So Legends and Lore was just Mearls ruminating?

[Gundark]

There was a lot of speculation that the L&L articles that Mearls was writing was leading up to some kind of announcement (I have to admit that I was wondering this at various points). But apparently someone asked him on Saturday morning what it was all about and it was just him just talking about "potential" directions that D&D could go as he is no longer a designer anymore.

Well that may be so, I think they are thinking about a new edition, whether they are putting resources towards that or not remains to be seen, but I think that they are putting feelers out there. I think they having conversations about what would fly with people, and while yes he was just "discussing" where the game could go. They are for sure thinking about the next edition and probably having those early conversations.

Thoughts?

 

[Pentius]

I think Mearls was just ruminating on the game, and putting out some ideas for feedback. I don't think they're working on 5e, or even giving it serious thought yet. At this point in 4e's life span, it'd probably be suicide.

 

[MichaelSomething]

My responses are "Yes" and "Why are you surprised by it?"

 

[Sammael]

It wasn't just blowing smoke. Mearls was throwing hooks about the potential directions in which D&D might go in the future, and the whole team was listening to the players' response on WotC forums and here.

The fact that nothing was announced at GenCon is immaterial. I expect that we will see some of Mearls' musings see print/online publication in one form or another next year.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think he's pretty clearly telling us what he thinks 5E would look like today. By the time it reaches the streets, it may be something different, but that's where he is today.

And if they're not working on 5E in-house right now, the game will be the worse for it when we finally do see it. The more lead-time and in-house testing it gets -- especially if it's another dramatic change from the current game -- the better.

 

[Gundark]

I think Mearls was just ruminating on the game, and putting out some ideas for feedback. I don't think they're working on 5e, or even giving it serious thought yet. At this point in 4e's life span, it'd probably be suicide.

Oh I think they're definitely talking/thinking about it. Putting active resources into designing it? Most likely not. I don't think very many people expected any sort of announcement about 5e. I suspect WotC will be a lot more transparent about a new edition this time around.

 

[delericho]

he is no longer a designer anymore.

Well, that sucks.

Well that may be so, I think they are thinking about a new edition, whether they are putting resources towards that or not remains to be seen, but I think that they are putting feelers out there... They are for sure thinking about the next edition and probably having those early conversations.

Thoughts?

No, I don't think so. I'm reasonably sure that the 4e designers had a document called something like "5e thoughts" even before 4e was released, but at this stage I no longer think they've gone any significant distance beyond that.

Which means that I was wrong in the various threads were I guessed that this might well be the case. But there it is.

5e, if it comes at all, won't be out until 2013 at the very earliest.

 

[Umbran]

Thoughts?

I think the "blowing smoke" in the thread title doesn't describe this. "Blowing smoke" is willful deception. That some thought it meant something specific, when he never said or actively suggested it, doesn't mean he was trying to deceive you.

He was, in effect, thinking out loud. That's not a crime.

 

[Gundark]

I think the "blowing smoke" in the thread title doesn't describe this. "Blowing smoke" is willful deception. That some thought it meant something specific, when he never said or actively suggested it, doesn't mean he was trying to deceive you.

He was, in effect, thinking out loud. That's not a crime.

True, was not attempting to be negative

 

[BryonD]

You know, to think he is going to speculate about fundamental ideas for game design in May and announce a new edition is August isn't really deep consideration.

He may be thinking about 5E. He may be thinking about rearranging the furniture in 4E. He may be wasting time that could better be spent actually designing something.

I think it is probably the first, very possibly the second, and certainly not the last.

But even if we just completely assume he is thinking 5E, he doesn't even have his brain around all the feedback yet. Nobody does. Could he take this information and crank out 5E by next year? Yeah, I suppose. If he is thinking fundamentals NOW, then 5E, DONE RIGHT, should be 2013. And that is just logistically.

Economically now is WAY too soon and 2012 is also too soon (imo). 2013 might be good. I think it is, but I reserve the right to change my mind in a year.

But to call the conversation blowing smoke just because a new product was not out 100 days later is nothing but amusing.