Wizards has stated this on several occaisons, and I've played through the first-level 4e adventure (released at the D&D Experience) with several friends. There is no aggro mechanic in 4th edition, and those who continue to insist that there is are either uninformed, ignorant, hopelessly stupid or trolling.
Example: a Paladin can use a power that will deal damage to a monster when it attacks someone other than the Paladin. This "encourages" the monster to focus on the Paladin, but it's still ultimately the DMs decision what the monster will attack. At the same time, fighter's have a "power" that gives them a free Attack of Opportunity should their designated foe attack an ally.
On a side note: fourth edition characters are very much more powerful than third edition characters. This is because the monsters are much, MUCH more dangerous in fourth edition. The first encounter in the first-level demo pits a party of 6 level-one PCs against two level-two hobgoblins. Each goblin had a high attack bonus, 40+ HP (the average character had about 20 to 22), and dealt 1d10+STR damage. If they hit you, your move speed would be slowed to two squares until the hobgoblin's next turn.
The penultimate encounter of this adventure was absolutely absurd. I'll not be complaining about any perceived "WoW-ishness" (and I'm a WoW player of 3+ years), but much of the combat flavor is over-the-top.
Highlight of the adventure: the paladin had fallen, and the cleric would follow within one more turn. He was about to be flanked by two skeletal assailants and I, the Eladrin ranger, used my daily power ("Split the Tree") to destroy both skeletons at once. It was over-the-top, but it was one of those epic moments that an artist would dedicate a page-and-a-half to in a comic book.
As much as I enjoyed the demo, however, these announced licensing changes do have me concerned and worried, and my ultimately leave me disgusted.
Slashdot Mirror
Wizards has stated this on several occaisons, and I've played through the first-level 4e adventure (released at the D&D Experience) with several friends. There is no aggro mechanic in 4th edition, and those who continue to insist that there is are either uninformed, ignorant, hopelessly stupid or trolling.
Example: a Paladin can use a power that will deal damage to a monster when it attacks someone other than the Paladin. This "encourages" the monster to focus on the Paladin, but it's still ultimately the DMs decision what the monster will attack. At the same time, fighter's have a "power" that gives them a free Attack of Opportunity should their designated foe attack an ally.
On a side note: fourth edition characters are very much more powerful than third edition characters. This is because the monsters are much, MUCH more dangerous in fourth edition. The first encounter in the first-level demo pits a party of 6 level-one PCs against two level-two hobgoblins. Each goblin had a high attack bonus, 40+ HP (the average character had about 20 to 22), and dealt 1d10+STR damage. If they hit you, your move speed would be slowed to two squares until the hobgoblin's next turn.
The penultimate encounter of this adventure was absolutely absurd. I'll not be complaining about any perceived "WoW-ishness" (and I'm a WoW player of 3+ years), but much of the combat flavor is over-the-top.
Highlight of the adventure: the paladin had fallen, and the cleric would follow within one more turn. He was about to be flanked by two skeletal assailants and I, the Eladrin ranger, used my daily power ("Split the Tree") to destroy both skeletons at once. It was over-the-top, but it was one of those epic moments that an artist would dedicate a page-and-a-half to in a comic book.
As much as I enjoyed the demo, however, these announced licensing changes do have me concerned and worried, and my ultimately leave me disgusted.