Academic Studies Recent Edition Wars

[ggroy]

1.- Class and Race balance (the Wizard does not overpower the Fighter, at any level)

I remember in 1E AD&D, high level magic users were very powerful compared to classes like the fighter (at the same high level).

7.- Class and Race balance (no CoDzilla and the Paladin is still interesting at level 10)

I remember in a short lived 3.5E game I played in previously, the DM didn't have any restrictions on splatbooks. So what ended up happening was that the munchkin types were creating these low level characters which looked very overpowered. Essentially the game ended up being more like a cheesy "super hero" game in a fantasy setting, than what I would have thought of as a low-level D&D adventure.

If I wanted to play a super hero type game, I would have pulled out my old DC Heroes rpg.

DC Heroes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

These are some of the reasons why some of us find the idea of "Pathfinder as 5E" as a very bad step backwards.

Imagine a scenario where Hasbro/WotC cancelled 4E and closed down the tabletop rpg division, while subsequently licensing the D&D brand name to another (hypothetical) company for tabletop rpg use only.

Do you believe this (hypothetical) licensee company has any obligation to maintain D&D in its 4E or 3.5E forms?

In principle, a (hypothetical) licensee company can create a completely different fantasy rpg game which doesn't resemble any previous editions from TSR or WotC, while calling it "5E D&D" on the front cover.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

Imagine a scenario where Hasbro/WotC cancelled 4E and closed down the tabletop rpg division, while subsequently licensing the D&D brand name to another (hypothetical) company for tabletop rpg use only.

Do you believe this (hypothetical) licensee company has any obligation to maintain D&D in its 4E or 3.5E forms?

In principle, a (hypothetical) licensee company can create a completely different fantasy rpg game which doesn't resemble any previous editions from TSR or WotC, while calling it "5E D&D" on the front cover.

I imagine that if I had just purchased the D&D brand from WotC/Hasbro, I would probably want to hire the best game designers out there to make a fantasy roleplaying game with Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Fighters, Rogues, Clerics and Wizards

I would put "Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition" on the cover and watch it sell like pancakes.

Of course, some people would stick to 4E, some others will continue playing 3.5 (or Pathfinder, or other derivative), and still some others will stick to AD&D or their favourite retro-clone... And others will play Warhammer FRPG, Exalted, Song of Ice and Fire or other non-D&D fantasy roleplaying games.

In short, everybody would keep on playing their favorite game... just like right now

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Vi vs Emacs, Windows vs Mac vs Linux, Yankees vs Sox, Star Wars vs Star Trek, Kataang vs Zutara...

There are a lot of "fandom wars" out there in the Internet, because people deeply care about their hobbies.

And it is ok

 

[ggroy]

I imagine that if I had just purchased the D&D brand from WotC/Hasbro, I would probably want to hire the best game designers out there to make a fantasy roleplaying game with Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Fighters, Rogues, Clerics and Wizards

I would put "Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition" on the cover and watch it sell like pancakes.

If you were the recipient of such a license to make a hypothetical "5E D&D", what would your vision and design goals be?

 

[thecasualoblivion]

What do you think is the likelihood of Hasbro/WotC buying up Paizo in a friendly merger/acquisition, and then rebranding Pathfinder as 5E D&D?

Its comments like this that make me question people's grip on reality.

Edit(addition)**

I just don't undestand this level of dislike for the new edition combined with such a self-centered view of the RPG world.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

If you were the recipient of such a license to make a hypothetical "5E D&D", what would your vision and design goals be?

If this happened today? I would just print and sell an errata-ed 4E

In about six years? Sure, bring the latest developments of the past years into a new edition.

You have to understand that every roleplaying game is the product of its time. The way people play has changed over the years and the games have evolved with the players.

 

[Greg K]

If you were the recipient of such a license to make a hypothetical "5E D&D", what would your vision and design goals be?

If I got the license, I know that I am hiring Steve Kenson (Mutants and Masterminds, True20, Shadowrun's Magic in the Shadows) to be in charge of the new edition.

I'd also try to bring in Charles Rice of RPGObjects, "Wulf" of Bad Axe Games (Grim Tales, Trailblazer), "Ranger Wickett" (Elements of Magic: Revised and other EN Publishing books), Curtis "der kluge" Bennett (Artificer's Handbook), Ari "Mouseferatu" of Lion's Den and WOTC freelancer, Justin Jacobsin of Blue Devil (Poisoncraft) and Steve "Ghostwind" Creech of Dragonwing among other from these boards.

 

[Chaos Disciple]

See the article here: Bryant

"An industrial rebellion is afoot in the role-playing game (RPG) scene. Traditionally, a tabletop RPG provides its players with a firm rules system within which they can construct their stories, but recent corporate changes to the fourth edition of the oldest and most popular system—Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)—have spawned a negative response so strong that players have actually begun to alter the game system against the wishes of its owners. Further, they have begun to publish these changes. In this essay, I will attempt to detail the development of this fan-created rebellion."

Comments on the paper?

It appears that the article is supporting a fan fiction rebellion (and the title is misleading), The author tries to link game systems to fiction writing, but unfortunately published fiction and game mechanics are not considered the same under copyright law (copyright laws dont cover games), and in my opinion its unlikely gamers will ever have any reason to join fiction fans in a revolt agianst use of copyright laws, when games are not effected by them.

 

[ggroy]

Its comments like this that make me question people's grip on reality.

Edit(addition)**

I just don't undestand this level of dislike for the new edition combined with such a self-centered view of the RPG world.

What led you to believe that I disliked 4E?

I've been DM'ing a 4E game over the last year, and still playing in a 3.5E game.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

If I'm mistaken, please explain the basis on which this question was based.

What do you think is the likelihood of Hasbro/WotC buying up Paizo in a friendly merger/acquisition, and then rebranding Pathfinder as 5E D&D?

 

[ggroy]

If I'm mistaken, please explain the basis on which this question was based.

It was a hypothetical scenario of 4E not doing so well for Hasbro, and Pathfinder becoming very popular.

Also you have not answered my other question yet.

What led you to believe that I disliked 4E?