D&D 5E [Merged] D&D Next/5E Release Schedule Threads

[Hutchimus Prime]

Somebody new wants to get into the game. You tell them to buy the D&D Player's handbook. They ask which one--there's a bunch of different ones for sale online. You tell them "The one that doesn't say 3rd edition or 4th edition etc. It was released in 2014." Now double the confusion if it's a parent buying for a child.

Now if it was just called 5th edition, you could just say 5th edition.

Or they would buy the most recent one...or you could say "buy the most recently released one."

No need to make it harder than it has to be.

 

[delericho]

Or they would buy the most recent one...or you could say "buy the most recently released one."

No need to make it harder than it has to be.

Or show them your copy and say "this one".

 

[Hutchimus Prime]

Or show them your copy and say "this one".

Bingo!

 

[sidonunspa]

Or show them your copy and say "this one".

use your phone and show them a pic of the cover?

 

[Travellin_Jack]

use your phone and show them a pic of the cover?

Yeah this is 2014. Come on people, have a little faith.

 

[skotothalamos]

Somebody new wants to get into the game. You tell them to buy the D&D Player's handbook. They ask which one--there's a bunch of different ones for sale online. You tell them "The one that doesn't say 3rd edition or 4th edition etc. It was released in 2014." Now double the confusion if it's a parent buying for a child.

Now if it was just called 5th edition, you could just say 5th edition.

I'm sitting here looking at my 1st Edition, 3rd Edition, and 4th Edition Player's Handbooks, and none of them say anything about what edition they are on the front cover.

 

[bachhus]

But until that point you're going to have to call it "The D&D that was released in 2014" as opposed to 4th edition or 3rd edition.

But that's assuming that a new player is aware that a new version has released and that its different than previous versions, which I think is not very likely. Video game sequels don't change the rules of how the game works as much as they add more things on to what already exists. Why would a new tabletop player assume differently?

 

[TwoSix]

But that's assuming that a new player is aware that a new version has released and that its different than previous versions, which I think is not very likely. Video game sequels don't change the rules of how the game works as much as they add more things on to what already exists. Why would a new tabletop player assume differently?

Video gamers would be more aware of that than most, actually. No video gamer would expect to buy Mario Kart 7 and have it work with Mario Kart 8. Or that the newest version of Halo would be able to do multiplayer with the previous version.

New versions of D&D are pretty much analogous to new versions of Halo.

 

[Blackbrrd]

But that's assuming that a new player is aware that a new version has released and that its different than previous versions, which I think is not very likely. Video game sequels don't change the rules of how the game works as much as they add more things on to what already exists. Why would a new tabletop player assume differently?

Video game sequels often change the rules. Look at Starcraft and Starcraft 2, similar games, but the mechanics has changed about as much as changed between D&D 4e and 5e. What you are calling sequels is expansions, which as you said don't change how the game work (to a large degree anyway).

 

[DEFCON 1]

But that's assuming that a new player is aware that a new version has released and that its different than previous versions, which I think is not very likely. Video game sequels don't change the rules of how the game works as much as they add more things on to what already exists. Why would a new tabletop player assume differently?

Because they are standing in front of someone asking them what they need to get into D&D. And that person tells them which book to order.

I really wish Adam and Jamie could bust the myth of the random person who has heard about this game called 'D&D' without having ever seen or spoken to a single person who actually knows about the game... and who goes onto Amazon to buy this book sight unseen and having not ever looked up any information about said game first.

You'd think with the number of people here who keep complaining about WotC not catering to these mythic players that there are thousands upon thousands of them wandering aimlessly through Amazon's various webpages completely befuddled on what they need to do. But truth be told... this is 2014. If you really go online to buy a random book because you heard a couple words flutter in the wind, and haven't done ANY research on the book before you buy it... like for instance reading the information on the Amazon webpage of the product you are picking up... maybe you really aren't ready to play the game in the first place. Or even if you are... at the very least you then get to learn the important skill of "How do you return an item to Amazon that you ordered incorrectly?" Cause it's not like that's a bad skill to have either.

And of course there's the last important point...

If a player goes online and buys a 3rd edition or 4th edition Player's Handbook, and then gets his or her friends together to play... WHY IS THAT A BAD THING? They're playing the game and enjoying the game. Who CARES if it's not a current edition? These boards are full of people aren't playing or aren't going to play the current edition. Playing an older edition is fine! At least they're playing!

Complaining that Wizards didn't put '5th Edition' on the book cover is just looking for reasons to complain about Wizards. And that's kind of ridiculous.