3e and the Test of Time

[Belen]

Gygax and Arneson looked at their bland wargame and wanted something more and they succeeded. Now, it seems that "something" is being taken away in favor of the wargame. Gamism sells books, but I do not believe that it will turn the newer players into lifelong gamers, which is why I think the auidence is graying for DnD. Very few people understand the kernal that makes DnD great.

The gamist approach really needs to be coupled with character.

Rules that make sense are important. Rules with character, style and flavor are the tools that make a lifelong gamer.

I do not believe that 3e will stand the test of time. In the end, this edition has followed the crunch and catered to the gamist. How many of these books will you keep as references for futures games? How many of them spark the imagination and would be something that you wanted to keep a lifetime?

I still use my Legends and Lore, my Bard's Handbook, and 1e DMG. Once the rules change, my 3e books will be obsolete. There is nothing there that would cause me to keep referencing them. I will just "upgrade" to the next edition.

Yet, I will still use my Bard's Handbook as a source of inspiration when I want to play a bard. In the end, 3e is a great game and I enjoy playing the "3e game" more than other editions, but the elements that make it transcend from game to lifestyle are missing.

I could be wrong, but we'll see.

 

[Mystery Man]

Is it the holiday season or the coming new year that has everyone in such a DOOM!! and GLOOM!! funk?

 

[Psion]

Is it the holiday season or the coming new year that has everyone in such a DOOM!! and GLOOM!! funk?

That was the assessment when I asked the same question on the staff forum last week.

 

[diaglo]

i'm not in a funk.

i just finished an OD&D session and have another one planned soon. visit the gamers seeking gamers forum.

as for the topic. people will play anything if they like it. and will continue to do so. take it from me.

 

[Berandor]

You know, in a way I agree this time.

I still use "Lands of Intrigue" and similar boxed sets, the "Faiths&Avatars" trilogy, and several other books. I even wish I still had my "Complete Guide to Paladins". Simply for the mechanics-removed information therein. Will that happen with Sword & Fist?

I don't know.

 

[Scribble]

Bring out cher dead(rpgs)! Bring out cher dead(rpgs)! DING DING...

 

[EricNoah]

To make sure nostalgia isn't clouding anyone's mind, you'd have to make sure to check with those who started with 3e and never saw earlier editions -- and let them peruse older materials. Do *they* think the older stuff is better/more inspiring/likely to stand the test of time?

 

[diaglo]

To make sure nostalgia isn't clouding anyone's mind, you'd have to make sure to check with those who started with 3e and never saw earlier editions -- and let them peruse older materials. Do *they* think the older stuff is better/more inspiring/likely to stand the test of time?

no, they don't. and that is why i remind them.

 

[Belen]

To make sure nostalgia isn't clouding anyone's mind, you'd have to make sure to check with those who started with 3e and never saw earlier editions -- and let them peruse older materials. Do *they* think the older stuff is better/more inspiring/likely to stand the test of time?

Well, most of them may not even have those books, so I am not sure they could tell us.

IME, when I switched to 3.5, I packed all my WOTC 3.0 books away and have not used them since.

I still use a number of my Malhavoc books. I also think that things like Midnight or Blue Rose will be good, but as far as DnD, I still get use out of my 1e and 2e books. Heck, I bought a number of them for flavor alone. I cannot say that with 3e.

In fact, most 3e stuff I buy for collector's reasons. In 99% of the cases, 3e books tend to be rulebooks. Once they rules are gone, they are useless. They really have no parts that will keep me referencing them into the future.

 

[Henry]

The ones deciding the "test of time" will be the people you ask ten years from now. REMEMBER - it's already lasted for five years! Gary was planning AD&D only THREE years after the first D&D came out, and the PHB came out four years after D(&D)-Day. You can bet some people were asking similar questions even then.