I forgot how much fun making encounters is in D&D4. Much more fun than 5e. What part of 4e encounter building gives it an edge over 5e?
— Brad Sax (@McSteezy) May 31, 2021
On top of that, each monster came in several different flavors: Artillery, Brute, Skirmishers, Lurker, Controller, Soldier. So making an encounter is always fun because you can DESIGN it. “OOh, this time I think a lot of artillery and a controller! That’s gonna be crazy.” 2/ Even if you don't know HOW a Goblin Soldier is tough and hard to fuck with, you know THAT a goblin soldier is tough and hard to fuck with. So designing encounters is easy, because you know what the different roles do. 3/
— Matt Colville? (@mattcolville) May 31, 2021
Then when you run it, you’re delighted by how the Goblin Soldier is UNIQUELY a soldier. Like…I didn’t read what this Goblin Soldier did when I designed this encounter, I just TRUSTED it would be soldier-y, and now that I’m running it…he IS! 4/ I can wait until I'm RUNNING COMBAT before I read what this little goblin does, because his design is entirely object-oriented. Everything I need to know about how he works, is listed here. 5/
— Matt Colville? (@mattcolville) May 31, 2021
I can wait until I’m RUNNING COMBAT before I read what this little goblin does, because his design is entirely object-oriented. Everything I need to know about how he works, is listed here. 5/ I don't have to go look anything up in another book. The abilities aren't complex, and open to interpretation. They're not hundreds of words long (spells). I am often DELIGHTED when I read what this little dude can do now that it's his turn.
— Matt Colville? (@mattcolville) May 31, 2021
I think WOTC found that people forgot most of those abilities often. I know I did. I’m pretty happy with simple monsters wrapped in fun flavor.
I also agree with others in the thread, 13th Age is awesome and the true spiritual successor to 4e.
— SlyFlourish.com (@SlyFlourish) June 1, 2021