Let me preface this article by saying that I’ve enthusiastically embraced every new edition of D&D, until now. But when I first heard that WOTC was actually going to come out with a 4th edition, my reaction was probably like most peoples. Not good, for a number of reasons, but I’m not going to open up that can of worms. Trying to be open-minded, I decided to give it a chance.

So, for my birthday last year, my wife gave me the 4E Core Rules book set. I’ve been scouring the three manuals, doing my best to absorb it all, getting a feel for how the new game mechanics flow. A daunting task, I know, but I think I’m making my way up the learning curve at a pretty steady rate. I’ve got to say that as I’m getting closer to actual play, I’m getting more and more excited about it.

Now I’ve read countless forums and blogs proclaiming both the pros and cons of 4E. This post is not meant to throw more fuel on that particular bonfire, but I did want to point out one observation. The idea of daily spells or powers is old school (i.e. cast 1/day, activate 1/day), but at-will and encounter powers and especially healing surges all feel very video game-ish to me.

I’m an RPG gamer from waaaaay back and at first this sense of console game mechanics intruding on my table-top game rubbed me the wrong way. A knee-jerk reaction, I’ll admit. But the more I delve into the books and start forming adventure and campaign ideas, the more I’m thinking this may not be such a bad thing.

Also, I’ve got two sons, teen-aged boys that I introduced to role-playing games (3.5E) a few years ago and they love it. Like most boys their age, they love their video games, card games and board games. 4E has aspects of all those (if you use battle maps, minis and power cards), so now I’m interested to see how or if they embrace 4E. My gut tells me they are going to love it. So, IF this latest version of D&D can entice the newest generation to become table-top gamers, then perhaps that will be the saving grace of 4E.