D&D 4E 3.75E or 4E?

[Nyeshet]

I think that when the next version comes it will be called 4e, but in truth it will be more of a 3.75e - a significant revision, but not a truly new edition.

For 4e to be a truly new edition - to have truly and majorly changed from its current form - I think it would need to become either a purely miniature game (ie: Chainmail reincarnated) or major alterations of just about every aspect of the game - the magic system replaced with something similar to psionics (spell points) or something akin to EoM,R or EoM,ME, perhaps BAB and AC replaced with skills, defense bonuses, DR armor, etc, the classes completely re-worked, etc.

I just don't think WotC would change the game so severely. If the changes are that major there is a chance former customers would just stay with the old. Similarly, if the game were only revised - even if they did call it a new edition - but was otherwise very similar to the old system (3.5e), then those that play 3.5e might feel like at least trying out the new system, seeing it as merely the revision it is rather than a truly new game.

So, while they may call it 4e, the next "edition" will in truth be merely a revision (3.75e).

That is not to say that I wouldn't mind a truly new edition - with a major overhall of the magic system, amongst other things, but it is more likely that a new edition would be more purely and completely miniature based rather than an overhall of the magic system. That is part of the reason I suspect I will not be buying the next edition. I dislike miniatures. I ignore or alter rules that require them, and if the entire system required them, I would likely dump the system as a whole - either sticking with 3.5e or a third party variant (such as True20), or stepping out of gaming for a time until the miniature fad faded in a decade or so. Patience is a virtue.

 

[Thanee]

So, what to vote when you think it will be 3.75e but called 4e?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Coplen]

I think it'll just be a revision, or at least that's what I'm hoping for.

 

[Nyeshet]

So, what to vote when you think it will be 3.75e but called 4e?

Think 3.75e, Hope 3.75e

Or, at least, that is how I voted.

What it is called is irrellivent to what it actually *is.*

 

[arscott]

I want to see a complete reworking of the magic system. I also want to see a complete reworking of the gear system. I think the desired scope of those changes are enough that I'm voting 'hope for 4e'. But my inner pessimism is forcing me to vote 'think 3.75e'.

 

[Li Shenron]

I definitely think it will be called 4e but it will be very similar (and possibly even compatible) with 3.5.

I hope nothing, I just think I won't make the switch, like I didn't from 3.0.

 

[Thanee]

I think the desired scope of those changes are enough that I'm voting 'hope for 4e'. But my inner pessimism is forcing me to vote 'think 3.75e'.

Yep, that's what I'm voting as well... I doubt the changes will go far enough, and I would probably like it better if they did.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Nyaricus]

My thoughts

WotC has stated before that there will no be a 3.75e, or a 3.5e Revised, or anything of that sort (well, naming-wise). The next edition will be called 4th Edition, though in all likelyness, the revision between the two will lay somewhere closer to the changes 3.5 brought to 3.0 than the 2e to 3e switch (although I do expect to see some BIG changes; I'm just not sure what yet). Stuff like No more favoured classes, the Dodge feat giving +1 AC (hopefully renamed "Defense") and a bit of a spell overhaul (some are still a bit off, as many could attribute) would likely be a sample of what we'll see in 4th edition.

That is what I'm hoping for: a signifigant-enough revision that will stay true to D&D while at the same time keeping game balance and ensuring the system is still elegant. I don't want anythign to be dumbed down, but I want more intuitive Grapple checks, Turn Undead checks and for unarmed strikes and natural attacks to be the same thing. And I don't want a minis game with role playing slapped on, fer Pelor's sake!

FYI: I voted "Think 4E, Hope for 3.75E"

cheers,
--N

 

[airwalkrr]

I think it would be wise to make a slight modification to the rules such as when they did AD&D revised (noting specifically that it was NOT 3rd edition). Not that I liked the revised rules, but changes similar to those lines (fairly minimal) would be my preference. If it incorporated all the errata and simply fixed the few little proud nails that are left in 3.5 (which is on the whole an amazingly sound system), then I think it would spur sales of the three core rulebooks, get a little more interest in the game, and help keep the franchise profitable for another 3-4 years, making another editon unnecessary until then.

Just my hope though. And I doubt they would call it 3.75. That sounds silly. And I doubt that it would be as drastic as the 3e to 3.5 change.

 

[MonsterMash]

I'm pretty sure 4e is coming for commercial reasons at some point, but I'm not sure exactly when. Personally it'll be pretty much zero impact as I use 3.5 for what D&D I do and I'm moving to other games like C&C or WFRP for my roleplaying these days.