Greetings
All I have gleaned about 4e is from the available articles on the Wizards site. I know 3.5E reasonably well as I have run it and my son currently runs it.
Played as drafted 3.5E created a structured hierachical approach to roleplaying that is not my favourite. I prefer PCs to retain intimations of their vulnerability to comparatively minor threats however experienced they may become i.e. know that it is possible to die in a melee from a knife thrust from some street thug (unlikely but possible).
From what I can see of 4E it appears that more emphasis is being given to structured progression from level to level e.g. making sure that gold piece acquisition is even in order to allow characters to have the right level of equipment for their level. As someone who routinely reduces cash and magical resources to their PCs and in D&D made even a +1 sword a signfiicant benefit for any character this is not an approach I prefer.
Also the change to 'squares' does imply a more map based approach to combat. I've run 3.5E and lots of other RPGs without a grid - miniatures/markers make life easier but are not essential.
Does 4E seem to focus more on the powers available to characters rather than on their personalities? Possibly from what I can see, however the influence of personalities on a game is usually the effect of the GM not the rules - rules always emphasise mechanisms over roleplay - the GM infuses the game with the cultures, the personalities and the environment which create roleplaying.
Is 4E still a roleplaying game? From what I can see it is. Is it the type of roleplay I want to play/run - probably not.
Regards
Edward
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