Big numbers are your friend. I think the only exception is with the percentile dice, but I can live with that. Spell casting has been given new rules as well. One of the new little rules allows a wizard to cast a spell quicker than normal. They won't be able to do it every time, but when you need it it's there.
Skills seem to be playing a larger part in the new rules.
I wish I could say more about them, but they just haven't said a whole lot about them in Dragon. I do know that Rogues have an access to the largest number of skills, which helps make them useful for more than spelunking in front of the party. Along with skills come the new multi-classing rules. Only monks and paladins are denied this. Like I said before, there is cool ass kicking stuff available to all characters once they hit 8th level or so.