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Forums > Home› Neverwinter Discussion › General Discussion (PC)

Would a 4th edition Players Handbook Help me?

mightyqu1nnmightyqu1nn Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 61
edited May 2013 in General Discussion (PC)
Hey folks, I am wondering for those of us not as familiar with the 4th edition rule set benefit from perusing a 4th edition players handbook? I played from Basic D&D waaay back in the day, up to 3.5. I did dabble a bit in 4th but it came across as WoTC trying to make a table top MMO and I wasn't a fan (though it does logically seem to translate to a pc game fairly well). In any case I want to understand more about how they have utilized the D&D mechanics where it is applicable. The class and profession system is a huge departure form previous rule sets and some of the combat mechanics seem different too. Im just trying to get a handle on some of that stuff.

Thanks
Do not interfere in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
Post edited by mightyqu1nn on

Comments

  • johnny305johnny305 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    No.

    This game really has little to do with the actual D&D rules. Its very loosely based on it, but nothing works the same.

    You have very few decisions to make on your character, only one paragon path for now, combat is like Diablo where you just click and click nonstop, its an action game.
  • norobladnoroblad Member Posts: 556 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    No. Anything you needed to know really is either public domain (google D&D 4 rules etc) or can be found in the video game help/wiki/forums/etc.
  • mightyqu1nnmightyqu1nn Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 61
    edited May 2013
    I think I worded my question poorly, Im not asking about the kind of mechanics that every mmo on the planet uses Im talking more about understanding better things like action points, the different types of powers, and how the mechanics they did use from D&D translate into the pc version.

    Im not looking for a book to tell me how to play the game, with walkthroughs and the like, Ive been around these games long enough to have a fair grasp of how an mmo or rpg works in general. But... this game however loosely IS purportedly based on the 4th edition ruleset.
    Do not interfere in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
  • maho4200maho4200 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 526 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    johnny305 wrote: »
    No.

    This game really has little to do with the actual D&D rules. Its very loosely based on it, but nothing works the same.
    Not exactly true, the classes/abilities and such are all in line with rules - certain things aren't since this is a MMO.

    But I agree the handbook is of little to no use for this game.

    (and yes I have it)
    mightyqu1nn wrote: »
    Im talking more about understanding better things like action points, the different types of powers, and how the mechanics they did use from D&D translate into the pc version.
    Don't bother.
    Neverwinter Online Open Beta is an ongoing success
  • wuhsinwuhsin Banned Users Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    NO!!!!

    I ran two campaigns with 4th edition, and the system does not resemble this game at all. If anything, it will just set your expectations for this game unrealistically high like it did for me.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • mightyqu1nnmightyqu1nn Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 61
    edited May 2013
    mightyqu1nn wrote: »
    I think I worded my question poorly, Im not asking about the kind of mechanics that every mmo on the planet uses Im talking more about understanding better things like action points, the different types of powers, and how the mechanics they did use from D&D translate into the pc version.

    Im not looking for a book to tell me how to play the game, with walkthroughs and the like, Ive been around these games long enough to have a fair grasp of how an mmo or rpg works in general. But... this game however loosely IS purportedly based on the 4th edition ruleset.

    And perhaps I answered my own question there. I guess if I want to understand more about the 4th edition rule set yes would be the answer. I think I'm just trying to get an idea of whether this game is giving lip service to D&D or if in fact there is relevant information to be found in a players handbook.
    Do not interfere in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
  • maho4200maho4200 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 526 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    mightyqu1nn wrote: »
    And perhaps I answered my own question there. I guess if I want to understand more about the 4th edition rule set yes would be the answer. I think I'm just trying to get an idea of whether this game is giving lip service to D&D or if in fact there is relevant information to be found in a players handbook.
    Not really unless you are into more lore like stuff.

    The wast majority of the book is devoted to stuff that isn't a part of the game, like skills (that has been dumbed down to Thievery/religion and such in NW), And other stuff that isn't in NW.
    Neverwinter Online Open Beta is an ongoing success
  • mightyqu1nnmightyqu1nn Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 61
    edited May 2013
    Thanks, folks appreciate the feedback. I know they announced the official wiki, but its pretty anemic at the moment. Maybe they will release a manual on-line or otherwise to clear some of these things up.
    Do not interfere in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
  • maho4200maho4200 Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 526 Bounty Hunter
    edited May 2013
    Yeah the wiki has pretty much no content at all at this point.

    But DO try to search the Wizards site, I typed in powers and it gave me this:

    http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20080425a

    Explains quite a bit :)
    Neverwinter Online Open Beta is an ongoing success
  • goroxx68goroxx68 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    As one who's played every iteration of D&D including 4th, I can say that I had an easier time understanding the basics of the game when it came to 4th edition concepts such as "at-will", "encounter", "daily" powers, "marking", etc. 4th was a big change from previous versions, so yeah, it may help you.

    If I was in your position, I'd pick it up, just for the fun of it. It is its own fun tabletop system (with flaws of course; every edition has flaws), and I liked the new direction that the game went in. Also, I would look into the 4th edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, to give you a better background on the game world, the new-to-4th Spellplague, etc.

    My weekly D&D group has since moved on to another game system, but we did enjoy 4th while we were playing it.
  • moonsageragemoonsagerage Member Posts: 4 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    wuhsin wrote: »
    NO!!!!

    I ran two campaigns with 4th edition, and the system does not resemble this game at all. If anything, it will just set your expectations for this game unrealistically high like it did for me.

    So im not the only person in the world who wanted a 4e Online game, good to know. Seriously how could they take a system that was based off a MMO and go so wrong when it actually came time to make it into it's own MMO?
  • fidalindidalinfidalindidalin Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Guardian Users Posts: 11 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    As the others have said, besides the names of the abilities the game itself doesn't really seem to use AD&D rules at all. It's nice to have the feel of creating an AD&D character again (I haven't played in over a decade, back to 3rd Edition I think) but it does seem like a sheen to sell the game, rather than integrated bones deep into the engine (which is basicaly STO's engine with Elves).

    I'm enjoying the game, but it seems light on real complexity and scope. The zones are pretty tiny and if it wasn't for the Foundry content (and the Foundry itself) there's no real innovation anywhere (and the Foundry is copied/pasted from STO anyway).

    All in all, I bought Guardian for the perks but I feel a little cheated at the moment. Lets hope it improves as I get into the last half of the leveling process.
    Warlord.jpg
    D&D Home Page - What Class Are You? - Build A Character - D&D Compendium
  • mightyqu1nnmightyqu1nn Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 61
    edited May 2013
    maho4200 wrote: »
    Yeah the wiki has pretty much no content at all at this point.

    But DO try to search the Wizards site, I typed in powers and it gave me this:

    http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ex/20080425a

    Explains quite a bit :)

    Thanks Maho, appreciate the link!
    Do not interfere in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
  • mightyqu1nnmightyqu1nn Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 61
    edited May 2013
    goroxx68 wrote: »
    As one who's played every iteration of D&D including 4th, I can say that I had an easier time understanding the basics of the game when it came to 4th edition concepts such as "at-will", "encounter", "daily" powers, "marking", etc. 4th was a big change from previous versions, so yeah, it may help you.

    If I was in your position, I'd pick it up, just for the fun of it. It is its own fun tabletop system (with flaws of course; every edition has flaws), and I liked the new direction that the game went in. Also, I would look into the 4th edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, to give you a better background on the game world, the new-to-4th Spellplague, etc.

    My weekly D&D group has since moved on to another game system, but we did enjoy 4th while we were playing it.

    I am very familiar with the Forgotten realms universe and in general I would say that while 4th wasnt a horrible ruleset I felt a little like the Pathefinder ruleset was more of a spiritual successor to what D&D was than 4th edition. In fact if Im not mistaken Pathfinder was developed by some TSR refugee's.
    Do not interfere in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup...
  • goroxx68goroxx68 Member Posts: 0 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    mightyqu1nn wrote: »
    I am very familiar with the Forgotten realms universe and in general I would say that while 4th wasnt a horrible ruleset I felt a little like the Pathefinder ruleset was more of a spiritual successor to what D&D was than 4th edition. In fact if Im not mistaken Pathfinder was developed by some TSR refugee's.

    You'd be right...and that's the system we moved on to. 4th was fun, but our group is large 5-7 on a given night, and the game just bogged down at those numbers. No ill-will toward 4th, but we found that Pathfinder was more conducive to our story-based roleplaying style than 4th was.

    Neverwinter is a light, fun mmorpg that several in my circle of friends are enjoying immensely. Sure, its not a total clone of 4th edition, but it is what it is...and we're having fun. With the Foundry, we see infinite possibility in this game, as long as they keep updating it.
  • fafhrydfafhryd Member, Neverwinter Beta Users, Neverwinter Hero Users Posts: 19 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    4th edition is just to sell WOTC add ons. The old game was better. Alas.
  • bardmedicine11bardmedicine11 Member Posts: 201 Arc User
    edited May 2013
    To support some answers you've already gotten.

    No, this game has next to nothing to do with the D&D rules, any edition. The only "rule" book that would be of some service is the Neverwinter Setting book, but that's not about rules, but the setting.
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