4th edition, what did you know and when

[MoogleEmpMog]

Could somebody please explain to me why 4th edition is necessary, and if you believe it is, are you going to upgrade?

Because, as I said in another thread, the cutting edge in RPG design moved more in the last five years than in the twenty nine years between 1974 and 2003.

Because True20, Mutants and Masterminds and Iron Heroes demonstrated that the d20 system could produce a significantly better game than D&D 3.5.

Because Star Wars Saga Edition demonstrated that WotC could produce a significantly better game than D&D 3.5 while maintaining backwards-compatibility with the existing d20 system.

 

[The_Gneech]

Honestly, I was expecting 2009-2010, but that was predicated on the WotC rep's comment "4e is a long way away and we have lots of 3.5 product coming in 2008" -- which is not quite lying, but not exactly being honest, either.

-The Gneech

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Because Star Wars Saga Edition demonstrated that WotC could produce a significantly better game than D&D 3.5 while maintaining backwards-compatibility with the existing d20 system.

If I can still use my 3.5E sourcebooks with 4E, I will switch. If not, I won't. I've spent far too much loot on this edition over the last couple of years to just dump it for something newer. I'm not optimistic about this possibility.

If, however, the 4E rules are built around the 3.5 SRD with a "plug-in" sort of mentality, there could be potential. By plug-in, I mean, if you want, you can chuck the standard 3.x combat rules and plug in a more streamlined 4.x ruleset instead, while leaving things like classes, races, spells, etc. intact. Or you can scrap the spellcasting system and plug in a system designed to be faster and easier for online play. Or you can replace the class system, leaving combat, spells, etc. intact.

If they go that direction, my 3E books will still be useful, so long as I'm using the systems they refer to. Since most of what I like from those books are class, race, and spell additions, (edit: and published adventures. Those would have to be compatible as well.), that would keep me happy and allow a transition. If, however, I have to chuck my old books if I want to play a new edition, I'll stick with the books.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Honestly, I was expecting 2009-2010, but that was predicated on the WotC rep's comment "4e is a long way away and we have lots of 3.5 product coming in 2008" -- which is not quite lying, but not exactly being honest, either.

-The Gneech

Sounds like lying to me. Deliberate misleading of the listener by omitting key information that would lead to a different opinion than the one desired by the speaker. Just because you can get off on a technicality doesn't mean that you're not lying.

 

[bento]

Could somebody please explain to me why 4th edition is necessary, and if you believe it is, are you going to upgrade?

Thanks.

Part of it is the burden placed on the DM to prep, part is players juggling multiple books to create a character, and part is the feeling in the industry is that people are migrating more towards games like WoW to scratch their RPG itch. There's plenty of threads about this on the board in the past few weeks, such as the Ryan Dancey discussion and the CRPG debate.

I myself found True20 as an easier to run game that cured some of the problems I've had with 3.5. I still play 3.5 because my new group has invested a lot of money and time into the system, but maybe with the announcement for 4th edition I can talk them into trying True20.

 

[HeinorNY]

Because True20, Mutants and Masterminds and Iron Heroes demonstrated that the d20 system could produce a significantly better game than D&D 3.5.

Because Star Wars Saga Edition demonstrated that WotC could produce a significantly better game than D&D 3.5 while maintaining backwards-compatibility with the existing d20 system.

Better how? 'Cause those games you mentioned have nothing to do with D&D...

 

[T. Foster]

I was absolutely convinced 4E was going to be announced at D&DXP 2007, and when it wasn't that threw me and made me think that perhaps they weren't going to release it as soon as I suspected after all and my thoughts then began running to WotC letting D&D's crunch "lie fallow" for a couple years with support focusing on minis, fluff books, online content, and Star Wars Saga -- like they're doing now through 1Q08, but for a longer period. So the news yesterday managed to catch me off-guard even though previously I'd been absolutely sure 4E was just around the corner...

 

[TerraDave]

I was absolutely convinced 4E was going to be announced at D&DXP 2007, ...

Yep. Someone above also mentioned "misleading" statements from wizards.

If they had announced at that time, then they would have been honest, both in keeping their promise on that, and giving people time to adjust (to a May 08 release).

But ya, then anouncing at Gencon 07 for a May 08 release (and a rumored preview in April). Could be taken as "misleading"

 

[helium3]

I've KNOWN since January. As in, I know someone that told me it was coming.

I've had a good sense of what's gonna be in it for a few months now.

 

[helium3]

Better how? 'Cause those games you mentioned have nothing to do with D&D...

Well, actually as it turns out, Star Wards Saga has a lot to do with 4E.