I used to play D&D. I started out with Advanced D&D in the 1980's, then switched to 2nd edition, and started playing again when 3rd edition came out, and then switched again when 3.5 came out. But 4th edition was too much of a change for me, and I stayed with 3.5. But now I've discovered Pathfinder, which some call "D&D 3.75." It is a lot like 3.5, only its been fixed and balanced better. Anyone else roleplaying right now?
I have a Cleric of Tempus for 3.5. Never played 4th edition as it seemed to play like a MMO and quite dumbed down.
Yes, 4th edition was changed to make it more like World of Warcraft, and I hated it after just a few minutes of trying to play it.
Sad to say I've never had anyone to play tabletop D&D with, so I've never gotten into that. The closest I've come is playing Neverwinter Nights and WoW. I have encountered role players in the latter, and there were times I joined in. In fact, I always used to play on RPPVP servers in hopes that I'd get that chance while also having world PvP available.
I played one game of tabletop and never did it again. It imploded when the dungeon master had an iron gate that was blocking our exit or entrance to somewhere, I forget which. I asked him if it was a gate that you swung open or if it was a portcullis style one. He said it was one that you swung open and had an lock on it. So obviously we had to find a key or somehow get passed it. I happened to be a mage and had Melf's Acid Arrow spell so I cast that at the lock. The (*)(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)bag then told me that I couldn't do that. I asked him why, was it some magical lock that couldn't be corroded with acid? He paused and said yes. So then I started casting Melf's Acid Arrow on the hinges and he again said that I couldn't do that and that I had to find the key. I said why, are you telling me that the hinges are magical as well. He gets all upset and says that we are supposed to look for a key. I tell him that is just dumb as hell. Why would you waste time scrounging around for a key when I can just open the door with my spell. We get into a heated debate and I left out of frustration and that turned me off to it ever since.
I understand your frustration, but here's how it works when I'm the GM: Most doors can be opened normally, or by picking the lot, or breaking them down. But once in a while you have a "plot door" which has a "plot lock" which can only be opened by a "plot key." And the reason for this, is that sometimes the GM controls the flow of the plot with plot doors, plot locks and plot keys. So that's what was going on with your GM, only he didn't know how to explain it to you.
I started out playing AD&D 1st Edition in the 90s when I was at my babysitter's because she lived with her brother who would DM. After they moved away I didn't play D&D until Middle School and I picked up v3.0. Throughout High School I'd visit my dad in Northern Virginia and I would go and visit the local hobby shop where I was introduced to other games like Star Wars d20 Revised, World of Darkness 2nd Edition, D&D v3.5. As an adult I started looking for some more obscure systems which is where I picked up Mutants & Masterminds 2nd Edition, Dark Heresy (later Rogue Trader, Death Watch, Black Crusade, and my current favorite Only War), and Exalted 2nd Edition. I also tried out 4th Edition D&D and concluded that if I wanted to play WoW I'd just log back onto my Death Knight and picked up Pathfinder instead. I've heard some pretty horrendous rumors about 5th Edition, like core classes being restricted to character race.
Ughhhh...Much like AD&D was multiclassing was highly restrictive. Personally 3.5 is the perfect ruleset for D&D. Countless classes and prestige classes, many different character builds and races. Also the combat system was simple yet highly effective. The Players handbook and DMs guide has rules for just about everything, not to mention the 50 or so supplements that added special rules.
