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Dove
2008-08-06, 05:52 PM
So, I got asked in another thread why I thought some people preferred 3.5 to 4E or vice versa. And I gave kind of an off-the-cuff answer. But as I was thinking about it, it occured to me that certain types of players might be more attracted to one edition or another. In an effort to see if that's the case, I give you . . .

A Completely Unscientific Survey On Dungeons and Dragons Edition Preferences and Play Style Preferences

Here are my questions. My team of scientists thanks you for answering honestly and completely. I mean, even if we can't draw firm conclusions from this, silly internet quizzes are always fun and make for interesting reading, right?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

------------------------------------

My answers:


On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 6.0

On a scale of 1 to 10, How well do you like 4E? 7.5

What are your favorite classes to play, and why? By far my favorite class to play is "DM". I come from a PC gaming background, and want my tabletop experience to deliver the one thing only it can: creativity. Can't beat DMing for that. Also, I like the power to do awesome things that you have as DM.

Beyond that, I like to play full casters; wizard is my favorite. Some of it is that the archetype appeals to me--studying, learning, and acquiring untouchably great power by hard intellectual work is something I can identify with. A lot of it is that, as a gamer, I like power and options. If wizard's taken, I can get along fine with a cleric or druid.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody? As a player . . . Wannabe power gamer. Storyteller. Method actor. As a DM . . . Definitely Storyteller, first. World Builder. Cat Herder. Clockmaker. Invisible Railroader. Teacher. Puzzler. To a minor degree, Tactician.

Tadanori Oyama
2008-08-06, 06:01 PM
You need qualifiers for a 1-10 scale. Such as 1 being refused to buy the book, 10 being play a 3.5 game at several times a week and love every minute (figuratively speaking).


On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
7 (knew the game well, enjoyed playing)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
7.5 (like the game more than 3.5 but less official source material at present)

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
3.5- Cleric. They have healing, high charisma, and generally useful abilties, letting you help out in any party formation.
4- Ranger. High damage output, two fun builds, going beyond the "wilderness wanderer" cliche with 'urban' rangers.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
I'm mostly a DM. I'm a by the rules DM for the most part with a history of swinging between railroading and hand outs.

Matthew
2008-08-06, 06:10 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

With 5.0 being average, I would give it a 2.5

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

As with the above scale, maybe 2.0.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

Human Fighter. I generally play lower level games, and enjoy the room within the archetype to be a Barbarian/Knight/Mercenary/etc... I like the other classes well enough, but Human Fighter is my pulp fantasy favourite.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

I don't really understand the question, but I suppose: World builder? Rules Interpreter? Realism preferer (within limits)?

Saph
2008-08-06, 06:15 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 8.0

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E? 8.0

I prefer 3.5 for long-running campaigns with veteran players, and 4e for one-off games with casual players/newbies.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

Wizard, because I like intelligent bookish characters, and Druid, because shapeshifting is awesome.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Tactician, Sphinx, Sandbox.

- Saph

longtooth878
2008-08-06, 07:22 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
I would say about an 7.5

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

I would be nice to say 4

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

1st and 2nd ed would have been a cleric 3rd ed would be wizard
fourth: even though I own all three books I play WOW so I don't see the point.
What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
World builder when I do run...

Mushroom Ninja
2008-08-06, 07:41 PM
Scale of 1 to 10 for 3.5
9.5

Scale of 1 to 10 for 4.0
9.5

Favorite Class
I like Wizards, Bards, and Rogues

Archetypes
Role player, Power Gamer/Optimizer

F.L.
2008-08-06, 08:07 PM
3.5 8.0 4.0 7.0 C 3 A 7

Or, to be less inscrutable,

8.0 for 3.5ed
7.0 for 4ed
Clerics 3rd, Warlord 4th
Archetypes: The lazy DM. I sketch in a few broad details of plots and locations, and let the players fill in the rest of the details with their own paranoia, guesswork, and interactions. For running actual combats, I use automated tools to help me, or quick combos of pregen npcs, etc.

obliged_salmon
2008-08-06, 08:11 PM
3.5: 8
4.0: 10

favorite class
3.5: fighter/paladin, primarily because I don't have to read through nine hundred pages of text (like full casters) every time I level up. I also tend to play with folks who don't optimize so much (blaster mages, etc.)

4.0: gosh...everything seems really cool to me still. I would happily play any class. I'm DM'ing two campaigns at the moment, and I really, really love that. See Dove's description for why.

Archetypes
As a player, I'm usually the party face/tactician. I tend to go *twitch* when somebody does something...less effective than what I think they should do during combat. Unfortunately, this sometimes occurs when I DM as well.
As DM, I try to be a clockworker, throwing lots of leads at the party and hoping they do something interesting with them. Sometimes it works out okay. I try to really get the players interested in their characters, goals, motivations, etc., rather than promote ordinary bland dungeon crawling.

Sucrose
2008-08-06, 08:17 PM
3.5: 8
4.0: 8.5-9

3.5 Favorite class: Warblade, with the occasional Sorcerer or Ranger
4.0 Favorite class: Warlord atm, though I'd be happy playing a Fighter as well
Playstyle: Not sure how to sum up; I typically write somewhat complicated backgrounds for my characters, and I like mechanical options at the table. The idea starts as a general concept, from there flow the basic mechanics, I fit my backstory to the general archetype, and to some extent to the class, and I fill in the more specific options (maneuvers, feats, skills) from there.

I will never play a character that doesn't pull his weight in a fight, and I also abhor characters that cannot have a convincing backstory, or be roleplayed well (a reason that tends to send me toward Human or half-Human races).

Mastikator
2008-08-06, 08:27 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
About 6, or 8 if I get to houserule it :P, so 6 would be the correct answer.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
I haven't tried it yet, though there seems to be a few good ideas and a few bad ideas. Though, I suspect I'd like it as much as I like 3.5e

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Nerdy wizard and acrobatic urban ranger/rogues. I enjoy complex characters and I usually try to make all the mechanics explain (or be explained by) the backstory fluff of the character.
I also like barbarians.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
As a player I'm an "in-depth roleplayer", whatever the personality of the character calls for, I'm there. If I play a wizard then it'll be a nerdy yet charismatic dude. On anything else it'll vary a bit more.
As a DM I try to be a so called "figment", I try to simulate an interesting and intricate world as objectively as I can, I prefer to leave the players to their own initiative, and rather than make a railroad, I just throw bombs at their laps at them, and make sure it's not a too big bomb. :P

As either player or DM I suck at acting, there's no way I can talk convincingly as if I'm anything but myself. So maybe in that department I'm not very entertaining, but I usually try to make up for it in others.

_Puppetmaster_
2008-08-06, 08:35 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
8

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
2- Refused to buy the books, mainly on account of spending $600+ on 3.5. And the removal of Gnomes from the player's handbook.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Warlock, Dragonfire Adept. I like blasters.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
I don't like DM-ing, so I wouldn't know about that. I'm a Rules Lawer as a player.

Tengu_temp
2008-08-06, 09:02 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
As amusing as it is, 3.5.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
8. For reference, 1 is FATAL and 10 is Exalted.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
In 3.5 gishes and ToB classes, in 4e ranger, paladin and warlord, with all of them probably getting beaten by Swordmage when it gets released. I like heroes that combine martial prowess with magic, or who can perform extraordinary and supernatural feats without magic.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
Powergaming roleplayer (a walking proof of Stormwind Fallacy). As a DM, I prefer crafting a good, epic story that all factions will enjoy, even if it will require some subtle railroading here and there. As both, I give thumbs up for Rule of Cool.

nowiwantmydmg
2008-08-06, 09:46 PM
3.5: 1-2, Not very good.
4th: 8-9, quite good, much less DM work, less unneccessary rules.

I generally prefer to play fighter types, mostly because I enjoy the image of succeeding against all odds in a tough and brutal world.

Typically I am the DM, but I would say I am a storyteller/thinker/tactician sort of guy. I highly dislike having my creativity restrained by unneccesary rules.

Thankfully our wholegroup has made the switch and everyone's enjoying it much more than before.

OneFamiliarFace
2008-08-07, 12:32 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
7.5 (Always had fun playing, pre-game and teaching people took too long)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
9 (Combat and creation are the only things I want rules for, so win. It lacks some cool 3.5 stuff, but I like trying to figure out how to put it back in.)

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
DM. When I lack the time and have to play instead, I usually end up with a fighter or rogue, but only because everyone else is playing an uber-wizard and I want to speed up play. I also like having what I see as the least restrictions on my character concept with these two. I don't think increased build options naturally increases character concept options.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
As a DM, I am a creator followed by a storyteller. I create individual pockets first, and then construct a story around them. I don't expect my players to be railroaded, but I do expect them to be friendly to others and the general flow of the game. That's why I make pockets. With no world map, they can be palette-swapped and dropped in anywhere if they players avoid them earlier.

As a player, I am a storyteller and role-player. I'm not much in for character creation, and when I am, it's for fluff over crunch. Anything I miss about character creation from 3.x is not missed by my players, and that is what I care most about.

arguskos
2008-08-07, 01:05 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 8

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E? Based on my reading of the rules, and the few games I've played in, 5-6, with room for improvement, but skeptical reception at the moment.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why? 3.5, wizards, sorcerers, duskblades, anyone with arcane magic and fiery spells of doom and despair. In 4e, uh, I guess wizards? I only played them and fighters, and enjoyed the wizard more.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody? As a DM, I'm a world-builder and a sandboxer first and foremost. As a player, I'm much the same, just on a more personal scale (building my character in game, sandboxing the adventure, etc).

-argus

SadisticFishing
2008-08-07, 01:08 AM
8
9

Most. Binder, Warblade/Bloodclaw Master, Archivist/Fiendbinder, Warlord. Those are my characters that I will love forever.

I am a lot of them. I am a roleplayer, a powergamer, an explorer, an instigator, a problem solver... Basically everything. Even watcher when I get used to a new character. I love playing characters, I love learning about the world, and I love making my character the best he can be. I mean, his survival's at risk!

As a DM, I am a lot of things, but I also get lazy when the group stops caring. I love interesting NPCs, interesting fights, and interesting stories, as well as keeping the players on their toes - if they're not afraid of combat, they won't try to avoid it, will they? The game is about fun.

ghost_warlock
2008-08-07, 01:10 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
9, including all relevant splat and homebrew. I love it because it has the most versatility of any sytem I've ever seen for the types of effects it can achieve, character options, and the variety of ways to go about doing similar tasks. Only GURPS comes close to matching versatility, but I prefer class-based systems.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
5, including all relevant splat and homebrew (such as it is). I want to like it, I do, but I've got some issues.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Maybe not the best question, as I tend to go more for archetypes than specific classes. For instance, with the right feat/power selection I can build a psion with a distinctively druid-y feel. I love the concept of the warlock, but I hate the 3.5 implementation of the class (I like the 4e version for the pacts/curses but I don't like being railroaded into a PrC from 1st level by them). :smallfrown:

If I had to list classes... psions, transmuters, illusionists (or my own shadowmage), hexblades, rogues (or my own brigand), & druids.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
The top three player archetypes I fall into are power gamer, specialist, and storyteller in that order. I have certain character concepts in mind from the start of a game, usually revolving around one of my favorite character archetypes, and I've worked to make sure my characters are effective at doing the sorts of things I'd expect them to do.

I'm not sure what DM archetypes I'd fall into, as I've never ready about archetypes specific to DMs. I tend to give players high ability scores and run with a no-holds-barred array of race/class options. I rarely start a campaign at less than 6000 XP and I allow LA-buyoff, as well as traits and flaws. I like all characters to have solid backgrounds and motivations and I try to tie them all together in the story so the party has a sensible reason to be travelling together. Typically, characters in my games have a powerful patron. When combat breaks out, I tend to make it brutal and somewhat tactical (multiple fronts, obstacles, waves of enemies, time trials, etc.) rather than just stand-face-to-face slug-fests. I try not to let character death stand in the way of the story so character death is rarely permanent in my games.

Kurald Galain
2008-08-07, 02:45 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
6.0. I feel it is too rules-heavy, which I find simply unnecessary.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
6.0. I feel it plays too much like a board game, and I don't care much for miniature combat in any system.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Rogues and illusionists. But frankly I play any class on occasion, except for fighters. I don't like the fluff on fighters.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
I don't have a list of archetypes handy, but as a player I prefer NPC interaction to combat, take creative and unexpected solutions to problems, and tend to gravitate towards party leader (in part because I come up with those solutions). Fave system: anything White Wolf.

As a DM, sandbox approach, with a custom rules-light world, no railroading (seriously, if the party wants to do something else, be my guest), recurrent NPCs and the ability to make up towns out of thin air if necessary. Fave system: homebrew, and occasionally Paranoia or Ctulhu.

The_Werebear
2008-08-07, 03:20 AM
This is hard for me because I like both systems for different reasons.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

7.5, There is a lot of good ideas in here, not to mention customization potential. However, I really have to tinker with the rules to get it to do what I prefer as a DM and player. However, when I get it to where I want (E6, usually), it jumps from 7.5 to 9.0

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

8.5 When I want to do more heroic fantasy rather than lower level stuff, I find this is the way to go. For now, it is balanced, streamlined, easy to teach without sacrificing tactical complexity, and a lot of fun. However, considering I prefer to play lower level/higher danger games, this doesn't always do what I want the system to do, and it feels harder to tinker with the rules than 3.5 did.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

I usually play Wizards, Clerics, or Warblades in 3.5. In 4th edition, I am still experimenting. I haven't hit a favorite yet, though I have greatly enjoyed Paladin so far.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Grim 'n Gritty, Historian, Heavy House Rules, Wheels within Wheels.

Killersquid
2008-08-07, 03:43 AM
Don't have as much experience as the rest, but I'll give it a shot.


On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 7.5 for core (too much imbalance), 8.0 if combined with other books.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E? I'd give it a 6.5 from looking at it, but I have yet to play it actually. It looks fun, but may not be my style

What are your favorite classes to play, and why? Wizard, nothing more fun that blasting things to kingdom come :smallbiggrin:

What player/DM archetypes do you embody? I like to be the DM who is basically neutral, but wants to find the most fun way to kill the players, but making the game fun. Sort of Gygaxian.

Leon
2008-08-07, 04:27 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
8

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
3
What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Druid, Sorcerer, Fighter (And the variants thereof)

Druid - Natural drawn power, Cool Spells, great feel. I like the concept of the druid as a character that has a link to the world and can gain a measure of its power to turn against those they deem to be unworthy or endangering to their ideal.

Sorcerer - Spells on tap, free flowing, not weighted down by a book. i prefer to have a good think about a small selection of spells to cover most situations rather than have a spell for ever occasion and not have it avalible all the time.

Fighter - Arms & Armour, Str/Dex/Con, Customability. I like the Simplicity of the class and the complexity that you can make it if you so wish,
the simple building blocks to make any style of melee or ranged combat from the modular feats

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

DM Evil DM, i don't tend to hold back but i dont go out of my way to make life hard for the players (they do that themselves...)

Player Party support is what i like to typically do, protect those that need it and get into combat to kick buttock and take names,

potatocubed
2008-08-07, 04:30 AM
I like 3.5 to the tune of 7/10.
I like 4e to the tune of 8/10.

I prefer to play social characters - bards and suchlike. I don't know why, but it always seems more natural to talk to intelligent enemies than stab them.

As a GM I tend to run action-heavy, not-altogether-serious games, with fairly intricate plotlines. I prefer to set up a situation and see what the players do than to railroad. I tend to lose track of in-game time, which is a running joke with people I game with a lot. I always, always ensure that the characters' actions have consequences.

Edea
2008-08-07, 04:50 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 7.5 . It definitely has its problems, but I do enjoy the character creation process and the amount of different things you can do with your character and, more importantly for the score, none of the factors in the game truly bugged me (then again I never had to deal with making AoOs). I'm one of those people with a buttload of splats.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E? 6.0 . 4E is much easier to figure out than 3.5, as the rules are less cumbersome; however, I have major issues with the power system, the magic items, and the current rules for multiclassing. I actually like the Skills and Feats, and I love the way it handles XP (finally, they took the UA variant and made it RAW), but I am indifferent to the Races.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why? Dedicated spellcasters, always. Even in games where they might not be the best class, I love magic; as powerful as it can get, as much of it as I can get, and as quickly as possible. Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Psions, and Artificers are probably my favorites as far as specific classes are concerned. I like Ultimate Magus, Incantatrix, and Shadowcraft Mage as Prestige Classes. My favorite Paragon Path is probably either Divine Oracle or Blood Mage.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody? I HATE DMing. DESPISE it. It has nothing to do with players, either; it's just me, I don't have the patience for it at all. As a player, I number crunch rather obsessively, and though I -really do- like the acting/roleplaying bits (I'm pretty passive when this is going on), if I'm not at least hitting the WBL and earning 'enough' XP per session, I start getting noticably cranky.

Morty
2008-08-07, 05:15 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 7.5 or 8. It's a good game that provides a good compromise between realism and heroism, but it's got some issues that stop me from enjoying it fully.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4.0? 6. Several good ideas ruined by shift towards cliched dramatism, cheap heroism and oversimplification of rules.
What are your favorite classes to play, and why? I enjoy playing wizards the most, but I can enjoy playing about anything, especially in 4ed where playing wizard isn't even near as fun as in 3ed.
What player/DM archetypes do you embody? As a player, I tend to metagame too much, which annoys my DM and I'm rather dedicated to not losing- that is, I optimize and try my hardest in any dangerous situation. I haven't DMed much, but I generally try to have a contingency plan for everything crazy my players can come up with and I tend to stat out everything meticulously. As both player and DM I tend to stray away from heroism.

Sebastian
2008-08-07, 05:34 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

7.0

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

it depends, as a tactical minature game 7.5, as a rpg 4

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

wizards, but the scholars, not the blasters.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

not sure what you mean, I'm of the school of thought that RPGs should "simulate" (or emulate) a world, Don't know if it helps.

Kurald Galain
2008-08-07, 06:10 AM
Okay, so far:

3E average 6.97, standard deviation 1.89
4E average 6.55, standard deviation 2.31

ghost_warlock
2008-08-07, 07:48 AM
For the sake of clarity, a reference for RPG player styles might be helpful for people who aren't already familiar (or entertaining for people who subscribe to different archetypes).

Here (http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/models/robinslaws.html) is a decent breakdown of the various categories.
Here (http://quizfarm.com/quiz_repository/Fashion/9166/) is a quiz that uses the same categories, see if what you think you are matches what the quiz rates you as.


Okay, so far:

3E average 6.97, standard deviation 1.89
4E average 6.55, standard deviation 2.31

Mmmmm...statistics! Nom nom nom! :smallbiggrin:

bosssmiley
2008-08-07, 08:01 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
RAW: 6.5/10
+ Tome series: 9/10

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
4/10 - I want to like it, but the flaws...oh, the flaws. :smallfrown:

What are your favourite classes to play, and why?
Swashbuckler, Duskblade, Barbarian, Wizard, Fighter, Knight, Rogue...

Something in me just resonates to "hero = sword" :smallconfused:

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
Buttkicker/Storyteller mix as both player & DM. We do not game to do mundane stuff; we game to do the cool stuff that's impossible and/or arrestworthy IRL. :smallcool:

hamlet
2008-08-07, 08:05 AM
There's a fundamental flaw in this survey.

By focusing exclusively on 3.5 and 4.0, you've effectively narrowed the field to a certain type of game and gamer.

What about those of us that play other editions and other play styles?

1-10 for 3.5: 3 (playable, but many fundamental assumptions concerning how the game was to be played were changed, most for the worse IMO).

1-10 for 4: 1.5 (not at all D&D in any measurable way IMO except that, MAYBE, in the same way any FRPG is just like D&D and that WOTC has kept on IP to many of the old names, places, and concepts, but thoroughly changed them so that they are virtually unrecognizable to many)

What class(s) do you prefer to play? Depends on the edition, depends on the day, depends on the campaign.

In 3rd edition, I supposed I'd much prefer a class like a thief (I refuse to use the "R Word" here) or a Fighter. I feel a greater latitude in those classes than in the others (and I'm sticking to core here). There is less crunch encumbrance on them and so they are less forced into a role by these concerns.

In older editions, I'll play whatever class the dice of character creation provide me, or whatever strikes me as most interesting in the situation. Have played and enjoyed just about every class and race, and will continue to do so for years.

In 4th . . . well let's just say that's not an issue and I'll mark this one down "NA."

AKA_Bait
2008-08-07, 09:51 AM
A Completely Unscientific Survey On Dungeons and Dragons Edition Preferences and Play Style Preferences

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

9

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

9.5

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

Really depends. I like everything. I mostly DM though, so I guess I'll just go with the characters classes I've played and liked the most.

3.x - Rogue, Sorcerer, Cleric and Wizard

4e- Wizard, Warlock

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Player... I'm not really sure. Possibly Powergamer but maybe not. I build well but I also make intentionally suboptimal choices for flavor.

DM: I try to be a clockmaker/sandbox style DM. I've been known to be the Drunken Master though on occasion.

SpikeFightwicky
2008-08-07, 10:12 AM
Is anyone compiling the results? I made excel tables out of the last survey and showed the results in the thread. I can do that for this thread if no one else is.

On to the show:

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

About 5.5. It would have been 9.5 or higher when I first started, but my love of the game was evenutally eroded.


On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

8.0 Haven't played it yet, but I very much would like to try it. It seems to fix a lot of the issues I had with 3.X (mainly balance, and I like what they did with the paladin class). Will likely increase as I start playing, and then gradually decrease the system gets eventually bloated by splatbooks.


What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

Paladin, because I like the idea of the class, though I usually play the code as loosely as possible (not the stick in the ass holier than thou variety) while still maintaining the spirit of the class (i.e. I typically only use Detect Evil as a 'sensor' in dungeons, preferring to rely on my own mundane abilities to judge people, etc...)

Second would be a fighter/mage genre character, though (at least in 3.X) it never quite worked out as I'd hoped.


What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Player: Team player -> I like to pick a class that'll synergize better with the group, instead of making an uber character.

DM: Disenchanted story creater -> As a DM, I'm stuck with a group that prefers a Diablo style experience, with as much combat as possible and as little story/rp as possible. Weeks and months of creative planning fell through, so I eventually gave up on creating anything more than a basic plot for the games.

BizzaroStormy
2008-08-07, 10:18 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you like 3.5?
6, its good but i prefer pathfinder.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you like 4E?
1, I don't like it at all. The way its done seems to take the roleplaying out of the PRG leaving you with just G.

What are your favorite classes to play and why?
Big pieces of meat with big weapons and spontaneous casters. I don't like all the planning that has to go into playing prepared casters regardless of whether or not they get a bigger spell list. As for the meat tank, its just fun seeing how many enemies you can cleave through before the rest run screaming only to die from your AoO and invoke more cleaving.

What player/DM archetype do you prefer.

I don't really give a crap what the other player do so long as they dont distract me with a laptop every 20 seconds.

As for my DM I like one that's pretty lax but not so lenient that the players run the game.

LotharBot
2008-08-07, 11:48 AM
There's a fundamental flaw in this survey.

By focusing exclusively on 3.5 and 4.0, you've effectively narrowed the field to a certain type of game and gamer.

What makes you think that's a flaw, rather than a feature?

-----

3.x RAW: 7. Too many build traps, bad math (hit dice anyone?), broken spells, and too much work to put together a game... but you could still tell a pretty great story.
3.x Semferia (http://blacksandsofsemferia.blogspot.com/) houserule set: 9.5
4e: 8, with room for changes as I learn the system better. Gets rid of a lot of the extra work and the most broken stuff, but also seems to be a bit harder to tell stories in.

Favorite player classes: sorcerer, ranger, paladin, ToB classes... I like the idea of having a small number of set abilities that my character has mastered, or a small number of spells available. I like the way that gives my character a specific theme/feel. Don't really like full-prepared casters with their huge spell lists and ability to completely change theme from one session to the next (say, from enchanter to blaster to batman, or from holy/light effects to curses.)

Player/DM archetypes: as a player, I'm primarily support... I like to make everyone else better or put everyone else in a position where they can do spectacular things. As a DM, I'm very player-centric -- I'm all about making fun (but hopefully challenging) encounters, areas, and stories where my players can shine. I'm also a joker -- I like to put in funny references to past characters, or bits of environment that tell a silly story.

Prophaniti
2008-08-07, 12:39 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
5.5

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
3

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
I play barbarians, knights, fighters, sometimes monks or wizards. I like going for the whole Badass Normal trope to some degree, and when I'm a player I like minimal bookwork, so melee classes are usually the way to go.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
As a DM, Sanbox, Worldbuilder, Improvisor, maybe a few others.
As a Player, I'm not really sure... Maybe one of my DMs could tell you.

hamlet
2008-08-07, 12:56 PM
What makes you think that's a flaw, rather than a feature?



Because as I recall, the original post wanted to see what play styles graduated towards which game. My statement is that both 4e and 3.xe attract, essentially, the same playstyle and do not facilitate others and so any results you get are skewed and ignorant of a sizable portion of the gaming community, even just within D&D.

{Scrubbed}

Oracle_Hunter
2008-08-07, 12:58 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
6
It was a definite improvement over 2e, and painted against the spectrum of systems I played, it could be used at low levels without substantial tweaking. Feats and Skills were an excellent addition to the basic sword & sorcery motif that D&D is known for.

For comparison BESM 2e is a 1, Werewolf (pre-reboot) is a 2, Vampire (pre-reboot), Shadowrun (3e), Deadlands, and D&D 2e are 4's, and Mage (pre-reboot) is a 5.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
8
The Core books provide superior combat mechanics to any system I've seen, and the social mechanics are an elegant distillation of the White Wolf system. In addition, it is the easiest system to DM and to use to plan campaigns, allowing me to focus more on story and less on the mechanics.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
I have to say that I enjoy the skill monkey. In 2e, this ended up being the wizard since "magic" was the only real skill available. For 3e, I seem to end up playing Rogues (naturally) since I prefer straightforward skills to combing spell lists. Maybe I've just gotten old. :smalltongue:

In 4e, I haven't really decided. All of the characters seem like they have interesting skill choices (or can, anyhow) but I have to say that the Rogue utilities really draw me, while the Ranger's "you're doing it wrong!" utilities just bring a smile to my face. Oh, but Cantrips are just so good!

I really can't decide. :smallbiggrin:

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
DM: I'm a world-builder, first and foremost. Adventure design generally seems to be more plot-focused instead of sandboxing. I adore RP and work really hard to encourage it in my players.

PC: I've never really fit into the player role very well, I guess. I enjoy making characters with detailed backgrounds and quirks, but when push comes to shove I seem to forget all about these and switch over to tactical thought. But, gosh darn it, I try, and the RP is what I love most about RPGs

Oh! I'm "the leader" usually. I don't think I elbow people out of the way, but I do so love making plans :smalltongue:

LotharBot
2008-08-07, 01:03 PM
as I recall, the original post wanted to see what play styles graduated towards which game. My statement is that both 4e and 3.xe attract, essentially, the same playstyle....

Clearly they're not, as they seem to be attracting different players. The original post is working -- the survey is collecting the data it was intended to collect. It's not as though we need to know everyone's take on 2e, basic D&D, Exalted, or checkers in order to see how attitudes toward 3.x and 4e differ based on player preference.

If you're not attracted to either game, that's fine. Just give both a low rating and say what classes/archetypes you do like to play in whatever system.

(We can do without the name-calling.)

Neon Knight
2008-08-07, 01:13 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

Hmm... 7. Despite the flaws I've come to appreciate its quirks.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

7. Currently is appealing, and seems like it would suit me better than 3.5, but I'm more interested in checking out Savage Worlds and other RPGs. I may pick it up at a later date.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

Warblades, Crusaders, Fighters... Basically anything that fights in a big hulking suit of armor and kicks butt doing it. I like the mental image of an armored titan taking all comers and emerging by virtue of his skill with his equipment. I'm a big fan of the Powered Armor genre of sci fi/military fiction.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

As a player: Rule of cool is alright, but verisimilitude, consistency, whatever you want to call it is okay too. I tend to go with the flow. I prefer a secondary role to a leadership one, and general select backgrounds of self-discipline and martial leanings. I do experiment some with other concepts though.

As a DM: I'm afraid I'm the kinda of guy who likes to write pages of information about a setting but has trouble implementing that background and work into an actual game. So far I've been a very unsuccessful DM.

Frosty
2008-08-07, 01:25 PM
if I'm not at least hitting the WBL and earning 'enough' XP per session, I start getting noticably cranky.

Then you don't want to play with my DM. He gives out very little :smallbiggrin: you learn to live with 6000 gold worth of equipment at like level 10.

Deepblue706
2008-08-07, 01:27 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
6

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
5

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
In 3.x, among these are the Bard, Fighter, Sorcerer and Wizard.

Bards are cool because you have free reign to tell tall tales and be absurd, and the jack-of-all-trades concept is one I've always liked. I enjoy Fighters because they're always generic, allowing me to make up what I want: I can be a horse archer, a knight, a duelist or a heavy infantryman, and I can have mechanics that directly support my concept in 3rd. The Sorcerer and Wizard are cool because I like their style of magic - inherent or learned is fine with me.

In earlier editions, I strangely tend to be less picky, although my favorites are still pretty much the same. But, I've never liked Clerics or Druids. I think they're dull.

In 4E, I only like Fighters and Warlocks. I kinda liked the 3.5 Marshal, and hoped they'd improve upon it - I was greatly disappointed by the Warlord. I dislike the feel of most of the classes.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Not sure how to answer here.

As a player, I roleplay a lot. When I build my characters, I try to do something at least slightly different or unexpected with each one. Maybe I'll play a Wizard who is also a trained wrestler (improved grapple), or a bully Rogue with more Strength than either Intelligence or Charisma, and wields a Falchion (that's two-handed). Maybe I'll play a Fighter who learns a technique where he throws his shield as part of a ranged trip attack. I try to be creative with my character and the mechanics that go with them.

As a DM, I often give firm direction, but never tie anyone down. I like developing large worlds and stories. I adjust things to appease my players. I don't adhere to any set number of encounters each day, or per level. I have my own methods of balance. I don't believe level should determine how interesting your encounters are. I don't treat PCs as inherently superior beings. I love making NPCs for the party to interact with. I like building. I like lots of details.

Kool-Aid
2008-08-07, 01:41 PM
[QUOTE=Dove;4663016]

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

------------------------------------

My answers:


On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 10

On a scale of 1 to 10, How well do you like 4E? 2

What are your favorite classes to play, and why? My favorite classes to play is anything that can hold a sword bigger than it's body with a good base attack bonus, I've always like to be the guy with the big sword, saving princesses, slaying dragons and things of that nature since as far back as I can remember. If I must play a caster I like to play sorcerers, but will occassionally play wizards. To take a quote from "The Complete Mage" - Take away a wizards books and what does he have? Nothing, Sorcerers ARE magic.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody? I'm the leader, the smart guy, and the anti-hero, I try to maximize my characters capabilities while not twinking him out too far. I'm also the first to stab and then ask questions, nothing motivates like knowing they're bleeding to death and we're the only ones with healing spells. I'm also the first to point out mistakes, or to notice a flaw in my companion's logic.

As a DM I tend to improvise, I almost never DM but when we're looking for a bit of a change of pace I can come up with a decent adventure off the top of my head.

Spiryt
2008-08-07, 02:01 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

7

Don't want to talk long here, fine game, gives a lot of options, but unfortunately those option tends to not work too well.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

Haven't played, so I will carefuly give it 5.5. "Powers" system is very good idea. But making it the very base of everything and nerfing all other class features is terrible, completely crappy idea. Not to mention castrating evrything that's not fight.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Rangers. Dunno, just I like this archetype. Also Barbarian. Generally I like intersting multiclasses in D&D.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Well, I'm not very good at it. Lone guy I guess. I aslo sometimes try to be the group's brain, especially when others are being silly. A bit *******ic. (It's that the word ?)

Matthew
2008-08-07, 02:05 PM
Clearly they're not, as they seem to be attracting different players. The original post is working -- the survey is collecting the data it was intended to collect. It's not as though we need to know everyone's take on 2e, basic D&D, Exalted, or checkers in order to see how attitudes toward 3.x and 4e differ based on player preference.

If you're not attracted to either game, that's fine. Just give both a low rating and say what classes/archetypes you do like to play in whatever system.

(We can do without the name-calling.)

I agree, but we seem to be getting them anyway, and not expressed in the form of opinion, but as absolute fact. This survey appears to be about how much you like 3e/4e, not about how objectively "good" rule systems are. Statements such as "I think that 4e is an improvement on 3e" are transparently subjective, statements such as "4e is a definite improvement over 3e" give the impression of objectivity without qualification, and tend to be inflammatory. Let's try and keep this to opinions on the subject at hand.

valadil
2008-08-07, 02:45 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
8. It's solid, but not quite perfect. I'm also not a fan of WotC's business model of releasing books so quickly. It feels like you have to subscribe to the game to play. This led to a lot of low quality books and bloated the system at the same time. That said this is a mismanagement on WotC's part rather than an inherent flaw in 3.0.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
Dunno, haven't played it yet. I'm anticipating enjoying melees.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Casters and scoundrels. I really hope I get to play a Beguiler before 4.0 takes over completely. I love having a lot of options each round. At the moment I prefer spontaneous casters (because I hate prepping spells in the morning, I'd rather think at combat time than ahead of time) but that does change depending on what characters I'm into at the time.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
I definitely favor story over the rest of the game. As a GM I tell my players that we're doing an interactive storytelling game that is loosely based on D&D. As a player I prefer story and roleplaying to mechanics heavy gaming. I power game only enough to keep up with the rest of the group and rarely at the expense of roleplay. My attitude is that optimization and mechanics are math homework. I can do them on my own time. I don't see the need to ruin a perfectly good roleplaying game with some broken combination of prestige classes.

Starbuck_II
2008-08-07, 04:31 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

As player: 7.5, I had a lot of good memories.
As DM: 3.5, not easy for me.


On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

As player: I haven't been a player yet. So I have no idea. I have made a DMPC. I like the Wizard so far.
I'd say 7.0. Still getting used to it.

As DM: 8.0, creating adventures/monsters/plot easier for me.


What are your favorite classes to play, and why?

Favorite classes in 3.5:
Bard, Wu Jen, Warlock, Binder, and Psion/Wilder.

Favorite classes in 4.0:
Swordmage, Ranger, and Wizard.


What player/DM archetypes do you embody?

Smart Guy and dumb guy at same time. Lots O' Brainfarts.
I always take knowledge skills so I can "metagame" legally. Because using knowledge skills: you are able to know everything about a monster.

I love trying out new concepts and classes.

Killersquid
2008-08-08, 07:21 AM
I've been seeing a few 10's around here. Should 10's really be given (for any system)? That implies its perfect.

Tengu_temp
2008-08-08, 07:23 AM
I've been seeing a few 10's around here. Should 10's really be given (for any system)? That implies its perfect.

Yup, and that's why I gave Exalted a 10.

Actually, 10 means the best system you ever played. Remember that these ratings are 100% subjective.

banjo1985
2008-08-08, 07:31 AM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5? 6.5 solid after some modding but unspectacular.

On a scale of 1 to 10, How well do you like 4E? 5.5 based on GMing only. Tracking everything in combat is a complete pain in the ass.

Some other games scores, just for comparations sake:
Exalted - 7.5
WoD - 9
CoC - 8
GURPS - 5

What are your favorite classes to play, and why? Rogue and Ranger mostly, though I'm willing to play anything. Rogues and Rnagers appeal to me because they're sneaky and don't put themselves at risk, I've always gotten too attached to some characters si for me this is a good thing. I also like GMing.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody? Storyteller mostly, as a DM and as a player.

The Mormegil
2008-08-08, 07:58 AM
OP: well, reading your answers I thought I had a twin somewhere... Except for a few details. I don't wanna be a Powergamer nor an Actor, I'm more o a storyteller. And I don't like clerics and druids. The first ones are just far too religious, and the latter should pass more time in labs than seeing things grow wild...

Oracle_Hunter
2008-08-08, 11:37 AM
Yup, and that's why I gave Exalted a 10.

Actually, 10 means the best system you ever played. Remember that these ratings are 100% subjective.

Yeah, that's the problem with arbitrary ratings, but really, it's the only kind of rating you can give.

Me, I like to leave some room at the top of my ratings. This is kind of silly, of course, since I'll just rebalance the list every time I play a new game.

I would like to see people explain their ratings a bit more though. For instance:
I rank depending on
1) How much fun the basic system is
2) How much house-ruling I need to make the system work
3) If the system provides new mechanics or flavor which are of particular note.

So, looking back at my ratings, I put Mage above other White Wolf systems because of the Ars Magica casting system which adds a bit of easy-to-use freeform narrative into the game. Werewolf took a knock because werewolves are ludicrously powerful and you can't really use your character to solve non-combat challenges.

The base system of 3e has a lot of good D&D flavor in it and a relatively easy adventure-building system (extensive monster lists, traps, etc.) and had a feat and skill system (nice new mechanics!). But the Core was broken (Diplomacy? Really?) and it was really easy to break adventures if you didn't keep a close reign on mid-level character creation.

4e solves much what was broken in 3e Core and introduces some very nice new systems which make character/adventure creation much simpler. This scores high on #2 and #3, and from what I've done so far, #1 is doing well too.

So, maybe not that extensive, but hey, a paragraph edited into our responses might add some nice granularity to our numbers.

Prophaniti
2008-08-08, 11:58 AM
4e solves much what was broken in 3e Core and introduces some very nice new systems which make character/adventure creation much simpler.

I have to point out that elimination is not quite the same as solving. Ex: They certainly did not fix Wish, or other broken spells, they simply removed them. Same with much of what was considered broken in 3e, it was simply removed, as opposed to finding a workable way of keeping it. Still, I certainly can't argue with the second half of the sentence, both character creation and adventure creation are a lot simpler, if only because there's fewer things to sift through. Really, my few high marks for the system mostly come from how stinking easy it is to make encounters the difficulty you want them to be. Great for busy DMs with a baby and college and work... As a player, I'd still take 3.5, and as a DM I'm actually using other systems now, but I do appreciate ease of use in a system when it comes to adventure building.

Oracle_Hunter
2008-08-08, 01:38 PM
I have to point out that elimination is not quite the same as solving. Ex: They certainly did not fix Wish, or other broken spells, they simply removed them. Same with much of what was considered broken in 3e, it was simply removed, as opposed to finding a workable way of keeping it.

Clarification Digression!
To clarify, the stuff that I was most excited for fixing were actual mechanical problems - Diplomacy, for example. Now, instead of having a static DC which could quickly be min/maxed to hell (LV 2 Bards and Beguilers were the greatest threat to a BBEG under RAW) the DM is encouraged to use variable DCs (DMG 42) for semi-important social interactions, and Skill Challenges for significant ones. The revision of the Skill System both made life easier for the characters (no death-by-misallocation) and fixed potential brokeness (absurdly high skill checks thanks to synergy min/max, for example).

D&D features such as Wishes, Teleportation, Conjuration and Illusion may be missing or hidden, but they are slowly being reintroduced, and things look good so far.

SpydersWebbing
2008-08-08, 01:49 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?

When I first started playing I thought it was about a 7/10. I liked the game, and while I didn't know it all that well I was getting used to it. By the end of playing 3.5, however, I'd have to rate it somewhere around a 4. DMing for two power games is never ever ever fun, and really brought out the flaws of 3.5. If you wanna get a fuller statement from me on those, I'll gladly post in another thread.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?

About an 8 out of 10. The system has a better "feel" to it. Everyone can do something cool, which was not the feel I had with 3.5 by the end, even with the Tome of Battle, which is one of my favorite 3.5 books.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
I always like stuff that blends magic and melee. I mostly played with paladins in 3.5 and promptly switched over to crusader and swordsage when Tome of Battle came out. At the moment I'm playing my Pally Telos and will be playing a dragonborn swordmage when that FR Player's Guide comes out.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
I usually play and DM at the same time. As a player I'm an actor with a bit of bent for power gaming. I think the two can be done at the same time. As a DM I'm more open world, with sudden railroading streaks for temples or dungeons. I'm getting better at that, but railroading can be alot of fun...sometimes.

Jerthanis
2008-08-08, 02:55 PM
On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 3.5?
Okay, this is assuming 1 is "will not play" and 5 is "no feelings one way or the other" and 10 is "Practically Perfect" I'd put 3.5 as a 4. I'd prefer most other systems over it, but will not resist playing it if I have reason to believe the DM is good.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you like 4E?
I'd say a 6, It's actually good... but it could've been so much better, there are still at least a half dozen systems I'd be playing before it, but would go into a new 4th edition game with gusto even if I didn't yet have reason to believe the DM was good or not. Any time we wanted to play "D&D", I would push for this game.

As a reference, nWoD core is an 8 (nVampire and nWerewolf are 5s), Exalted is a 9, Mutants & Masterminds 2nd ed. is a 9 or 9.5, New Mage is a 2, Mummy: The Resurrection and Monte Cook's WoD are 1s, BESM 3rd edition is a 5, and Spirit of the Century is an 8.

What are your favorite classes to play, and why?
Rangers and Wizards. One is worldly, tough and professional, the other is cloistered and brilliant, but not physically inclined. They're my favorite for filling those character roles. In 3.5 specifically, Spirit Shaman and Swordsage were my two favorite classes because they both played uniquely and had amazing flavor.

What player/DM archetypes do you embody?
Storyteller mainly, particularly as a player. I'm more Sandbox/Storyteller fusion as a DM because I hate the idea of putting my players on rails. Paradoxically, as a player I don't tend to mind anything but the most brutally obvious of rails, and am generally fine to just be there for the ride, if that's what the DM is running.