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Broken Base Lookback: Editions
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<blockquote data-quote="GreyLord" data-source="post: 5724246" data-attributes="member: 4348"><p>This is the thing that many think of when they look at the broken Base trope for D&D these days. They feel different editions have broken up the base of D&D players. This is a sensitive issue, and though it covers ideas in edition wars...this is more about commenting about how the base is broken and why.</p><p></p><p>Some comment that there was a broken base in the 1e/2e days, something I never experienced...and which I didn't find any articles that truly epitomized the broken base ideas. It was easy to find articles about the recent 3.X to 4e changes...but with that being so recent I think emotions are to highly charged for people to comment on that idea while remaining respectful of others ideas and opinions. I don't want an edition war...but something that shows the basics of what types of ideas occur during an edition change which can cause the broken base effect.</p><p></p><p>I did find articles from when 3e was first coming out which captures the feel of it, and decided to post one of those with some of the comments which I think brings out the emotions of those who went one way...or the other.</p><p></p><p>This article is really even prior to some playing 3e, but shows their emotions towards the changes and why this would cause a broken base effect. Many will see that the same discussions that cause a broken base more recently in edition changes were the same discussions via the 3e edition change, which can be an interesting point. I'm hoping it was long enough ago that people can divorce their emotions from their analysis and write their analysis of the idea, rather than flaming...</p><p></p><p>The article...</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.gamegrene.com/node/20" target="_blank">The Demise of Dungeons & Dragons | gamegrene.com</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Now with I'll post some of the responses to the article, and I think you'll be able to see some similarities between them and ANY edition change responses...regardless of which edition or game...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>So we can really see arguments that apply to many edition changes. If you take out the titles of one and replace it with another (let's say changes of Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader to Warhammer 2nd edition...or even just statements on why Games Workshop comes out with new editions for its games so quickly...or maybe 3e to 4e for D&D) the arguments basically sound the same from edition change to edition change.</p><p></p><p>In that way I think we can see that the broken base from editions really has similar feelings each time, regardless of game or edition.</p><p></p><p>Unfortunately instead of analyzing these ideas typically it turns into what some call an edition war.</p><p></p><p>I don't want that here...remember as with all these topics...try to remain respectful, but analytical. The following unfortunately is what normally happens</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Or that would be, Old Warhammer fans vs. New Warhammer fans, or SW d6 vs. SW D20 vs. SWSE, or D&D 3e vs D&D4e.</p><p></p><p>See how it works...and yet each time the discussions remain the same...just the game changes.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Overall, edition wars can be viewed as being stupid and petty. However, the broken base is more of an economic thing. We can see above how people can get emotional and make all sorts of things about the new or old edition, saying one is broken, or another is based off of computer games, or one is streamlined, or one was simpler...etc...etc...etc. The big difficulty is NOT these opinions, but the division it makes amongst gamer ranks and the the divided groups in the hobby.</p><p></p><p>I actually see my last Broken Base Lookback as more significant at hurting the base of the hobby (Christians and how some view D&D), but I think that many gamers instead think of the above ideas, or edition changes when they think of a divided gaming base.</p><p></p><p>I think it creates discord many times amongst the hobby, and non-acceptance from one group to another. Some interesting dynamics however, and I think we can see that in an edition change you'll see MOST of the arguments rehashed from the edition change prior to it, just reapplied to the current edition...which is ironic...and yet seems to be how it is.</p><p></p><p>PS: Remember, be respectful, this is NOT to garner an edition war, but is more looking back at what causes a broken base in the D&D view. I posted an article on the original 3e since I think most who feel strongly on editions on these boards are not concerned with 3e itself anymore, but are inclined more along the 3.5/Pathfinder/4e lines. So this edition probably has a lesser impact in utilizing it to show an analysis of how editions cause Broken Bases than utilizing something more recent or another edition. Still, if you feel so strongly about 3e that you want to start an edition war instead of respectful analysis on it, refrain instead.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="GreyLord, post: 5724246, member: 4348"] This is the thing that many think of when they look at the broken Base trope for D&D these days. They feel different editions have broken up the base of D&D players. This is a sensitive issue, and though it covers ideas in edition wars...this is more about commenting about how the base is broken and why. Some comment that there was a broken base in the 1e/2e days, something I never experienced...and which I didn't find any articles that truly epitomized the broken base ideas. It was easy to find articles about the recent 3.X to 4e changes...but with that being so recent I think emotions are to highly charged for people to comment on that idea while remaining respectful of others ideas and opinions. I don't want an edition war...but something that shows the basics of what types of ideas occur during an edition change which can cause the broken base effect. I did find articles from when 3e was first coming out which captures the feel of it, and decided to post one of those with some of the comments which I think brings out the emotions of those who went one way...or the other. This article is really even prior to some playing 3e, but shows their emotions towards the changes and why this would cause a broken base effect. Many will see that the same discussions that cause a broken base more recently in edition changes were the same discussions via the 3e edition change, which can be an interesting point. I'm hoping it was long enough ago that people can divorce their emotions from their analysis and write their analysis of the idea, rather than flaming... The article... [url=http://www.gamegrene.com/node/20]The Demise of Dungeons & Dragons | gamegrene.com[/url] Now with I'll post some of the responses to the article, and I think you'll be able to see some similarities between them and ANY edition change responses...regardless of which edition or game... So we can really see arguments that apply to many edition changes. If you take out the titles of one and replace it with another (let's say changes of Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader to Warhammer 2nd edition...or even just statements on why Games Workshop comes out with new editions for its games so quickly...or maybe 3e to 4e for D&D) the arguments basically sound the same from edition change to edition change. In that way I think we can see that the broken base from editions really has similar feelings each time, regardless of game or edition. Unfortunately instead of analyzing these ideas typically it turns into what some call an edition war. I don't want that here...remember as with all these topics...try to remain respectful, but analytical. The following unfortunately is what normally happens Or that would be, Old Warhammer fans vs. New Warhammer fans, or SW d6 vs. SW D20 vs. SWSE, or D&D 3e vs D&D4e. See how it works...and yet each time the discussions remain the same...just the game changes. Overall, edition wars can be viewed as being stupid and petty. However, the broken base is more of an economic thing. We can see above how people can get emotional and make all sorts of things about the new or old edition, saying one is broken, or another is based off of computer games, or one is streamlined, or one was simpler...etc...etc...etc. The big difficulty is NOT these opinions, but the division it makes amongst gamer ranks and the the divided groups in the hobby. I actually see my last Broken Base Lookback as more significant at hurting the base of the hobby (Christians and how some view D&D), but I think that many gamers instead think of the above ideas, or edition changes when they think of a divided gaming base. I think it creates discord many times amongst the hobby, and non-acceptance from one group to another. Some interesting dynamics however, and I think we can see that in an edition change you'll see MOST of the arguments rehashed from the edition change prior to it, just reapplied to the current edition...which is ironic...and yet seems to be how it is. PS: Remember, be respectful, this is NOT to garner an edition war, but is more looking back at what causes a broken base in the D&D view. I posted an article on the original 3e since I think most who feel strongly on editions on these boards are not concerned with 3e itself anymore, but are inclined more along the 3.5/Pathfinder/4e lines. So this edition probably has a lesser impact in utilizing it to show an analysis of how editions cause Broken Bases than utilizing something more recent or another edition. Still, if you feel so strongly about 3e that you want to start an edition war instead of respectful analysis on it, refrain instead. [/QUOTE]
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