A
amerigoV
Guest
This assumes they want customers like you back.
Perhaps a flippant comment, but there is a kernel of truth in my opinion. 3rd edition was about bring us old timers back into the fold. They fixed tons of broken stuff from older editions and made the bucks repacking everything from 1st and 2nd edition ("Return to" and "Expedition to", Fiend Folio, etc). I am not complaining - I happily gobbled this stuff up as I left the Fold fairly early in 2e.
4e is not about us old timers, its about the kids and getting new generations into the brand. If you are a Star Wars fan of old - 4e is Episode I from Star Wars. Jar Jar was not meant for you, it was meant for a new generation of fans. An just like the Star Wars fans went back to see Episode II and cringe at the half-assed attempt at a love story (which really cut into the action scenes), you will go back to give 5e a try when it comes out. Again, you may not stick to it, but you will buy the core and come into the Holographic Bulletin Boards and complain, but they will have the initial surge of money to carry them through to 6e.
And if Lucas comes out with Episode 7, you will go and watch it and you will buy 6e D&D.
So for me, what keeps me away is that there is really nothing innovative for 4e. Yes, things are different. But nothing that gets the blood flowing. I mentioned in another thread that moving to 4e from 3.5 is like upgrading from Office 2003 to 2007 - some interesting new features but they moved all my buttons around. Ok, but I am not running out to Best Buy to purchase an upgrade. (Office 2010 is here no? Not sure, and I will not really care until it shows up on some future computer that I will own).
The OP mentioned Savage Worlds. That is my go-to these days. Why? Many reasons, but one is that when I buy a SW book it is bursting with new ideas (Deadlands, Weird War II, Realms of Cthulu, Day after Ragnorak....). When I buy a 4e book, it generally is "yet another Fighter" or "the new and improved Beholder". I will admit that I will get Darksun as I never got it on the original go around (po' college boy back then). So that is "new to me", but not "new to everyone."
So, just like the Star Wars Lemming that I am, I will probably buy 5e and hope that it is not another Episode I. And if Eps I is on the tube when I am flipping through the channels, I'll watch it just like I'll play 4e if that is what a group is playing.