RPG maestro Josh Sawyer admits "there's a lot to criticize" in D&D 4e, but not because it's "like an MMO" or other reasons "parroted" by folks "with little direct knowledge"

1. Tabletop Gaming
2. Dungeons & Dragons

RPG maestro Josh Sawyer admits "there's a lot to criticize" in D&D 4e, but not because it's "like an MMO" or other reasons "parroted" by folks "with little direct knowledge" News By Anna Koselke published 26 November 2025

Wizards of the Coast didn't impress with its 2008 release

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Although the Dungeons & Dragons' controversial 4th edition holds a bit of an awkward place within tabletop RPG stans' hearts, not everyone thinks it's deserving of all the flak it's caught since its 2008 launch – but that doesn't mean there's nothing to criticize.

Joshua Eric "Josh" Sawyer, who is best known for his work on RPG gems like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, made an online post implying that sourcing feedback for D&D 4e that wasn't just "parroted" criticism and was instead genuine, player experience-based assessments was basically impossible. In response, somebody said 4e "ain't really all that" – and while Sawyer doesn't necessarily disagree, he expands on his own opinion.

"There's a lot to criticize in 4e, from how classes and races were split up to bad MMs to having a boring armor system (again), but that's not usually what people complained about," the genre maestro explains. "They parroted dumb complaints with little direct knowledge, and for it they should be pursued by hounds across the moor." He follows up with a quip poking fun at one of these complaints – the comparisons likening 4e to an MMO.

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There's a lot to criticize in 4E, from how classes and races were split up to bad MMs to having a boring armor system (again), but that's not usually what people complained about. They parroted dumb complaints with little direct knowledge, and for it they should be pursued by hounds across the moor.

— @jesawyer.bsky.social (@jesawyer.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-11-26T14:18:37.737Z

"'It's like an MMO,'" writes Sawyer, adding sarcastically, "Totally, dude." For anyone less familiar with 4e or the MMO comparisons, fans' comments provide a bit of insight. As one reads, "I think most of those complaints were driven by how it aesthetically copied a lot from Warcraft in particular" – with "it" meaning D&D 4e. You can also look at threads elsewhere, like Reddit, that see players detail why such comparisons blew up.

From the roles of classes to ability cooldowns, there are plenty of reasons, apparently – but Sawyer does make a solid point himself. It's difficult to separate evidence-backed criticism from the "popular" opinion, so to speak. This rings especially true nowadays, as the rise of content creation on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and social media allows for the spread of inflammatory or less-than-reputable takes at rates like never before.

As a longtime D&D enjoyer myself, however, I can definitely see both sides here. So much of this is subjective, after all, and boils down to what you think as a player yourself. That can be said for any edition, too – not just 4e.

Searching for something new to play? Browse through our roundup of the best tabletop RPGs if you're itching for another adventure to set out on.

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Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Anna KoselkeSocial Links NavigationStaff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

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