4E Myth: Combat is Faster?

I've played 4E now for maybe about a year, and feel that I have a good solid working knowledge of the game for the most part at this point. However, I've yet to play a first level character, which sounds rather strange, I know...

My first character was created for me, and is 12th level. He was 11th when we started. My second character is currently 6th, a convert from 3.5, who - generally speaking - is not a lot different from his 3.5 version in practice. He doesn't hit quite as often, but perhaps that just a side effect of how encounter creation works in 4E, or how my GM (same guy in both editions) handles things now as opposed to before.

One thing I saw frequently on the internet was that 4E supposedly featured a more fluid combat mechanic, which resulted in combat scenarios moving more quickly. So far, this has not been my experience. Dungeons and Dragons 4E combat seems - at least to me - to be almost exactly the same as 3.5 with respect to how long it takes.

I HAVE been in a few combats which were quick, but I'd been in similarly quick combats in 3.5 as well. I'm curious about where this idea came from, and wish I could remember exactly where I'd seen it. Could it be that there's something I'm missing, having not played at level 1? Might it just be a function of playing with the same group through both editions? Similar GMing styles from one guy to the next that result in similar combat lengths?

I have a difficult time imagining why it would be faster, given the mechanics. You still get a similar set of possible actions, you still have to roll the dice, calculate modifiers, roll damage, etc. It's still very much the same animal.

Have you heard this about 4E? Do you find that it's faster, or about the same?

First Encounter with Fourth Edition

I played my first round of fourth edition last night, and I have to say it's a pretty big difference from 3.5.

I've heard a lot about it, and there are nothing but strong feelings about it either way... Some love it, some hate it.

Frankly, I think if it's looked at as it's own game instead of being expected to be a continuation of an old game, it stands fairly well on it's own.

I had a significant amount of adjusting to do, but most of the time it was me saying "Really? That's it? Huh."

For example, I played a warlock. I've always gravitated toward casters, and I found it very... unusual that I could keep using the same spell over and over. Granted there are spells you can only use once a day, but other spells you can just keep using over and over... No running out of spells. I also didn't have to prepare spells at night. Once again, very strange.

I'd used the D&D online character generator, which meant that everything I needed was like, RIGHT there on the character sheet. My spells, effects, my bonuses, my damage... all right there.

I didn't have to look in a book, not once during the whole session. In 3.5, it was not uncommon to find me leafing through a book to find the effects of a spell or a feat, etc... 


All in all, it was a short exposure to the game, but I have high hopes. I think I'm going to enjoy it. 

Need to learn 4E

My recent experience with writing for Bright hub has taught me that I do not know enough about Dungeons and Dragons' 4th edition.

I sit here with my 4E core rule book in hand, and find myself in an ironic situation. I'm holding, perhaps for the first time in my life, a D&D rule book for which I have little to not interest in, and I have to read and absorb for reasons other than personal enjoyment.

Interesting, the twists and turns life throws, eh?