Sure, the artwork does take up too much space for the cost of the materials they’re pushing, but at the same time, the amount of new players being brought in and enjoying the experience without having to look at the 400,000th possibility for advancing their level 11 character. Options are nice, but when it comes down to it, sometimes you just want coffee-flavored coffee, am I right? In my opinion, despite some of its setbacks, the makers are simply trying to return to the KISS philosophy, and I’m not talking about selling out like the rock band.

Also, basing your group on what books they have read sounds rather elitist. I’m a fan of Tolkien, but I didn’t know you had prerequisites to enjoy a GAME. That’s all it is, friend. So, just put down the hate stick and quit whacking at everything that’s not a piñata.

How did it ‘ruin’ it? By setting the scene of the modern fantasy realm. Most of the people that play MMORPG’s have no clue to any of the history behind the fantasy realm of D&D and therefore have driven the market to now be all inclusive of their ‘insta-uber-powerguy’ world.

No thanks, my quest now begins to assemble a group of people that have at least read all the LOTR series, knows who Gygax&Arneson were and understand the VERY MOST IMPORTANT RULE of D&D: Any rule, set in the books, can be changed or altered by the GM. The GM is the final arbiter of the rules.

Give me an understanding of how armor is made, how swords are crafted and an actual understanding of combat techniques of the middle ages soldier and I will apply this to craft a fantastic, yet set in the bounds of realism, campaing.

Nuff said fanboys, sayonara 4th Edition…You have finally put the nail in the coffin of D&D. Now, on to E-bay to build up my collection of 1st/2nd ed goodies!

Nice! It’s great being able to DM outside of the pope booth eh?