this isn't about "too complex" so much as "too many old vance/gygax mechanics holdovers" -- there has been a proto-4th-ed (call it "3.9" for lack of a better label) movement within the last ~12 months of supplements, e.g., the warlock class (disassembles traditional spell slots in favor of X-memorized/Y-limited-powers/Z-unlimited-per-day) and/or pretty much the entire feats section of complete mage (convert memorized-spell-slot to ABC energy blasts per day, or PDQ summon elementals per day, etc).
i'm not particularly fond of this rules shift, but it *will* (theoretically) equalize the character classes once and for all -- they will all be 'dilute' classes, like the warlock, and though i don't really like the warlock, if they're all the same maybe that will balance out.
i actually believe star wars saga edition is the best 4th-ed preview, and if you haven't seen it, the book of nine swords is another representative source: characters will get a limited sort of special-power menu selection, like "okay, give me the fighter's weapon choices and special combat maneuvers, but drop the heavy armor and give me a small amount of weak-powered healing per day," either specializing or diversifying their big-power-X/medium-power-Y/weak-unlimited-power-Z choices to suit.
the example given in saga edition is obi-wan disabling an imperial security system, then projecting a fake-noise to distract guards, then walking a tightrope or some such... a sidelong point is made that, using traditional skill-point or dice-pool systems, this scene basically wouldn't be possible, but using the big/medium/weak power pyramid, dramatic opportunities emerge. i'm dubious, but willing to be open-minded.
4th ed -- nah, take a deeper look
this isn't about "too complex" so much as "too many old vance/gygax mechanics holdovers" -- there has been a proto-4th-ed (call it "3.9" for lack of a better label) movement within the last ~12 months of supplements, e.g., the warlock class (disassembles traditional spell slots in favor of X-memorized/Y-limited-powers/Z-unlimited-per-day) and/or pretty much the entire feats section of complete mage (convert memorized-spell-slot to ABC energy blasts per day, or PDQ summon elementals per day, etc).
i'm not particularly fond of this rules shift, but it *will* (theoretically) equalize the character classes once and for all -- they will all be 'dilute' classes, like the warlock, and though i don't really like the warlock, if they're all the same maybe that will balance out.
i actually believe star wars saga edition is the best 4th-ed preview, and if you haven't seen it, the book of nine swords is another representative source: characters will get a limited sort of special-power menu selection, like "okay, give me the fighter's weapon choices and special combat maneuvers, but drop the heavy armor and give me a small amount of weak-powered healing per day," either specializing or diversifying their big-power-X/medium-power-Y/weak-unlimited-power-Z choices to suit.
the example given in saga edition is obi-wan disabling an imperial security system, then projecting a fake-noise to distract guards, then walking a tightrope or some such... a sidelong point is made that, using traditional skill-point or dice-pool systems, this scene basically wouldn't be possible, but using the big/medium/weak power pyramid, dramatic opportunities emerge. i'm dubious, but willing to be open-minded.
-- sven