D&D 3E/3.5 1996 3E Survey

[Man in the Funny Hat]

I was removing some old files from my website and came across this survey again. I started thinking how I'd love to see the responses to this if it were retooled for 4E.

 

[Scribble]

I was removing some old files from my website and came across this survey again. I started thinking how I'd love to see the responses to this if it were retooled for 4E.

Did this survey come out before or after they started working on 3e I wonder?

A lot of the questions in retrospect almost seem very specific to the changes they made.

Of course, that could be because they made the changes based on the answers... But I mean the questions and provided answers... I wonder why they didn't make it a little more open ended? It almost seems like they had the game already, but wanted to see if the changes would be accepted before it was released...

 

[Gundark]

It would be interesting to read alright. However I can see why WotC didn't feel the need to hand out a survey this time around. Back in 1996 D&D was still pretty new to WotC, they didn't know a whole lot about the fan base they had. Now 11 years later WotC has been paying attention to what fans have been saying.

I think that even though people weren't overtly asking for 4e, they were asking by the types of posts and discussions that I saw in forums like Enworld.

 

[DaveMage]

Was that a TSR survey or a WotC survey?

 

[The Little Raven]

Was that a TSR survey or a WotC survey?

If it was at GenCon 1996, like it says, it was still TSR, since Wizards didn't acquire them until some time in 1997 (which is when I believe they would have begun development on 3e).

 

[Dragonblade]

Some of those questions scare me...

Like one about how D&D should have MORE tables and less die rolling?!? WTF!?

 

[Nikosandros]

If it was at GenCon 1996, like it says, it was still TSR, since Wizards didn't acquire them until some time in 1997 (which is when I believe they would have begun development on 3e).

I think that TSR had already begun at least some preliminary work on a 3rd edition before being acquired by WotC. IIRC, Ryan Dancey talked about it sometime at the beginning of this year in a podcast interview.

 

[Beckett]

I think that TSR had already begun at least some preliminary work on a 3rd edition before being acquired by WotC. IIRC, Ryan Dancey talked about it sometime at the beginning of this year in a podcast interview.

I remember hearing that too. Originally, 3E was going to look a lot like 2E. When WotC took over, they tossed that and set to work on something new.

 

[glass]

I was removing some old files from my website and came across this survey again. I started thinking how I'd love to see the responses to this if it were retooled for 4E.

I remember that survey, I filled it in back in the day. I think they printed it in Dragon, didn't they?

I remember question 61; I had to reply 'what's a panty-waist?'



glass.

 

[Reynard]

I was reading some old Dragon magazines I acquired on ebay and came across a HUGE survey for the 1E to 2E transition. it makes me wonder: why didn't WotC use a survey in Dragon? I think it ties to the DI thing. They had surveys on their website and I think they are responding to the people who answered that. That the survey was electronic, chances are the results were skewed younger and more likely to play games like WoW, etc...

With any luck, the skewed results will become apparent when 4E sales don't meet expectations and WotC is forced to realize that D&D's sacred cows -- things the WoW kids think are teh suxxorz -- are an important aspect of why the game ahas been on top for 30 years, despite constant attempt to unthrone it.