jaerdaph
#UkraineStrong
I don't think "unite all players" with 5e is an obtainable or realistic goal. I do, however, think it's awesome that it is a stated goal for 5e, because even if they fall short of that mark, I'm sure some good design and development will come out of it anyway. More so when you combine that with their other stated goal - massive fan input and playtest.
I don't think we'll ever see the OGL as it existed during 3e/3.5e ever again, at least not from WotC/Hasbro. I think they see that as part of the reason 4e failed to live up to their expectations both financially and with regards to edition lifespan and carrying over fans of the previous edition. Note I said "failed to live up to their expectations", not "4e is a failure". I also think you could argue that by failing to open up 4e with an OGL like they did 3e, WotC/Hasbro contributed to their failure to meet their expectations.
Now my data point: Don't spend too much time, money or effort trying to win me back, WotC/Hasbro. I'm in that 45 and older crowd, and while I know I don't speak for everyone in that age group, I've moved on. I already have what I need in 3 1/2 editions of D&D, Pathfinder, a few d20 "spin off" and OSR retro-clone games, not to mention the non-d20/non-D&D games I play now as well. Spend that time, money and effort appealing to my younger nephews and nieces (ages 11, 9, 6 and 6) instead. Take D&D well into the 21st century by getting them on board. Take almost 40 years of D&D and revamp and refresh it for the younger generation. Make them feel that same magic that I felt in 1979 when I first discovered D&D. But don't just package up 1979 D&D and resell it. Use every modern technology and tool that has been developed since D&D first came out and are such an integral part of the younger generation's lives, and integrate that into the the new game. Keep in mind their preferred way of getting information - sound bites, text messages, short and to the point. Don't overwhelm with countless tomes filled with pages and pages and pages of information. Let them pick up the game and be up and running and playing in 10 minutes or less. Do that, and people will still be playing D&D another 40 years from now.
I don't think we'll ever see the OGL as it existed during 3e/3.5e ever again, at least not from WotC/Hasbro. I think they see that as part of the reason 4e failed to live up to their expectations both financially and with regards to edition lifespan and carrying over fans of the previous edition. Note I said "failed to live up to their expectations", not "4e is a failure". I also think you could argue that by failing to open up 4e with an OGL like they did 3e, WotC/Hasbro contributed to their failure to meet their expectations.
Now my data point: Don't spend too much time, money or effort trying to win me back, WotC/Hasbro. I'm in that 45 and older crowd, and while I know I don't speak for everyone in that age group, I've moved on. I already have what I need in 3 1/2 editions of D&D, Pathfinder, a few d20 "spin off" and OSR retro-clone games, not to mention the non-d20/non-D&D games I play now as well. Spend that time, money and effort appealing to my younger nephews and nieces (ages 11, 9, 6 and 6) instead. Take D&D well into the 21st century by getting them on board. Take almost 40 years of D&D and revamp and refresh it for the younger generation. Make them feel that same magic that I felt in 1979 when I first discovered D&D. But don't just package up 1979 D&D and resell it. Use every modern technology and tool that has been developed since D&D first came out and are such an integral part of the younger generation's lives, and integrate that into the the new game. Keep in mind their preferred way of getting information - sound bites, text messages, short and to the point. Don't overwhelm with countless tomes filled with pages and pages and pages of information. Let them pick up the game and be up and running and playing in 10 minutes or less. Do that, and people will still be playing D&D another 40 years from now.