Aberzanzorax
Hero
....WotC did this:
(Disclaimer, I posted this in another thread, but it got lost pretty easily there. I'm bringing it out again as its own thread because this is a pretty optimistic/positive spin on an option for a business model going forward).
Here's a pipe dream:
What if the Mike Mearls articles (and the other shake ups recently) are an attempt to ACTUALLY resolve edition wars and unify editions?
Instead of a lead up to 5e, what would be amazing to see would be for WotC to release (an) intermediate edition(s) and a beautiful and solid conversion device (including relevant/important fluff), so that anyone could buy a product from ANY edition and quickly and easily convert it to any other edition.
Then they release their full line of PDFs for sale (as part of D&Di or not) for all editions.
Suddenly, I can play 4e, buy a 1e adventure, and EVEN BETTER, IT IS AUTOCONVERTED TO 4E by the device being computerized. I guess I'm suggesting, along with manual pen and paper, that people could buy an app/component of D&Di that would do the conversion for them.
Imagine if, as this series seems to hint, all editions truly could be unified as a "whole D&D" and anyone could play any adventure/class/kit/specialty priest/prestige class/paragon path in the edition of their choice.
If they could do THAT, I'd be back on board with WoTC big time, and I think it could do well to quiet a lot of the edition warring....and actually make new editions welcome rather than controversial. Plus, it would mean all new products they'd sell (an adventure for 5e, 6e, 7e etc) would be usable for people who play 1e, 2e, 3e, and 4e.
If they could do it, I don't think it'd be easy. EDIT: But if they released "intermediate" editions that attempted to capture the focus of the editions they were bridging, I think it'd help.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm thinking that they could write new materials as they do, but with the idea that it'd be converted back to prior editons. In addition they could release multi edition conversions of classics from early editions.
One other important component. I think it'd be very helpful if they were very, very up front about the focuses they were aiming for. Perhaps clarify what the intent of each edition was and say, outright "this adventure is a dungeon/city/exploratory based adventure, and due to some unique elements, is best suited to 2e, 4e, 5e, and 7e".
But man...maybe a pipedream, maybe a dream...but if this is their direction, you could color me interested.
(Disclaimer, I posted this in another thread, but it got lost pretty easily there. I'm bringing it out again as its own thread because this is a pretty optimistic/positive spin on an option for a business model going forward).
Here's a pipe dream:
What if the Mike Mearls articles (and the other shake ups recently) are an attempt to ACTUALLY resolve edition wars and unify editions?
Instead of a lead up to 5e, what would be amazing to see would be for WotC to release (an) intermediate edition(s) and a beautiful and solid conversion device (including relevant/important fluff), so that anyone could buy a product from ANY edition and quickly and easily convert it to any other edition.
Then they release their full line of PDFs for sale (as part of D&Di or not) for all editions.
Suddenly, I can play 4e, buy a 1e adventure, and EVEN BETTER, IT IS AUTOCONVERTED TO 4E by the device being computerized. I guess I'm suggesting, along with manual pen and paper, that people could buy an app/component of D&Di that would do the conversion for them.
Imagine if, as this series seems to hint, all editions truly could be unified as a "whole D&D" and anyone could play any adventure/class/kit/specialty priest/prestige class/paragon path in the edition of their choice.
If they could do THAT, I'd be back on board with WoTC big time, and I think it could do well to quiet a lot of the edition warring....and actually make new editions welcome rather than controversial. Plus, it would mean all new products they'd sell (an adventure for 5e, 6e, 7e etc) would be usable for people who play 1e, 2e, 3e, and 4e.
If they could do it, I don't think it'd be easy. EDIT: But if they released "intermediate" editions that attempted to capture the focus of the editions they were bridging, I think it'd help.
EDIT TO ADD: I'm thinking that they could write new materials as they do, but with the idea that it'd be converted back to prior editons. In addition they could release multi edition conversions of classics from early editions.
One other important component. I think it'd be very helpful if they were very, very up front about the focuses they were aiming for. Perhaps clarify what the intent of each edition was and say, outright "this adventure is a dungeon/city/exploratory based adventure, and due to some unique elements, is best suited to 2e, 4e, 5e, and 7e".
But man...maybe a pipedream, maybe a dream...but if this is their direction, you could color me interested.