Would you be interested in a 3e / 4e hybrid (evolution)?

[Aberzanzorax]

Here's the idea (which was inspired by another thread):


Both the spellplague in the Forgotten Realms and 4e as a system were pretty big jumps (I THINK we can agree on that).


What if WotC were to publish a "bridge"?



I'm talking about two things here, but my vision is that they'd be used together:

1. Thing one: Playing during the Forgotten Realms spellplague. Watching/participating/causing the deaths of major FR characters...roleplaying events...destroying and building canon.

2. Thing two: What about a hybrid of 3e and 4e? I'm thinking something that smells like SAGA edition starwars mixed with Book of Nine Swords and some neat 4e implementations (such as minions, solo BBEGS, etc). Basically, pull the best of both editions.


For thing two, it might even be fun to have a "decay" mechanic simiar to "taint" wherein characters evolved along the way from 3e to 4e, based on decisions and such. Alternately, they could have "stages" in which you played a 3e character, a 3/4 character, and then a 4 character...maybe all in the same boxed set?


So, there it is. Would this be something you'd be interested in?


(as an additional note for discussion, this MIGHT be a way for WotC to release a new edition...a hybrid edition to heal/reunite the fractured community, without calling it 5e. That could be a good or bad thing...but it's a consideration.)

 

[Mark CMG]

...a hybrid edition to heal/reunite the fractured community

Seems like just one more product/line to further split the divided community. I think they should just focus on supporting all current and past editions as best they can or sell off the IP to a smaller entity capable of better doing so.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Honestly, I cannot see how that would sell. It would not be 3.x or 4E, but, as you said, effectively 5E.

Now what could be nice was a way to go back to the 3.5 and simplify monsters to 4E tropes, or say how to do 4E monsters in 3.5 I have done that, and it works pretty well, but some changes to monster numbers are needed. Just changing monsters in 3.5 would make prep SOOOOOOOOO much easier.

Adding in conditions and dropping most of the spell bonuses in 3.5 would also help a lot. Buffing spells and christmas tree magic is a real problem in 3.5. I mean, how manyways can you buff one ability.

Let's see, enhancement, profane, holy, natural, feat, racial, etc etc etc.

I think 3.5 could be a lot better game with some 4E changes. minionsand solos/elites would be great also.

But moving from one to another? I just do not see how that would work.

 

[gamerprinter]

No, not a chance kid.

And keep that 4e off my lawn, or I'll call Animal Control again, damn kids!

YMMV

GP

 

[ProfessorCirno]

To those that overwhelmingly support 3e, it would look like 4e is invading their turf even more then usual and infecting their game.

To those that overwhelmingly support 4e, it would look like all the things they disliked about the previous game were bubbling up again, and that their hobby was ultimately regressing destructively so.

And while I can only speak for myself, I think those that like both, like them both as separate entities.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Sounds like a disaster in the making. Anyone remember the 1E-2E FR transition adventures? *shudder*

 

[Crazy Jerome]

No way. Change something enough, then the best thing to do is make a clean break. Otherwise, you just end up with the worst of both, while diluting the things that are best in either.

However, I do think that a Rules Cyclopedia/4E hybrid would be reasonably popular, if done well. Of course, "done well" would mean that this was a whole new design, otherwise it isn't a clean break, and right back to the worst of both problem. You almost have to start with the spirit of the thing, distilled to its essense, and then put in some hard parameters for the design:

"One hardback book for rules, under 200 pages, containing all character options, a decent monster selection, and everything the GM needs to run the game. Prep is easy. Making characters is easy. But using modern game design, characters are reasonably balanced and stay interesting across all classes and levels. Minis helpful but entirely optional. Character sheet on one page, and not a crowded one. Other than that, make it the best D&D game you can."

Lock Mike Mearls--and a few handpicked others--onto that for about 12-18 months, and you'll get a game that a lot of people will like.

 

[kitsune9]

My vote was zero interest. Pathfinder came and does it for me. At this point, WotC could put out 5e and I'd buy the core books just to see the new edition, but I doubt that I'd "come home". I think the cat is out of the bag in terms of all the availability of the retro-clones and similar games. I think people have found their poison of choice and pretty happy about it though there could always be the door opened to that possibility.

 

[scruffygrognard]

Sorry to poop in your mashed potatoes but I voted "zero interest" as well.

4th edition didn't fixed 3rd edition's flaws and 4th edition has done little to bring D&D to a new generation of gamers.

If a new edition is going to come along, let some clever lads come up with a faster, leaner, less rule-intensive game that makes entry into the hobby far easier than 3rd or 4th edition made it. At the same time give it the richness and depth (flavor-wise) that D&D's long years can afford it.

 

[gamerprinter]

I actually don't understand why anyone would want a simpler game. Everyone thinks kids need simple games to understand it, and quite the opposite is true, my kids think Pathfinder is too simple.

What makes 3.5 work so well is that the rules are complex enough to allow many flavors of play. Making the system simpler is not a solution. 4e is going the wrong direction, IMO, so making a new game even simpler will fix nothing, rather is will make for even a 'lesser game'.

Keep the game as complex or more complex, to build a better game, not the other way around.

If you want something simple, play Tic-Tac-Toe, and if that sounds like unfun, then yes, that's what an overly simple game is... unfun. Don't make my D&D game unfun, please.

GP

PS: yes, there is nothing WotC could possibly do to get me interested in their products ever again, short of bribery - and even that wouldn't work.