|
Post by cowboyleland on Mar 2, 2012 7:23:02 GMT -9
I really feel like they are just going to split the market again. I think it is nearly impossible to write crunchy matterial for both 3.5/Pathfinder and 4e (two different sets of statblocks for each encounter?)and that would be the only way to meet the 5e goal of "reuniting" the market. So you might get some people to switch from 4th to 5th but I think the only way to get most to switch from 3.5/PF to 5th would be by writing 3.9 and I doubt they are going to do that because then they are in range of the OGL AND people who like 4e are going to feel like it is a step backward.
|
|
|
Post by paladin on Mar 2, 2012 8:48:12 GMT -9
Hmm ... your posts make me think, @adam and @cowboy. What a desaster, really. 1rst Ed. fanatics may be the grey-haired ones with OSRIC PDFs on their Smartphones. Happy TSR-archeologists with a scientific urge for complete pre-1990 spell-lists. And the market splitting, yes, I fear, that will happen again, unless WotC will try to convince everybody to CHANGE from old to NEXT - regardless of the 'old' edition played ... . And they will try exactly this: they will say, that 5th Edition is the ultimate and unbeatable TOTALITARISM of D&D, D&D-GURPS so to speak. And WotC has exactly this ONE try to convince. After that we will see D&D flourish or being sold to some shady Media License Pool noone knows ... .
|
|
|
Post by Adam Souza on Mar 2, 2012 8:53:56 GMT -9
D&D has HUGE brand recognition associated with it. I can't really see 5E doing poorly enough to kill the brand. 4E had tons of blind hatred and uninformed criticism thrown at it when it was released, and it was considered a commercial success.
As much as I'm complaining about it now, I'll most likely pick up the 5E core rule books when their released. It's like how you keep watching terrible sequels because you loved the first movie soo much.
|
|
|
Post by cowboyleland on Mar 2, 2012 10:15:40 GMT -9
I've personally given up on sequels, but since my gamer friends are likely to be curious enough to buy 5e I'm likely to play at least a session or ten.
|
|
|
Post by paladin on Mar 2, 2012 10:36:29 GMT -9
;D hehe ... . I don't know the numbers (Hasbro knows), but I've heard rumors on the net, that WotC have still huge stocks of unsold 4th Ed. material in their store - and their release cancelling schedule of 2011/12 was breath-taking - together with the cancelling of D&D Minis Line. I would say, WotC is a cruising, leaking oil tank at best. Wealthy, but living on substance right now. If 5th Ed. is rejected by the community, then the oil will poor [sic!] pour out like the Niagara. It's very costly to develop and print a new RPG on this level. D&D brand will not be killed by that, but WotC will. D&D brand will be sold by Hasbro - like Star Wars. Of course, @adam, you will buy 5th Ed. You are a COLLECTOR ;D . I think, I will buy it too, if the praise is high enough - and the price low ... ;D.
|
|
|
Post by paladin on Mar 4, 2012 10:02:58 GMT -9
I have just read the 5th Ed. playtest impression of this long-time and experienced D&D/Pathfinder/Fantasy Craft gamer: www.rpg.net/columns/brave/brave72.phtmlTogether with some other playtest info snippets on the net, my mind is forming a picture: D&D 5th Ed. will be ... - easy to pick-up and play - fast-playing - 4th Ed. based regarding math&balance - with a challenge - 4th Ed. based as Tactical Deep Combat is still possible (not yet fully implemented) [possible SLOWDOWN !?] - encouraging roleplay without enforcing it (roleplay options like 'Theme'-skills, character-world-interaction/feedback), suited for every gaming style - very forgiving in terms of prejudiceless collaboration-gaming of different 'school'-fanatics, with enough system cross-over rules and options, that every player can identify 'his' old system in the new - e.g. the old SKILL system from Rule Cyclopedia 1991 seems to be fully implemented - astonishing. Simple and effective Ability-centered roleplay. Sounds good to me so far. Maybe WotC will make it to the haven to repair the oil leaks ... .
|
|
|
Post by Adam Souza on Mar 4, 2012 20:26:39 GMT -9
Thanks for sharing the article.
What I got from the article... Every edition of the game is 1st edition with years of experience to polish it. The edition wars are hyperbolic bulldoody, and the D&D development crew took huge lessons from the sales department and have learner to emphasize points that they think will make everyone happy.
|
|
|
Post by paladin on Mar 5, 2012 5:43:45 GMT -9
Every edition of the game is 1st edition with years of experience to polish it. The edition wars are hyperbolic bull$#.. Very good point, @adam. 4th Ed. was a huge risk and innovation in that line. I think, the effort was not a waste of time and money. 5th Ed. will build on all the previous editions - and 4th Ed. has its strong moments ... .
|
|
|
Post by stevelortz on Mar 5, 2012 5:53:27 GMT -9
Hmm ... 1rst Ed. fanatics may be the grey-haired ones with OSRIC PDFs on their Smartphones... I am a grey-haired Original D&D fanatic, and I don't have OSRIC PDFs on my Smartphone... I don't even have a Smartphone! Don't underestimate what sticks-in-the-mud us old, not just pencil-and-paper, but pencil-and-GRAPHpaper, gamer geezers can be! ;D I certainly hope they do a creditably good job with 5E! Have fun! Steve
|
|
|
Post by paladin on Mar 5, 2012 6:12:58 GMT -9
;D LOL, @steve ... Sorry, I don't want to categorize and classify people ... I think, I have read too much D&D-Blogs of architects, lawyers and IT CEOs, so my imagination is a bit preconfigured if I hear '1rst Edition/Original D&D'. I remember having used graph-paper for dungeon/building-design in the 80ies, but mostly cheap squaregrid-paper (grey ecology type ). I have to admit, that I have no Smartphone either. Err ... I never had a Mobile Phone. Do not like this kind of instant callability in my pocket. But I wonder in the morning, what a wonderful piece of human art the Personal Computer is - and a very nice enhancement/toy for roleplayers ... .
|
|
|
Post by paladin on Oct 25, 2012 5:12:53 GMT -9
Just to 'update' this 5th edition topic: www.rpg.net/columns/brave/brave81.phtmlwww.rpg.net/columns/brave/brave82.phtmlThis is the same, quite experienced reviewer I have linked to above. Wizards of the Coast seemed to 'present' their last flagship product on GameCon 2012 in the psychologically most disturbing, unfriendly, impersonal and unprofessional manner imaginable. The last incarnation of D&D 5th Ed. seems to be a deteriorating, unbalanced, character-overpowering, soulless, senseless MESS of a rule system. Oh Holy Crap! If this reviewer is right, then WotC has lost faith into their own product a long time ago. This oil tank is half-full of water. The other small Indie companies on GameCon seemed to have a fun and rewarding time for all at the same time ... .
|
|