D&D 4E 4E: What we think we know

[Thurbane]

About the ONLY thing that would get me onboard for 4E is the re-launch of the Greyhawk setting...

Other than than, 3.5 will keep me toasty for many years to come.

 

[moderadorsud20]

This is the original description for the Rules Compendium book:

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Book Description
The definitive reference guide of Dungeons & Dragons(R) core rules.

Tired of hauling all of your D&D rules supplements to the gaming table? Having trouble finding the rule you need? The Rules Compendium supplement takes all of the game's most important rules and presents them in a single comprehensive, easy-to-reference volume for players and Dungeon Masters.

In addition to presenting the rules of the game, the Rules Compendium incorporates official errata as well as behind-the-scenes designer and developer commentary explaining how the rules system has evolved and why certain rules work the way they do.

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So, it seems that it should be only 3.5, as it is a rules reference book... I hope that means 4th edition is fully compatible with 3.5...

 

[Banshee16]

I see how my statement can be misinterpreted. I meant "Money Making Machine" like how WoW or other MMORPG where players get hooked into a game, and have to continue to pay $15/month in order to play. If you stop paying $15/month, you lose all previous investment in the game, which is a strong incentive to keep paying. Whereas D&D will continue to have books and other hardcopy materials that cannot be lost if one were to stop paying the monthly fee.

While WotC will try to turn a profit, they are not going to go out of their way to extort money from their customers through excessive monthly charges. There are other successful RPG companies out there. If WotC were to extort money out of thier customer base, people will just move on to something else.

If I wanted to turn D&D into a money making machine I would do the following:
1) Get rid of the ODL and SRD. Everyone must use my D&D products.
2) Link all physical materials through an online "Book-License Key". Books can no longer be shared, traded, pirated etc. since they are useless if the License key is registered online.
3) The physical copies of books only contain about 1/2 of the useful material. the other half is online. One is useless without the other.
4) The online system provides a lot of content weekly, but you have to unlock content by buying books. e.g. You cannot roll a mage character unless you buy the "Total Mage" book.
5) The online system has a high monthly fee, say e.g. $15/month.

#1 way to lose your customers.

That's pretty predatory, and in no way is it a better option than just continuing to use 3E. I like the idea of having extra content that's online, and I have to have the physical book (and consequently, the key) to access it online. But to have *required* material for the book be online? Not all of us have laptops, and not all of us like having binders full of printouts.

Being required to have a specific book to be able to roll up a class? All that will do is make the portal unnecessary for groups who play face to face. I rarely had a situation where all the players in my group had purchased multiple copies of the one book. Some of the class splatbooks, yes...but otherwise? Often they just shared, passing the books around.

That will help for online play, but that's it.

Banshee

 

[Radazim]

Hasn't anyone noticed that a Rules Compendium for 3.5D&D has been announced for October in spite of the 4th being launched four months later? What is the sense for this?

It's called "closure." They're finalizing the 3.5 ruleset into a single book, which will apparently include errata, in order to create a clear stopping point for 3.5e rules.

 

[moderadorsud20]

Originally posted by Radazim
It's called "closure." They're finalizing the 3.5 ruleset into a single book, which will apparently include errata, in order to create a clear stopping point for 3.5e rules.

I'm afraid you are right...

 

[johnnype]

About the ONLY thing that would get me onboard for 4E is the re-launch of the Greyhawk setting...

Other than than, 3.5 will keep me toasty for many years to come.

The question is if it will keep all the people you play with toasty warm for the next 8 years?

 

[Mistwell]

Hasn't anyone noticed that a Rules Compendium for 3.5D&D has been announced for October in spite of the 4th being launched four months later? What is the sense for this?

Yeah but it will be 6-7 months before the core of 4e is released. I am willing to pay $20 (on Amazon) for a book that will be useful for 6-7 months. Heck that is like $3.00 a month. Sounds fine to me.

 

[johnnype]

I hope that means 4th edition is fully compatible with 3.5...

I would not hold my breath. From the InQUest Magazine website:

And yes, Wizards does recommend you begin new campaigns with Fourth Edition. “It’s not going to be as huge a jump,” as from Second Edition to Third Edition, said Slavicsek, “but there’s enough changing in the core system of how we are doing classes and races and characters that we’re not even gonna attempt it—we’re just telling you it’s better to start over.” Conversion went over like a lead balloon with Third Edition anyway.

 

[Snapdragyn]

Erm... May is 4 months after October now? OMG, 4e is changing the RW calendar!

Since they're not putting anything new out for 3.5, minus well package the best parts up and get a little more cash...

Psst. It's 'might as well', not 'minus well'.

 

[Mistwell]

All this wah wah wah, I am quitting WOTC, they suck, they are overcharging, I will never pay for that content, complain complain, etc. is silly.

You sound just like 2e people when 3e was coming out. And here you are, with rare exception you all came over.

And then when 3.5e was coming out, we heard the same thing. And here you are, with rare exception you came over.

And now 4e is coming out. And we are hearing it again. And yet, 98% of you will come over to the new version (with well more than the missing 2% coming in as new players because of the new edition). And if you don't, you will be left with a very small group of folks here talking about outdated stuff. Sad Diaglo-types complaining about the new fangled toys you kids all like these days and how back in your day we never needed anything online to enjoy the game.

Complain all you want, but you know in the end most of you will buy it, and enjoy it.