I'm not sure who to focus this Q to. The vets like me who've played on & off since AD&D or newer ones who started w/ 3rd edition or both.

I'm concerned & curious about the up-coming 4th ed.

I know there's no one forcing me to play it & I'll likely stick w/ 3.5

I was looking over the 'Net about current news about 4th ed. & I dunno....just seems FAR too removed from the game I knew. Gnomes are no longer a core race, you'll have to wait til another (expensive) supplement book to read about being a Half-Orc, you'll have to pay for updates, there's a stronger emphasis on using minis for it (which is nothing new for D&D, but seems w/ 4th ed., it's practically a mu$t)

I was never one to go for those oddball races like Tieflings & allowing bizarro characters like Half-dragon, half demon paladin/Shadowdancer/Wizard

I'm curious to know how the new combat runs though. Anyone know this?