D&D 3E/3.5 3E sucks, but keep playing it for next few months

[king_ghidorah]

I see it more as, "we heard all the stuff you fans complain about and we have noticed similar things and complained, too... and we think we've come up with a cooler game. You'll like it. Keep playing the game you play now, but when we release the new edition we think you'll like it as much as we do."

Now the press before the release of 3e, that sounded like "2e sucks, and we know it, but keep playing it until we release the good edition."

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Swiss? Czech? The guy with the European accent so bad, I can't figure it out.

Oh, okay, I thought I was missing something. I took it to be a really bad French accent, but I'm bad with that kind of thing, so who knows?

 

[Sunderstone]

I see it as.....
"We are bringing in 4th edition in 8 months but for now keep playing 3rd edition as we still have 3.5 product on the radar that we need to move until then and we are sorry you spent all that money on so many books that WE'VE decided werent fun for you anymore".

as well as not alienating the 3rd party publishers who will also lose sales till then because 4th edition will make their upcoming releases obsolete as well...

"We are bringing in 4th edition in 8 months but for now keep playing 3rd edition as we really dont want to deal with complaints from companies that had 3.5 material ready to be released as well in the next 8 months, regardless if this loss of potential revenue may permanently damage their well being as a company".

followed by....

"Thank You, we are so excited at the prospect of owning everything again, this will be the greatest D&D experience ever".

 

[Jhaelen]

Oh, okay, I thought I was missing something. I took it to be a really bad French accent, but I'm bad with that kind of thing, so who knows?

Well, I am German and the accent didn't sound even remotely like German. My guess was a really bad imitation of a French accent, too (reminded me of the original voice of the 'Frenchman' in the Matrix 2 (or was it 3?) movie *shudder*).

 

[Faraer]

I read an interesting article a few years ago about how in America, Orwellian doublespeak had not infected politics so much as the corporate world. "The world's best! ... Now even better!" Such and such has always been the best and will always be improving, etc. It's very odd, but it's the kind of nonrational stereotyping that drives mainstream advertising.

It permeates both; for instance, while 'freedom' is a propaganda term in American politics and 'modernization' in British, D&D is currently big on abusing 'evolve' -- see the Pathfinder ad in Dragon #358.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

I thought is was Frech as well. Just not the Cajun accent I'm used to hearing here in Louisiana.

 

[Cevalic]

The one thing I dont understand is about 3e being complicated. Aside from a few AoO questions at the beginning, my group hasnt had any problem figuring things out. Is it really that complicated or is this just an excuse for the need of 4th? That asked, I can see where AoO can mess people up, especially if they are just starting and didnt switch over from 2e. But I dont think its as complicated as some people make out. Oh well, no system is going to work for everyone.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see the system, or at least a more detailed preview of combat.

 

[Hammerhead]

You haven't seen the intro video with the German dude, then. Yeah, it's tongue-in-cheek, but the implication is there.

I saw the youtube videos, but I don't remember any German dude.

And I don't think WotC has any kind of responsibility towards third party publishers. To their employees, stockholders, and customers? Yes, of course. Why should they particularly care about any damage they do towards smaller competitors (yes, I know that more publishers helps grow the hobby, but they still compete). It's not like Edison (different scale, I know) sent apology cards towards candlemakers.

 

[Sunderstone]

And I don't think WotC has any kind of responsibility towards third party publishers. To their employees, stockholders, and customers? Yes, of course. Why should they particularly care about any damage they do towards smaller competitors.

I know this, I think everyone knows this.

That aside, it pretty much limits customers to WotC products only for 4E. Some WotC products are less than stellar and this will likely shrink their sales some. With 3rd party material out there referencing the WotC books, it would lead me to believe that it would help their sales somewhat and make it less of a niche.
Add that some 3rd party publishers have a great rep for putting out good products and have a good following. If you gradually want to eliminate that part of the market, I would think you would have to create equally good products, not just with one gem every few products to keep folks interested in your brand.

The above are just my opinions on this, I havent done any market research. Im basing it on what I would buy.
Example.... NG makes great adventures, if they eliminated Necromancer and put out boring modules, I wouldnt buy any modules at all and start creating my own again.

 

[Greylock]

I thought is was Frech as well. Just not the Cajun accent I'm used to hearing here in Louisiana.

Huh. My first reaction was that he was a French Canadian. Seeings how the Canadians are the root of all evil in this world.