RE: Why 4e Failed

This a rant. 

I'm not necessarily going to be reasonable. I'll try to remain charitable.

I have been accused of being one of the most unique defenders of 4e. It's a unique little badge of honor, I suppose.

Here was my defense: on page 42 of the DMG is a table that lets you make up any bespoke action you like, adjudicate the damage and DCs for actions, and just.. go ham. This creates a uniquely creative tactical game. I ran this. It's not a question. I'm not guessing. The games went from stodgy pickings of powers to "Well, here's the crazy thing I'm going to try." And then you roll. And you'll probably get it. And then you roll damage, and get this cool little bespoke effect that y'all made up on the spot. If you didn't know what you wanted to do... surprise!  You have powers to fall back on! 

This was me running it from the text! Page 42 was one page, sure, but once you made the simple decision to make that primary... man the fun you had!

Now, the question was always whether or not WOTC meant to do this. I mean, it's in the book, plain as day, and examples are given as to how to adjudicate it.

I really wish I hadn't found Mike Mearl's YoutTube channel. He just released this cluster... just watch it.

I think the thing I find so offensive isn't his honesty. He gives his it straight. I appreciate that.

But it's obvious that literally nobody in WOTC knew what they were doing. Nobody. Not Mearls, not Heinsoo, not Wyatt, not a single damn one of 'em. They essentially threw a whole bunch of stuff into a blender and presto! Out came an engine that had some good bones, a whole lot of flaws, and just enough luck.

Because apparently that's all it was.

I have also been occasionally accused of finding meaning where there is none. It's actually a rather common thing I hear. I usually laugh it off, simply because the number of times I actually do that is terrifyingly small. But I suspected, the more I heard Mike Mearls and the other DnD team talk, that this was one of those times.

Boooy I hate it when it happens.

So, on the one hand, it means I'm not really tied to 4e as a concept. I found what I found, which is really in the text, but got a usage out of it that truly couldn't be intended, because it was always corporate slop. Made by people who either couldn't be bothered to have a real vision, or who simply couldn't have the time for it.

I really hope it's just the former. I really want it to be.

I am starting to wonder if it's not the latter.

Phooey.