3.X Petition

[Pramas]

The 4skins are a great band.

Chaos, chaos, chaos -- don't give a toss!

 

[megamania]

I'm not sure a petition will solve anything. There is too much uncertainity still.

Many people have spent too much money on 3e and don't want to throw it out for not only an unproven system but one purposely being kept hidden.

4e may be a good system but 3e already has a strong base.

Time will tell.

The hobby will never be the same.

Is this good or bad? That is something for another thread to discuss.

 

[Henry]

If you guys really want 3rd Edition support, you've got to let us know.

...and not with just words.

 

[Glyfair]

Then there are sales of things I already want but don't have that tempt me to go spend, but on previously created products and while that benefitrs me, it still doesn't help the publishers with future projects.

I have been very tempted to pick up Testament even though I own it. I gave it to a friend for her birthday one year and later found a version for myself. Someday I might run a campaign, and at $2 each I can afford to buy a few copies so everyone has their own copy when they play.

The question is am I willing to store them until that time. Since Paizo was out of them, and my local stores haven't been participating (although one will likely order it if I ask), that choice was easy.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I think there will be a small market for 3.5 materials from here for the undetermined future. How many companies think they can afford to serve that market is the big question. I suspect that it's somewhat larger than the skeptics think, but a lot smaller than the 4E haters predict.

Unfortunately, I believe you're right. I'm just wondering how many current 3rd party publishers are checking out other OGL games if they themselves don't want to switch to 4E?

 

[Thurbane]

For those of you interested in keeping 3.X alive, by having publishers continue to print 3.X compatible material, there's a petition up at:

http://www.3point75.org/

Thought I'd pass the scoop along.

Signed.

My initial revulsion at the thought of another edition upgrade had died down. It's inevitable progress.

What I would LOVE to see, however, is some publishers keeping 3.X material flowing, especially in the form of adventures.

 

[rgard]

Yup, it bothered me.

I recommend something much more effective than a petition, though. You want publishers to keep making 3e-compatible products? then vote with your wallet. Go, right now and every month between now and the end of next year, and buy 3.5 pdfs and published books. the only way publishers will keep producing is if people are buying... so show them you're willing to do so.

A voice for reason!

 

[scruffygrognard]

I think that's exactly the point. Do you think that somehow the release of 4E is going to magically make them want to buy products for a "dead" system?

I think there will be a small market for 3.5 materials from here for the undetermined future. How many companies think they can afford to serve that market is the big question. I suspect that it's somewhat larger than the skeptics think, but a lot smaller than the 4E haters predict.

Actually, I've been reading that quite a lot of people are not happy with what they've seen and read regarding 4th edition. That would make for a nice niche market for a company sticking with 3.X.

WotC dominates the RPG industry BUT won't be releasing any 3.X material. Seems to me that a company that produces quality 3.X materials while not having to compete with WotC might do well for itself.

Could be wrong... but it seems to me to be a reasonable assumption. If 4th edition D&D material is the only material being published I know of quite of few people who will no longer be buying D&D publications.

I understand supporting the D&D game and those who publish materials for it. Sadly, the next iteration of D&D just isn't D&D to me and, as such, doesn't deserve my support.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

Actually, I've been reading that quite a lot of people are not happy with what they've seen and read regarding 4th edition.

The problem with this (and this is no stab at you) is that people who are unhappy tend to be more vocal than people who are. Thus, most of the loud or numerous posts you'll see are people who are unhappy with 4e and those post tend to be generated by the same small group of people. From my semi-lurking on the 4e Forums, Wizards site, RPGnet, etc., I've noticed this trend.

People like me, who are feeling positive about 4e, are content to just sit back and wait for 4e and have no real compulsion to post in defense of it. 4e's arrival is gonna happen without any extra effort from me, so why should I bother? If I post in its defense, I'm just gonna have to deal with the same irate posters who have strong negative feelings about 4e and have been slamming it left and right sight-unseen.

I get the feeling that most of the publishers (and this is just from reading the posts/boards/etc of said publishers) that the post of people unhappy are having minimal impact on business processes. Much like Piratecat said, don't bother with words; use your wallet. Put your money where your mouth is. Talk is cheap. ... I'm sure I can come up with others if I put my mind to it, but I think you get my point.

On the other hand, even though I'm not going to be playing any 3.x or older editions, I honestly hope that you and others like you find a publisher who is able to keep the game alive and kickin' for you.

 

[Fifth Element]

Actually, I've been reading that quite a lot of people are not happy with what they've seen and read regarding 4th edition. That would make for a nice niche market for a company sticking with 3.X.

If this niche market were significant, then the sales of 3.X stuff would not be tanking as badly as it has been. Unless you're suggesting that this niche will suddenly start buying more once 4E is actually released, which does not seem likely.

Of course, for any publisher looking to make a profit, they can't only consider the size of the 3.X market. They have to ask: are my resources better invested in developing 4E stuff or 3.X stuff? If the profit potential is higher with 4E, then that's where the bulk of the resources will go.

Don't misunderstand me; I'm sure some publishers will continue to release 3.X stuff, possibly including me. But the vocal dissenters here and elsewhere do not form a large enough market to support much material being released.