@Manbearcat
Your post makes an interesting conjecture. I'm probably a bit more sceptical than you, but maybe not for any very good reason!
4e is an interesting example of WotC publishing a game which had a substrate - more complex than AW layers 1 and 2 - which supported the promulgation of layer 3 and 4 style lists (new power; new classes; whole new build elements like Themes as a Heroic-tier analogue to Paragon Paths, or variants on treasure like Grandmaster Training (or whatever its called in DMG2)). It clearly didn't support selling stories to play through (witness the general sadness which is most of the 4e modules; not quite all of them).
I don't think they want to go back to the 4e model. What would be interesting would be a different approach to modules/settings/APs: instead of introducing baroque subsystems (say, for spell jamming or for avoiding heat in the city or whatever), that sit somewhat inertly alongside the story, they could bring it closer to AW-style custom moves for threats.
But that would be a big change in design approach. They'd need to recruit the Bakers, John Harper, the BWHQ team etc (or apprentices of all of the above) to be their new RPG team!
Your post makes an interesting conjecture. I'm probably a bit more sceptical than you, but maybe not for any very good reason!
4e is an interesting example of WotC publishing a game which had a substrate - more complex than AW layers 1 and 2 - which supported the promulgation of layer 3 and 4 style lists (new power; new classes; whole new build elements like Themes as a Heroic-tier analogue to Paragon Paths, or variants on treasure like Grandmaster Training (or whatever its called in DMG2)). It clearly didn't support selling stories to play through (witness the general sadness which is most of the 4e modules; not quite all of them).
I don't think they want to go back to the 4e model. What would be interesting would be a different approach to modules/settings/APs: instead of introducing baroque subsystems (say, for spell jamming or for avoiding heat in the city or whatever), that sit somewhat inertly alongside the story, they could bring it closer to AW-style custom moves for threats.
But that would be a big change in design approach. They'd need to recruit the Bakers, John Harper, the BWHQ team etc (or apprentices of all of the above) to be their new RPG team!