5E on the horizon?

[Kaodi]

I suppose there is also a chance that they could release a product line until the title 4.5E, even though that is how many think of Essentials.

 

[caudor]

I suppose there is also a chance that they could release a product line until the title 4.5E, even though that is how many think of Essentials.

Yep, they might. I dislike trying to predict the future (the odds of being right is poor), but I'll just throw my hunch out there. The next iteration of D&D --whatever it will be called -- will be announced this year at Gencon and will release next year. Marks my words, it is going to happen.

 

[alfredt]

yes you just increase the number..........

 

[Dausuul]

Regarding the Slavicsek layoff, I wouldn't read too much into it. On the D&D side, WotC is notorious for their annual and often semiannual layoffs. Last time, they canceled products instead and shuffled everything around, but now they're back on schedule.

It sucks, but what are you gonna do?

 

[Saracenus]

Here was my speclatron 2007 on the nature of 5e (I literally made this image back in 2007 when the edition wars started to burn)...

 

[Dannager]

I think my prediction is that WotC's support of the D&D brand is heading for a more passive state, not toward a new edition.

Instead of creating a new edition, they will:

- continue to publish board and card games, and alternate settings like Gamma World to test the waters on what works for D&D.
- continue to refine the DDI edition to make it more palatable to players of all editions and Pathfinder
- continue to publish supporting material for the "new" post-Essentials 4E, that I like to call the "DDI edition" in the form of monster vaults, adventures, campaign worlds, novels, and card and board game elements.

I think WotC is doing a noble thing. Since they took it over from TSR, they have been walking the tightrope of being the caretaker for the leading game in our hobby, that is, trying to do the best thing for it while trying to succeed as a business. I'm amazed that they have done so well at it both for so long in this economy, and I fear that they will not continue to be able to do so and something will have to give.

So I guess what I'm saying is that there may be a 5th edition someday, but right now I think their plan is to refine what they have in an attempt to both broaden the appeal of the D&D DDI edition and to make some money.

Yep, this is what I think is going on.

The real question is how will all the "5e is right around the corner!" folk react when 5e isn't even mentioned by WotC this year? My bet: Despite evidence to the contrary, they'll still manage to convince themselves that they have a keen eye for what's going on in the industry, and that their predictions are going to come true any day now. None of them will say, "Huh, maybe I don't have any idea what the hell I'm talking about."

 

[Lanefan]

Are you being facetious or do you really think it is just around the corner?

I'm not being facetious at all (though future hindsight may beg to differ ).

The real question is how will all the "5e is right around the corner!" folk react when 5e isn't even mentioned by WotC this year? My bet: Despite evidence to the contrary, they'll still manage to convince themselves that they have a keen eye for what's going on in the industry, and that their predictions are going to come true any day now. None of them will say, "Huh, maybe I don't have any idea what the hell I'm talking about."

Hey, I'm the first to admit I don't *know* anything. I'm just playing a hunch, and that hunch tells me 5e is coming real soon to a store near you.

I just hope it's designed well and marketed better, with an eye to unification rather than fragmentation of the gaming community.

Lan-"standing by my melting guns"-efan

 

[Dannager]

Hey, I'm the first to admit I don't *know* anything. I'm just playing a hunch, and that hunch tells me 5e is coming real soon to a store near you.

For those who have hunches, a personal realization of, "Huh, my hunches are often wrong and I should probably start going with rational thought over gut instinct in the future," is an acceptable substitute.

 

[enpeze66]

- continue to refine the DDI edition to make it more palatable to players of all editions and Pathfinder

which is absolutely impossible IMO. To reach this, the core concepts would have to be taken out or modified (healings surges for example, the boring long combats, or the new magic system) because THATS what drove those old players away, it was not D&D enough for them.

So I think it is an illusion to believe that with 4e or any derivate of it WotC can win anyone back.

Not to say that such a radical departure to the roots of 4e will piss off the rest of their few remaining 4e fans.

I think WotC is doing a noble thing. Since they took it over from TSR, they have been walking the tightrope of being the caretaker for the leading game in our hobby, that is, trying to do the best thing for it while trying to succeed as a business. I'm amazed that they have done so well at it both for so long in this economy, and I fear that they will not continue to be able to do so and something will have to give.

No. I think WotC involvement in D&D was the biggest curse for the game. They are responsible for the 2 worst editions D&D has seen in its history. They mistreat the legacy because they dont care about. For them its only about making money fast and without much effort.

Look at the wonderfully made products of other game major companies (like FFG or Paizo) and compare them to the bland products of the "industry leader" and then you will see the what "care" really means.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

The real question is how will all the "5e is right around the corner!" folk react when 5e isn't even mentioned by WotC this year? My bet: Despite evidence to the contrary, they'll still manage to convince themselves that they have a keen eye for what's going on in the industry, and that their predictions are going to come true any day now. None of them will say, "Huh, maybe I don't have any idea what the hell I'm talking about."

I think you are flat out wrong here. The folk that are saying that 5e is round the corner don't necessarily want to be seen as having a keen eye for the situation;I would guess that most of them simply want 5e to be right around the corner. 4E just simply did not do it for them and they're hoping for the current edition of D&D to be one that they want to play. 5e is likely going to be the only way that it will happen.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise