WotC Seeks Unity with a New Edition

Darrin Kelley · Jan 16, 2012

One of the other things I really liked about 4th edition was the changes, simplifacation, and consolidation done to the alignment system. Something I feel has been absolutely needed for a great number of years.

Walking Dad · Jan 16, 2012

What alignment changes? AD&D2nd and 3rd use the exactly same alignments.

BTW, anyone knows what you get for signing up for playtest if you are not in America?

Anselyn · Jan 16, 2012

Walking Dad said:
What alignment changes? AD&D2nd and 3rd use the exactly same alignments.

BTW, anyone knows what you get for signing up for playtest if you are not in America?

Try it and see!

I think you get a note that you will subsequently be given access to PDF files. There was also a coment somewhere that _everyone_ signing up will be involved.

So, what's there to lose from pushing the button and finding out?

Dungeons & Dragons Encounters Update

Walking Dad · Jan 16, 2012

Ok, I pushed the button ...

Aehrlon · Jan 30, 2012

SlyDoubt said:
Is there any specific reason wizards can't produce updated versions of the 1e - 3e handbooks/dmg/monster manuals? legally I mean. **---I had this thought as well with some additional thoughts, more on that after the quote...

Edit: I really like the idea posted above about pursuing digital tools for playing at the table. **----One of my groups has a DM who uses a virtual tabletop & does this via his laptop and an overhead digital projector that puts a 'to-scale' map right on the table that we use miniatures with. Simply kicks a$$.

All of the following is IMHO. Was not a big fan of 4E. I applaud WotC's efforts to appease the fan-base of the various factions of the "Edition Wars". Bringing back those who have left the game and being able to have fans of different editions playing at the same table are both admirable goals. And there are some very good ideas Mike and Monte outline in what I've read online so far. A way to deal with higher level characters is long overdue and would be great. If handled with care, it could be one of the best changes, so long as you don't ham-string them entirely.

I have to say, a percentage of their proposed changes I've read about have normally been handled by DMs and players by House Rules. All 4.5 editions of the game have had things that worked and things that didn't; House Rules were the answers to some or many of those problems. If various organized options for House Rules can be presented in some sort of comprehensive format by section, that would be fantastic.

Something to note Re: appeasing the fan base: many have collections of books/modules/complete rogue, etc on their shelves. The one thing I have not seen thus far (much to my disappointment) is any mention of compatibility of modules/sourcebooks, 'core-rules' or characters from earlier editions. I suppose from a business standpoint it makes sense; why make it compatible with old stuff if you want customers to buy the new? But I digress: If you have a beloved character from the days of yore, will you be able to convert him/her to this new iteration of the game? IMHO it would behoove Hasbro/WotC to have some mechanics built into this new edition which would make it possible.

Seriously, many of us have collections we'd love to have of use (not just with an old version of the game). What about someone (such as my great friend Jimmy D.) who has nearly the entire collection of 3.5 expansion books.... all those books should not just be dust collectors & souvenirs. This new iteration of D&D should be able to incorporate some of or at least partially utilize past materials for more than just "for storyline". Jimmy still DMs a 3.5 Realms game I play in twice a month. If this can be done along with having character options for fans of whichever edition, WotC/Hasbro will bring players back to the game. And they will bring their friends. AND many of them will buy 5E products, myself among them. I only bought the 4th Ed PHB... then passed it on. IF they appease the factions of the Edition Wars sufficiently, the hatchet could be buried, LOL.

NJCommanderX · Mar 1, 2012

Will they listen to their loyal FANS?

I am encouraged that WoTC is approaching this new edition with an open ear toward the FANS! Something they haven't done in a while.

They really need to keep the Fans in Fantasy!

talok55 · Mar 1, 2012

Kzach said:
Naysayer here.

I do not believe in democracy. I can't go into the reasons why without earning a ban, but suffice it to say that I don't have any, and I mean zero, faith in humanity to make intelligent decisions. People need to be ruled.

The division within the D&D community isn't because of different editions, it's because people are inherently divisive. Design by committee doesn't work anywhere else so it's not going to work here either. WotC should ignore the community entirely, especially the online community, and just make games.

Asking people what they want is stupid because people don't know what they want. WotC should become more like Apple and less like a socialist republic.

WotC tried that with 4E and it didn't work out so well for them. You need to know what your customers like and don't like about an RPG game if you expect to be successful at selling RPG games to them. Letting the designers (or suits,etc.) make the game with little to no customer input or market research and trying to get players to like it doesn't work. Gamers like what they like and don't like what they don't like and trying to get them to like something not to their tastes is a waste of time and money. 4E was a game that had little in the way of customer input (read Mike Mearls's statements about ignoring playtester feedback) and it was received so poorly that another game replaced D&D as the top RPG. If they ignore their fans again, they do it at their own peril.

FreeXenon · Mar 1, 2012

Actually, for me, 4E is the best version of the game. They greatly distilled the D&D RPG into into an awesome, streamlined and balanced game. I do not think it is perfect by any means, but it is none-the-less awesome. I think 4E is a great success and hails a massive improvement and advancement in what D&D means. 4E in no way was a failure.

Those that stayed with 3E liked the way 3E played better or could not handle the huge change that 4E brought. I have been, unabashedly, an edition fanboy. Every single edition has been awesome in their time.

In some ways I greatly agree with Kzach. WotC definitely needs to listen to us in order to get a feel for how to accomplish their goal, but I do believe that they need to take that all with a grain of salt and use their professional skills to make it happen. 4E rocks and its success shows me that they know what they are doing when it comes to D&D

jmho

Aehrlon · Mar 1, 2012

IF 4E was so great, Hasbro would not be abandoning it like they are. Character abilities are mainly only usable in combat which took too long and Healing Surges, while certainly handy, seemed to give too much to players while taking away from Clerics. I'm happy to see them getting rid 4E. I think Hasbro has seen the success of Pathfinder (OGL made after they moved on after leaving 3.5 D&D) and are jealous. D&D belongs to them in their opinion. This is their attempt to reclaim it... and so they're appealing to fans. Sadly, might be too little, too late.

FreeXenon · Mar 1, 2012

They are getting rid of 4e just like 1E/2E/3E were "gotten rid of". A new edition essentially requires moving on. It is kind of part of the process. I like that they are using an pseudo crowd-source methodology to help create the next version of the game. I think that is awesome and has great potential. There are so may wonderfully talented people just here on EN World alone whose ideas and thoughts the designers can take into account and use.

5E will most likely be 4E evolved and more streamlined with modules to allow a higher level of abstraction (from a more rules heavy game like 4E currently is) to cater to differing play styles from more rules lite and narrative styles to a more gritty and low magic game. It will take into account the interesting or nostalgic parts of previous editions that players like and create modules that will allow them into the balanced and streamlined 4e evolved rules set. It will be less a reversion back to the 3E.... in my opinion, and more an evolution with modularization to explicitly allow for various play styles.

Reverting back to any form of a 3E (or previous) rules set(s) would be significant loss for D&D. 3E was great in its day and I played well into the Epic tier there, but there are too many advancements that have been made that should not be lost.

WotC Seeks Unity with a New Edition

Darrin Kelley

First Post

Walking Dad

First Post

Anselyn

Explorer

Walking Dad

First Post

Aehrlon

First Post

NJCommanderX

First Post

talok55

First Post

FreeXenon

American Male (he/him); INTP ADHD Introverted Geek

Aehrlon

First Post

FreeXenon

American Male (he/him); INTP ADHD Introverted Geek

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