the new core classes. In 4E terms, he'd be considered a "striker" (good for targeting single enemies at a time but with hard hits). Anyone already guess his class?

Charis: Also a fairly direct conversion. A rogue is a rogue is a rogue. In 4E terms, a rogue is a "striker," too. She's a master of the light blade and the group's resident thief!

Goran: Once a ranger, always a ranger. With a specialty in ranged attacks, as before. His goal is to turn enemies into pin cushions. Because he had an NPC class in 3rd edition called a gleaner (sort of a natury healer), I've swapped out the 4E half-elf's dilettante ability with a healing sort of ability akin to the 4E warlord's inspiring word ability (but not quite as powerful). Rangers are considered "strikers," too. This party is full of 'em!

Grafth: He was considered a scout in 3rd edition. Now he's considered a ranger and the actual flavor of the scout is still there. He specializes in two-weapon fighting. Expect some spear-skewering and axe-chopping action from Grafth!

Kal: In 3rd edition he was a battle sorcerer (sorcerer with some martial aspects thrown in). I've reworked him as a sort of fight/wizard combo. In 4E fighters are considered "defenders" and wizards are considered "controllers," but Kal isn't really either. More of a strike, ironically.

Streko: Easy enough conversion, though the 4E cleric has very different attacks and spells. Still, you guys are going to like Mr. Streko holy smackdown. 4E clerics are considered "leaders," though that has no bearing on actual in-game leadership. He's just good at keeping his friends alive, which is perfect for Streko.

Torhak: I've modified the fighter class to make a barbarian, and I've carried over a few things from 3rd Edition, such as faster movement and an ad hoc mechanic for barbarian's raging ability. Eventually 4E rules will come out for barbarians, but I think I'll have more adjustments to make long before that. Oh, and 4E dwarves don't have darkvision anymore. I'm ignoring that, among other things.

Alignment: It's not that important, either way. So I'm pretty much keeping the 3rd edition notion of alignment.

As we start on 4E, I'll fill in the gaps as usual with whatever you may not understand. Some aspects of combat require a decision on the player's part (like whether to "shift" to another square on the grid) that's an immediate reaction of sorts. In play-by-post, that would take a long time to wait on, so I'll probably just make those decisions for you (unless you give me some sort of contingency in advance) to keep things moving. But always feel free to make recommendations.

What's Not Going Change: The DE story, the roleplaying. At all.

I'll leave at this for now. Look over your characters and I'll help you interpret them. The biggest adjustment is understanding how "powers" work.

[Josh]

Um.. why the HECK don't dwarves have darkvision in 4E? Do they all of the sudden NOT live in caves? Do they at least have some sort of extra-sensitive vision for night and low-light conditions?

[Jeff]

Jul 9, 2008 16:56:53 GMT -4 Josh said:

Um.. why the HECK don't dwarves have darkvision in 4E? Do they all of the sudden NOT live in caves? Do they at least have some sort of extra-sensitive vision for night and low-light conditions?

Ehh, who knows? Yeah, I believe they have low-light vision, but it's not the same.

And geez, it voids my reference to dwarves and darkvision on page 4 of The Darkwood Mask.

[Darren]

Apparently 4E Grafth is much more serious looking than his old 3.5 self.

[Josh]

That's right, quite serious.

[Marcy]

Jul 9, 2008 17:12:59 GMT -4 Jeff said:

And geez, it voids my reference to dwarves and darkvision on page 4 of The Darkwood Mask.

Don't even start complaining about how it messes up your novel, Jeff!

[Jeff]

I know, Marcy. I was thinking it, but I figured I'd let you say it.

[Josh]

I actually said as much to Jeff regarding Legacy of Wolves when we were discussing Grafths changes. The seemingly overlooked ramifications on how shifters are dealt with culturally are quite annoying.

[Jeff]

Right. But to be fair, shifters may be reworked for Eberron 4E next summer.

[Marcy]

Jul 10, 2008 5:47:07 GMT -4 Jeff said:

I know, Marcy. I was thinking it, but I figured I'd let you say it.

It's okay -- I was told I didn't have to worry about it, so I'm not. I'm using 4E rules only where it suits me (halfling height, for instance).

[Josh]

Next summer's quite a way off.