But, I *want* to spend an hour equipping my Ranger!

I saw this sneak peek article about D&D Next's PC generation process, focusing on equipment, and had to laugh.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4ll/20140324

I think back to many of the games I ran at a local comic book shop, years ago, and the amount of time lost to each player taking a browse through the Arms and Equipment section of the Player's Handbook, to perfectly equip the party bard or ranger...

The new system sounds great - especially the idea of trinket items that have no inherent worth, but can be good hooks for adventures or character background.  One of my more successful PC's had grown up in a fishing community, and brought his fishing net into the dungeon on his first adventure.  Surprisingly, it proved useful, preventing a trap from going off.

Wow, I find myself getting excited for yet another new edition of Dungeons & Dragons...