[3.5] WotC motivation revealed!

[JLXC]

I don't want to get sucked up into D&D:the Gathering.

I don't want new Core books every 3 years.

I wont support such a thing.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

So... If 3.5 turns out to be as filled with errors as 3E (or any other thing WotC publishes), you'll be glad to see a new edition in two or three years that claims to fix those errors?

The point being that errors are one thing, broken rules are another. If three years from now, when several hundred thousand gamers have begun to break things in 3.5 and major rules/items/spells are uncovered that totally wreck the game balance, 4.0 comes out, and it appears to be an improvement, I will buy it. I won't complain. If it is worth the money to me, I will buy it. If it's not, I won't. I think 3.5 has enough revisions to make it worth my $90.

Would you by any chance like to buy a mint condition first printing 3E PHB autographed by all the design team members in what only looks suspiciously like my handwriting?

It depends. How nice is your handwriting?

 

[WinnipegDragon]

Yes, but I'd have thought that the rules changes drive the miniature "upgrades" (make new troop types and characters, or update old models) so that gamers buy more miniatures.

No, no. GW is FAR more insidious. If you are playing Warhammer 6th Edition, you cannot use your 5th Edition figures in a sanctioned GW event even if they are the correct troop type!

Also if your figure is wielding a sword and shield, you cannot say 'he actually has two swords'. You must properly represent your arms and armour, or you are kicked from the event.

THAT's just plain evil. 3.5 is a slightly earlier than expect revision.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I don't want to get sucked up into D&D:the Gathering.

I don't want new Core books every 3 years.

I wont support such a thing.

While I do agree with you on this...there's nothing yet to support that this will be a constant thing. Which is the problem, and I've said many times and been ignored. You can't judge a pattern on a one time occurance. There is no pattern at the moment. Now...if they DO release new Core books in 3 years, THEN we can get real angry for the so called "D&D: The Gathering".

 

[KenM]

The thing that worries me is what Monte Cook said in his review, NO PLAYTESTING. When 3rd ed. came out, it was playtest extensivily, it seems WOTC is just using the excuse to claify stuff in the rules an exucse to put it out as soon as they did.

 

[Banshee16]

Banshee

You know what, that's just a bad business practice.

It's not good for WotC, and not good for Enworld, or the gaming community in general.

If Wizards keep publishing new Core books with the main motivation of profit, as opposed to fixing problems from previous editions, eventually, people will wise up and stop buying their books. I'm not shelling out my cash just to keep Wizards afloat. If the new books are worthwhile to purchase, I'll purchase them. On the other hand, if I don't think they're necessary, Wizards can go soak their heads if they think I'm going to waste my money on an unnecessary revision.

RPG's are not Magic. Nor are they cars. I'll buy something that's an improvement, not a "revitalization." Quality is what grabs my interest and money, not some zombie-like need to support a company which begins churning out crap, even if their previous products have been good. I want something new, not a rehashing of an old, third edition product. Put out third edition Planescape. Give me a guide on running a low-magic game. Churn out something different, that's never been seen before, something original, creative. Don't make me repurchase the same, essential product every three-four years, because I'm not going to do it unless I felt the original one was clearly inferior and needed revamping. That manner of marketing certainly isn't good for us; it's a waste of our money to support.

Thankfully, they're offering the SRD up for free. But it still stands that their motivation is bull, and shouldn't be encouraged.

I want D&D to make money, but I'm not going to mindlessly throw it away for them. An unnecessary revision isn't going to win me over. If the plan is to put out "3.5" now, then 4th edition a few years down the line, then that's a bad plan, not a good one.

I agree with Trickster here. Spending more money on the books I bought 3 years ago is *not* impressing me. And the manner in which it's been done doens't leave a lot choice. Of the 6 players in my group, *none* of them want to have to buy the books all over again.

It's one thing to rehash everything every 10 years. That's fine. But 3 years after the books were released? I've got more important things to spend money on....

Banshee

 

[JLXC]

While I do agree with you on this...there's nothing yet to support that this will be a constant thing. Which is the problem, and I've said many times and been ignored. You can't judge a pattern on a one time occurance. There is no pattern at the moment. Now...if they DO release new Core books in 3 years, THEN we can get real angry for the so called "D&D: The Gathering".

Um... there is something that supports it. It's 3 years after release and they are doing it now. Could it be more obvious? I'm not gonna buy these books then get mad in 3 years when they do it again! I'm mad right now! I don't want them to repeat the cycle!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Um... there is something that supports it. It's 3 years after release and they are doing it now. Could it be more obvious? I'm not gonna buy these books then get mad in 3 years when they do it again! I'm mad right now! I don't want them to repeat the cycle!

...you just proved my point. This is the FIRST time its happened. A pattern can't be determined on a FIRST OCCURANCE. It had to happen AGAIN. It hasn't. So, we wait with the possibility of it BOTH ways. You don't have to look at the negative.

 

[spacecrime.com]

Actually, given the other business factors in play it's not unreasonable to predict that Wizards is going to release a significant upgrade every three years or so.

Getting emotionally distraught by this? That's a bit unreasonable. But I suppose everyone has to have a hobby, even if it's not playing D&D.

cheers,

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Actually, given the other business factors in play it's not unreasonable to predict that Wizards is going to try to release a significant upgrade every three years or so.

Oh, I agree it isn't unreasonable to predict it. Its just that, you have to keep open that its just as likely they they will NOT do it again in 3 years. The future is just that...future. We aren't there yet. I'm just saying its much better to keep an open mind than to start swearing things off 3 years ahead of time that have as good a possibility not to happen.