What is 4e's legacy?

danskmacabre · August 05, 2018, 02:38:00 AM

Quote from: Doom;1051549Or as a computer game. I hate that the game didn't last long enough to make it through a good computer game's development cycle. 4e would probably be a solid structure for such a game.

Yeah, pretty much ideal for a computer game.

Omega · August 05, 2018, 04:41:29 AM

Quote from: Doom;1051549Or as a computer game. I hate that the game didn't last long enough to make it through a good computer game's development cycle. 4e would probably be a solid structure for such a game.

Apparently the D&D MMO is vaugly based on 4e. I am a bit dubious on that but have only so far been able to watch others play it. My comp isnt up to running it and can just bare run their Champions MMO.

But yeah, 4e did not seem to get any real PC or console like AD&D/2e did with the SSI Gold box and Eye of the Beholder series or 3e did with the Baldurs Gate or Neverwinter series.

Rhedyn · August 05, 2018, 08:58:36 AM

Quote from: danskmacabre;1051555Yeah, pretty much ideal for a computer game.

That's weird to me because I hate gamey mechanics like AEDU in my computer RPGs. Kind'of takes me right out them.

Meanwhile I can handle more gamey mechanics in meat-space because the GM is there to still allow lots of freedom.

KingCheops · August 05, 2018, 11:24:33 AM

Quote from: Doom;1051549Or as a computer game. I hate that the game didn't last long enough to make it through a good computer game's development cycle. 4e would probably be a solid structure for such a game.

This is actually what it was designed to have been. They were going to roll it out with full VTT support but they unfortunately gave the contract to a guy who ended up committing a murder-suicide and the virtual aspect of the game was basically gutted.

WotC seems to have gotten much more internally savvy when it comes to the internet thankfully.

RPGPundit · August 09, 2018, 03:10:43 AM

4e's legacy is that I was hired by WoTC, because I was right about 4e.

dungeon crawler · August 13, 2018, 04:28:51 PM

Quote from: The_Shadow;1050825With some years of hindsight now...what has been the lasting effect of 4e on D&D, the hobby, the industry, game design, etc? Did it effectively provide a necessary fallow period and thus pave the way for the massive sales of 5e? Or was its best effect merely that its rabid proponents provided a convenient rubric to populate your ignore list?

The OSR.

Omega · August 13, 2018, 07:17:24 PM

Quote from: dungeon crawler;1052778The OSR.

That was more 3es Legacy.

Haffrung · August 13, 2018, 08:44:26 PM

Quote from: Omega;1052786That was more 3es Legacy.

Yeah, the OSR was underway long before 4E. It was a reaction to 3E, and began picking up steam almost as soon as 3E was published.

TJS · August 13, 2018, 10:14:59 PM

Quote from: Haffrung;1052798Yeah, the OSR was underway long before 4E. It was a reaction to 3E, and began picking up steam almost as soon as 3E was published.

But I think 4E probably gave it a pretty big shot in the arm.

DeadUematsu · August 13, 2018, 11:18:32 PM

Another legacy of 4E is that it's bad for someone very sensitive to public opinion (like Mike Mearls) to be in charge of the brand.

Edit: To be fair, you don't want someone like RPGPundit anywhere near D&D management either. Extremes aren't ideal.

Omega · August 14, 2018, 03:19:37 AM

Quote from: DeadUematsu;1052812Another legacy of 4E is that it's bad for someone very sensitive to public opinion (like Mike Mearls) to be in charge of the brand.

Edit: To be fair, you don't want someone like RPGPundit anywhere near D&D management either. Extremes aren't ideal.

Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt Were the designers.

Bill Slavicsek, Mike Mearls, and James Wyatt were the developers for 4e.

DeadUematsu · August 14, 2018, 03:11:47 PM

Omega, address the point given, not the one you would like to have been given.

Armchair Gamer · August 14, 2018, 03:24:15 PM

Quote from: DeadUematsu;1052879Omega, address the point given, not the one you would like to have been given.

Unfortunately, your point was a bit oblique and, depending on what it was supposed to be, may be undercut by the facts. Mearls had much more impact on the direction of 5E than he did on 4E.

Omega · August 14, 2018, 10:33:03 PM

Which brings up the question though. Who was the face for 4e? Did it have one?

For example Baker and Cordell were the face for 4e D&D Gamma World.

thedungeondelver · August 14, 2018, 11:49:05 PM

Quote from: Omega;1052919Which brings up the question though. Who was the face for 4e? Did it have one?

For example Baker and Cordell were the face for 4e D&D Gamma World.

Bill Slaviseck?