5E on the horizon?

[dm4hire]

The fallacy I see in the logic of 5e being held until everything is done for DDI is that WotC has a horrible history of failed online endeavors and software in general (even though they normally don't work the software side). They have often just completely abandoned projects to later reinvent the wheel to speak with another foray into the same thing they just abandoned. Granted DDI has had quite a run compared to previous tools it would just seem a mistake to think that they would hold up a revenue gain, by waiting, especially if they are being pressured by stockholders and their parent company.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

The fallacy I see in the logic of 5e being held until everything is done for DDI is that WotC has a horrible history of failed online endeavors and software in general (even though they normally don't work the software side). They have often just completely abandoned projects to later reinvent the wheel to speak with another foray into the same thing they just abandoned. Granted DDI has had quite a run compared to previous tools it would just seem a mistake to think that they would hold up a revenue gain, by waiting, especially if they are being pressured by stockholders and their parent company.

I think DDi is much more than previous forays into software.
Previous softeware efforts were after thoughts. Stuff it would be nice to provide to the fans.

DDI is a strategic re-alignment of the whole operation of D&D to digital content delivery and possibly more. I think they have bet the D&D division on it, if not the company.

 

[Summer-Knight925]

when I said "everyone" I was being sarcastic (sarcasm doesn't travel well over the internet, they need to fix that)

I was just trying to say that 5e isn't going to work, at least in my opinion.

It was more of a joke, but I do think Pathfinder is going to keep strong how it is now and there will be a 5e, maybe even a 6e, before pathfinder dwindles

but whatever it is they do, I think 5e will (or should) be better than 4e

 

[DumbPaladin]

It's funny to me how often these 5th Edition threads pop up.

I think it would be an even bigger PR disaster than the 3.5/4E transition to bring another edition out this soon after 4th Edition. I'm not saying it'd surprise me to see the powers that be at WotC make such a stunningly bad choice ... but I don't think it's likely. All it would do is potentially turn off a lot of current 4E players -- and too many 3.5 players are uninterested in returning to D&D to make that gamble worth it.

I DO think there is something unusual going on over there that they likely aren't used to, but more because of the abruptly-cancelled book titles than the layoffs. In this economy, who isn't laying people off? They're just a sign of how bad times are for everyone.

 

[DEFCON 1]

The fallacy I see in the logic of 5e being held until everything is done for DDI is that WotC has a horrible history of failed online endeavors and software in general (even though they normally don't work the software side). They have often just completely abandoned projects to later reinvent the wheel to speak with another foray into the same thing they just abandoned. Granted DDI has had quite a run compared to previous tools it would just seem a mistake to think that they would hold up a revenue gain, by waiting, especially if they are being pressured by stockholders and their parent company.

Well first off... I'm pretty certain the "stockholders" know absolutely nothing about what Wizards is doing, since they are the stockholders in Hasbro and not Wizards of the Coast. And WotC is so minor in the grand portfolio of Hasbro, that I wouldn't be surprised if the Hasbro stockholders didn't even know the company existed.

But to your main point... ardoughter was right, the software was never the focus of the game, the books were. They tried to add software products to the game after the fact to make it easier, and many of them just didn't cut the mustard. But for 5E I think we might finally see the shift where the DDI software is the focus product, and the books are the afterthought. And as a result, obviously they would take much more time and care in making sure DDI was as close to battle-ready as possible before releasing it to the public. So we can't take WotC's previous digital initiatives as any concrete indication of future action.

 

[Deadstop]

Remember, the complete DDI suite (including VTT with pretty 3D minis) was supposed to be out concurrent with the 4e launch, and there was quite a bit of grumbling when that did not come to pass (though people kinda got used to it over time, and the original CB helped soothe bad feelings a lot).

If DDI is indeed the plan for the future (and I think it is), then it does make sense that they'd want to actually have all their ducks in a row this time before launching a new edition.

They do need to do something for the 40th anniversary, though.

Deadstop

 

[Dausuul]

They do need to do something for the 40th anniversary, though.

If that's in 2013, they could announce 5E then and release in 2014. Seems about the right timeline--maybe a little tight.

 

[czak]

Some more anecdotal evidence:

paizo.com - Paizo / Messageboards / Paizo Publishing / General Discussion / Plans for Pathfinder computer game?

Lisa Stevens wrote:
"Scott is totally right here. Pathfinder has surpassed D&D in most of the markets that I check."


Scott Betts wrote: "To be clear, though, you're saying that it's your belief that the Pathfinder brand has a higher sales volume than the D&D brand?"



Lisa Stevens wrote:

"At this time in history, that is what I have been told by people in the hobby distribution trade, the book trade, and other avenues that both games sell their products into. If you talk to the various retailers, it is a mixed bag, with one telling you one thing and another a different story. But when you talk to the folks who sell those retailers the product that they sell, then you get a clearer picture. And I am just talking table-top RPG business. I am not talking about board games or card games or video games or whatnot. Just books and digital copies of those books for use in playing a table-top RPG."

 

[rkwoodard]

Holy Moley

Some more anecdotal evidence:

paizo.com - Paizo / Messageboards / Paizo Publishing / General Discussion / Plans for Pathfinder computer game?

Lisa Stevens wrote:
"Scott is totally right here. Pathfinder has surpassed D&D in most of the markets that I check."


Scott Betts wrote: "To be clear, though, you're saying that it's your belief that the Pathfinder brand has a higher sales volume than the D&D brand?"



Lisa Stevens wrote:

"At this time in history, that is what I have been told by people in the hobby distribution trade, the book trade, and other avenues that both games sell their products into. If you talk to the various retailers, it is a mixed bag, with one telling you one thing and another a different story. But when you talk to the folks who sell those retailers the product that they sell, then you get a clearer picture. And I am just talking table-top RPG business. I am not talking about board games or card games or video games or whatnot. Just books and digital copies of those books for use in playing a table-top RPG."

I have no prediction about 5th Edition.


But I bet that Lisa S. quote will live on in thread wars for years to come.

RK

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I think that a statement like that from Lisa Stevens is much more than an ancedote. However, it seem to make 5e a much more problematical venture.

5e is now in the position of a fantasy heartbreaker with a very strong fight on its hands from pathfinder, and past editions of D&D.