First thought: they actually brutalized Forgotten Realms pretty savagely on the changeover from 1st to 2nd ed as well. Cataclysms, magic not working right, all
of the Gods forced to earth as avatars and some of them dying - good stuff like that.
Second thought: Wizards: first, a lot of the spells that you are missing would take the form of Rituals now - which can be cast any time you want if you have
the levels, time, and (potentially quite expensive) material components. Most of them aren't written up yet, but there's nothing to stop you from
adding more. Second, the "wizard can do anything" thing was actually one of the things that 4th ed was trying to fix. Is a bit sad, perhaps, for
those who like Wizards and loved being pillars of arcane might, but....
Third thought: the 4th ed really is a totally different game. Really. it's basically a really well-built, fast, easy-to-learn cross between an RPG and
those RPG-like Warhammer small-group-tactics games (Necromunda, Mordheim, whatever they were doing with the inquisitors - those). It is an excellent game for
first-time players, first-time GMs, and (especially) a group of kids who gets together to try this whole roleplaying thing for the first time all at once. I
don't think *anybody* should try to convert an ongoing 3.x game into 4.0, unless it's only been a few sessions, and the new stuff better fits their
playstyle. On the other hand, if you can get over the fact that it's got the words "Dungeons & Dragons" on the cover, it may well be worth
picking up to read through a time or two, and perhaps play with a lighter game.
Oh, and another big part of the newbie-friendly - It's a game that doesn't really respond all that strongly to optimization. A first-time player who
walks in with the idea that he wants a dwarf with an axe (and a willingness to follow the simple, clear advice on character creation laid out in the book) and
a seasoned vet who walks in having pored over the books for a week and planned everything out beforehand will wind up with characters who are close enough in
power level to be contributing members of the same party, and who will remain that way all the way to 30.
of the Gods forced to earth as avatars and some of them dying - good stuff like that.
Second thought: Wizards: first, a lot of the spells that you are missing would take the form of Rituals now - which can be cast any time you want if you have
the levels, time, and (potentially quite expensive) material components. Most of them aren't written up yet, but there's nothing to stop you from
adding more. Second, the "wizard can do anything" thing was actually one of the things that 4th ed was trying to fix. Is a bit sad, perhaps, for
those who like Wizards and loved being pillars of arcane might, but....
Third thought: the 4th ed really is a totally different game. Really. it's basically a really well-built, fast, easy-to-learn cross between an RPG and
those RPG-like Warhammer small-group-tactics games (Necromunda, Mordheim, whatever they were doing with the inquisitors - those). It is an excellent game for
first-time players, first-time GMs, and (especially) a group of kids who gets together to try this whole roleplaying thing for the first time all at once. I
don't think *anybody* should try to convert an ongoing 3.x game into 4.0, unless it's only been a few sessions, and the new stuff better fits their
playstyle. On the other hand, if you can get over the fact that it's got the words "Dungeons & Dragons" on the cover, it may well be worth
picking up to read through a time or two, and perhaps play with a lighter game.
Oh, and another big part of the newbie-friendly - It's a game that doesn't really respond all that strongly to optimization. A first-time player who
walks in with the idea that he wants a dwarf with an axe (and a willingness to follow the simple, clear advice on character creation laid out in the book) and
a seasoned vet who walks in having pored over the books for a week and planned everything out beforehand will wind up with characters who are close enough in
power level to be contributing members of the same party, and who will remain that way all the way to 30.