4e/WotC: Pro- or Anti- why do you care?

[Azgulor]

The Edition Wars are never over. People are still fighting for OD&D and 1e so what makes you think that people won't be passionate about 4e and 3e? I care becasue I like the game enough to spend way too much money on them, travel hundreds of miles to meet people and play at cenventions and game days, and post to a message board about them. THe day I stop catring is the day I'm not playing anymore.

Uh, ok.

I care about Pathfinder, Fantasycraft, & Trailblazer. Don't care about 4e. If someone's happy with 4e it doesn't really impact me. I'm not suggesting people abandon their passion for their hobby, I just don't know why people are trying to "convince" the "other side" in 2010.

 

[Azgulor]

I agree! And I keep waiting for an anouncement on the News page declaring who won!

Well, my assessment is that while the D&D customer base fractured to some degree, everybody won. 4e fans are still WotC/4e fans. Those that aren't have multiple alternatives receiving active support, which is a far cry of "stick with what you have or move on to 4e".

For me, PFRPG & Golarion have exceeded my wildest expectations. I used to think my RPG budget/spend would drastically shrink. Instead, I find it growing each month. From my view of RPG-land, I place it squarely in the "win" column -- without having to take anything away from 4e fans.

 

[Philosopher]

Azgulor - I just wanted to say that I think you asked a good question. I didn't read you as attacking those threads, but as expressing genuine curiosity about them. I'm interested in knowing why people choose which edition(s) to play, and I sometimes like to express my own reasons, but, like you, I'm not sure what to make of people that I don't play with who take my preferences personally. Such people are not a majority, but they exist.

 

[SteveC]

Why am I thinking we need Ron Perlman here? Something like...

The Edition War.
The Edition War never changes.

But seriously: I think people care because D&D has never been just about companies or corporations, it's been a hobby that we can all identify with. Something that is a personal statement or almost a lifestyle choice that defines someone.

When 2E came out (back in the day ) I wasn't happy, and a lot of my friends weren't either and had an attack of nerd rage (although we didn't call it that back then). Me? I started playing Fantasy Hero and other games. It made me keep playing rpgs when I would probably have abandoned them otherwise.

In general, I think a person would be a lot better off if when a game stopped being something they enjoy, they stopped playing it and move on. I know a lot of people (myself included on a bad day) who would be much happier that way.

--Steve

 

[Stormonu]

For me, it's a case of I've sunk close to 30 years into this game; I wanted to be writer/designer for TSR/WotC and be on the inside track to game design. Somewhere along the way, the game took a turn and left me on a side road.

Sure, I can (and do) keep playing the game through PF, Trailblazer, C&C or something of my own design, but I miss D&D. I sort of hope if I keep voicing my desires loud enough, the game might swing back towards picking me up - it will become something again that fills the void that was formed when I felt myself drifting away from the game I loved.

If it were a car, I'd probably state it thus..."I've loved and followed Corvettes for 30 years now. I finally got the money to actually buy one and - have you seen the new model? It looks nothing like the '74 stingray I had my eye on. The new thing looks like a vick's lozenge. Why don't I just get a '74? Well, I'd like to have a Sirrus system in it instead of AM/FM, and the fuel efficiency's a lot better. Besides, the '74's got a lot years on her - I'd like her fresh from the factory, y'know?"

 

[WheresMyD20]

If it were a car, I'd probably state it thus..."I've loved and followed Corvettes for 30 years now. I finally got the money to actually buy one and - have you seen the new model? It looks nothing like the '74 stingray I had my eye on. The new thing looks like a vick's lozenge. Why don't I just get a '74? Well, I'd like to have a Sirrus system in it instead of AM/FM, and the fuel efficiency's a lot better. Besides, the '74's got a lot years on her - I'd like her fresh from the factory, y'know?"

I know what you mean. All I really want is a "tuned up" version of the game, not a complete overhaul.

I like little mechanical clean-ups like ascending armor class and 3 saving throw categories.

I don't like big, intrusive changes like skills, feats, powers, and (worst of all, IMO) making grid-and-minis virtually required to play the game.

 

[Mr. Wilson]

I care because when I perfect and release the virus that wipes out the 3.X heretics from the face of the planet I don't want to accidently kill any 4E players.

Duh.

 

[jonesy]

It's nostalgia. You find something that fits you. Something that makes you feel like a cat sleeping on a ray of sunshine. And you love it. It's the best thing you ever had. The Mustang you had. The Playstation you had. The OD&D you had. And then those that made it go and change the damn thing. Or some other people make a 'better' thing that does the same thing 'better'. And you're all like "Forget about that! I'm not letting go! I'm staying with the thing I loved no matter what, and anyone who disagrees with me is a mean meanie!" And the problem with this is, it's not entirely illogical. It's a position you can defend regardless of situation, because nostalgia says so. The new thing doesn't make you feel what the old thing did.

Edition comparisons are entirely valid. They just tend to escalate into wars because people have feelings about things. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, no matter what those damn Star Wars Prequels say.

 

[Plane Sailing]

So if most ENWorld regulars have picked a RPG by this point, why the desire/need to try and recruit those who didn't pick 4e back into the fold?

I think your perplexity comes from misunderstanding the point of the threads you mentioned - they are not attempts to recruit people to one RPG (or another), nor are they edition warz; they are discussions about the business practices of WotC and novel rules concepts which people find appealing.

Regards,

 

[Anselyn]

I'm curious as to the reason why you created this thread in the first place?

Because if we come to this board we want something to read and to which possibly reply but the threads recently tend to be Poll[black/white/grey/who cares] or "My brain is leaking: here's what came out".
There doesn't seem to be much meat in the sandwich or direction or march recently. To be honest, clicking the box in Chrome for another browse of ENWorld is becoming a habit I wish I could kick.

Oh look: I've just leaked my brain into a post ...