So Legends and Lore was just Mearls ruminating?

[billd91]

Blowing smoke? No.

What I think they are doing is engaging the customers in discussion about what they want the future of D&D to be - and that means 5th and further editions. Maybe the columns will generate useful discussion, maybe not. Maybe the ideas will be incorporated into the next edition, maybe not.

What I don't think is that any of this discussion will bear fruit in the short term of 2011-2012. That doesn't mean they aren't working on ideas that will eventually become 5th edition. I think they were working on that as soon as 4th edition hit the stores. That there will be one, or that they believe there will be one, is not in question. The only real questions are: what form will it take and when will it be announced.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

Repeating myself from an earlier topic, Mearls ruminating on this stuff proves nothing. It is exactly what he would be doing in his position, no matter what the WotC plans. The most interesting thing about it is that he chose to do it "out loud." Of course, that could fit with several possible reasons, too.

 

[pneumatik]

The fact the Mike's talking about different ways to construct a/the next version of DnD may mean it's actually less likely to come out soon. I doubt he's supposed to talk a lot about books in active development, but stuff way out on the horizon that they haven't committed to is probably okay. I agree with other posters who think he is talking about 5E, but it's at least a couple years off if he's talking about it now. Or the feedback from fans could lead to WotC deciding to develop a better way to integrate older editions into current play and not really change 4E.

Personally I love the posts. It shows some real thought about how DnD could reach a larger audience while still being "DnD".

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The fact the Mike's talking about different ways to construct a/the next version of DnD may mean it's actually less likely to come out soon. I doubt he's supposed to talk a lot about books in active development, but stuff way out on the horizon that they haven't committed to is probably okay. I agree with other posters who think he is talking about 5E, but it's at least a couple years off if he's talking about it now. Or the feedback from fans could lead to WotC deciding to develop a better way to integrate older editions into current play and not really change 4E.

Of course, since everything he's saying could theoretically be built using OGL, we might see a few people take a crack at it before then.

 

[Mark CMG]

Of course, since everything he's saying could theoretically be built using OGL, we might see a few people take a crack at it before then.

Are you just blowing smoke?

 

[Stormonu]

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.

Agreed, they weren't being put out to the public for his own benefit. He's fishing to see what might hook the community on which way to take the game in the future. Whether it's another eventual revision of 4E or the coming of 5E, it's not idle rumination.

 

[Gundark]

Agreed, they weren't being put out to the public for his own benefit. He's fishing to see what might hook the community on which way to take the game in the future. Whether it's another eventual revision of 4E or the coming of 5E, it's not idle rumination.

+1. I can't see him just doing these Legends and Lore articles for "Shiggles". Yeah it might be 5e...he could be also be talking about...*cough*4.5*cough*. Yeah common sense would say that it's too soon, unless 4e really has bombed, which I don't personally think is true....but you never know.

I have to say that I really liked the dials ideas, there was a part of me that wanted that to become something tangible soon.

But again...I highly doubt he was talking just for the sake of talking. There was a purpose for it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Are you just blowing smoke?

I am a wizard; it's part of the job description.

 

[ashockney]

Definitely public rumination in what will lead to be 5e or whatever we'll call it.

My guess is we'll drop the numbers, and stick with good 'ol D&D.

Expecting an announcement at GC 2012.

 

[Scribble]

Yes. As he said from the beginning.

Really I think he's trying to start a dialogue that gets everyone talking without telling each other they're doing it wrong.


As for 5e- I don't think we'll see a 5e for a VERY long time if ever. We'll see more products like essentials, that drastically alters the "feel" of the game, without becoming a new edition, and we'll see products like Gamma World, that use parts of the core system but not the whole.