4th ed -- yeah, but are you actually ready to leave behind the 3rd?

[Agamon]

For me, "core only" is the material from the first three D&D rulebooks (PHB, DMG, and MM1).

The SRD also provide expanded material including those from Expanded Psionics Handbook, Deities & Demigods, and Epic-Level Handbook

Even the MSRD went beyond "core," providing material extracted from Urban Arcana, Menace Manual, and d20 Future.

Okay, but how does that make the SRD unusable to those that play exclusively core? The psionics, gods, epic and Unerathed Arcana (and Modern) rules are listed as seperate sections in the SRD and very ignorable (I don't use any of those books, but do use the SRD during play, and haven't once stumbled upon any rules I don't use). If you play core only, the SRD is a great resource.

Once you add the Complete books, the Environment books, the theme books, the non-MM monster books and the Compendiums, the SRD becomes less complete with respect to fundimental game aspects (classes, feats, spells, etc) and the SRD, while still useful, isn't a complete resource.

If there is an SRD for 4E (a big if, I'd assume), it'd be core only at first, just as it was for 3E. I'd like to see it, not only to see the 3rd party market flourish, but because it's handy as a gaming tool.

 

[Vague Jayhawk]

I like 3.5 and I do not feel the need to speculate on what 4ed is going to be like.

However, I am ready to move on to the next edition as soon as it does arrive. I am sure that I will like it too.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I am SO ready to see 3.5 disappear. In fact, I wish someone would magically polymorph every 3.x book into a first edition book. That way I'd find people interested in a 1e game.

 

[Ranger REG]

Okay, but how does that make the SRD unusable to those that play exclusively core? The psionics, gods, epic and Unerathed Arcana (and Modern) rules are listed as seperate sections in the SRD and very ignorable (I don't use any of those books, but do use the SRD during play, and haven't once stumbled upon any rules I don't use). If you play core only, the SRD is a great resource.

It's not unusable. But it would be worthless if companies who relies on the d20 System logo and on D&D label if their products cannot support 4e.

Luckily, savvy companies have spun off from the SRD and make their own standalone game products by dropping the d20 label. Green Ronin's Mutants & Masterminds is one successful example.

If there is an SRD for 4E (a big if, I'd assume), it'd be core only at first, just as it was for 3E. I'd like to see it, not only to see the 3rd party market flourish, but because it's handy as a gaming tool.

As you say, it's a big if. Inside WotC, they're fighting whether to continue supporting the OGL/SRD movement beyond the third edition. Lawyers and accountants don't like it. Game designers do. D&D label fans don't really care because third-party products are irrelevant (if they don't carry the D&D logo, they're not officially D&D products). d20 gamers care despite our small number.

 

[Ranger REG]

I am SO ready to see 3.5 disappear. In fact, I wish someone would magically polymorph every 3.x book into a first edition book. That way I'd find people interested in a 1e game.

That's like saying America should revert to colonial states loyal to the British crown and erase all thoughts of democracy.

Sorry, dude, but 3e already changed my thinking for D&D.

 

[Driddle]

You're all wrong, of course.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

That's like saying America should revert to colonial states loyal to the British crown and erase all thoughts of democracy.

Sorry, dude, but 3e already changed my thinking for D&D.

Long live the Queen!

 

[Thotas]

If a fourth edition comes out, I'd probably pick up the Player's Handbook out of pure curiosity. From there, I would probably either 1) decide 3.5 is now completed and use it with the knowledge that there won't be any new material for me to have to figure out if/how to incorporate it into my campaign anymore or 2) give True 20 a try.

 

[Harmon]

Couple reasons why I will not be updating to 4e-

- Expense- I can't justify nor can I afford to switch.

- Updating to 4e is just corperate money grabbing

- Our group is pretty happy with the present house rules and things that better a 3e to 3.5e game.

- Not so sure that I will be gaming in a year

- I have a new baby in the house, I doubt that my present books will survive her much less some new ones

- Oh, and I am sick of hearing how great 4e is going to be in all these threads.

 

[Agamon]

It's not unusable. But it would be worthless if companies who relies on the d20 System logo and on D&D label if their products cannot support 4e.

Luckily, savvy companies have spun off from the SRD and make their own standalone game products by dropping the d20 label. Green Ronin's Mutants & Masterminds is one successful example.

This is true. I was referring to the fact that the SRD is useful to individual gamers as a resource. I use a laptop as my DM screen and finding rules with a click or two of a mouse is much easier than finding them in the book while gaming.

Of course, that's the not the main reason for the SRD, and hopfully WotC, in their oh so infinite wisdom, decides to include the 4e rules in the SRD. A lot of great games and accessories have come as result of it and I think it made the brand more successful as a whole.