Could this be the future format of 4th Edition D&D?

[JVisgaitis]

I call BS however on the notion that it would somehow not be an RPG anymore. Many of us are using battlemaps and tiles already.

That's a really good point. Its funny how people do use all those accessories, but then when someone suggests packaging them with the game, they flip out.

 

[William Ronald]

Funny, they used the D&D name for the Minis game and the sky didn't fall.

I like Upper Krust's idea for the most part, though I see the individual sets being sold with packs of tiles rather than a board. Call it something Like D&D Adventures - Valley of the Dinosaurs, or something like that.

But as the full blown next version of D&D...I don't think so. (But if the two were compatible, you might have something.) No matter how it was presented, the rules wouldn't be as rich as the full blown version. I don't think you could do that and have the boxes sell at a reasonable price.

I call BS however on the notion that it would somehow not be an RPG anymore. Many of us are using battlemaps and tiles already. Its not limiting. And besides, I feel that the RPG business is in decline because game companies haven't been creative enough with the presentation of their games. The RPG "genre" of games suffers from too narrow a focus IMO.(WOTC seems to be the first to actually show some innovation with it)

When you get down to it, the play experience is pretty much the same with most RPGs to date...guys sitting around a table with books, character sheets and dice. RPG companies have to start pushing the envelope a bit if they want these games to still be widely played in the years coming. WOTC has made more strides in the last 3 years with respect to game materials than the entire RPG industry has made since 1974. Upper Krusts idea is a good thought in a different direction, if you consider a game-in-a-box as a way of thinking outside the box.

This proposal might work as something alongside a new edition. However, I think that it would be best to have some of these things alongside core rules books and an introductory basic set. (Make sure the basic set is affordable, compatable with the core rules, and that would do well. )

I have used some of the newer products, such as battlemaps. Shadowslayer's idea of having something akin to the adventure packs could work as well.

I think that we should preserve the experience of RPGs, and there are many ways to do so.

 

[William Ronald]

I don't think I would switch systems at this point.
But if they just re-released the core books with the new format/ruleschanges and a way to completely 100% convert a 3rd edition character to 4th without any real loss in capability (I saw alot of this from 2E to 3rd; Dual-classed characters got the shaft), I wouldn't mind too much.

This would be advisable, as one player I once knew was very upset with how his dual class character emerged under the new rules. I think that compatability is an issue.

I also want to see the OGL and the D20 license in a new edition. Also, I would suggest a LOT of playtesting to help refine the design of a 4th Edition as well as collecting a lot of information from D&D players before starting on the design. This was done prior to 3rd edition, and I believe that it helped in several ways.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hopefully my future children wouldn't.

The BBEG of the campaign...

The Auld Grump

 

[A'koss]

4e... My thoughts.


Rules:
I think there are plenty of clever ways the core rules could be streamlined and simplified in areas but it really does need to break some new ground in order to make it distinct from 3e. How? Topic for a different discussion… And I definitely agree the brand the name (Dungeons and Dragons) should not be diluted by a myriad of variations on it.

Do not ignore the digital revolution – be the guiding hand in it. Build a lush online gaming experience for your players. Allow them to buy digital versions of adventures that you can run in virtual tabletop games (chat and message board style). Offer a free service with X amount of functionality and a pay for service that offers all the goodies and eye-candy for your online games.

Miniatures:
Here’s where I would focus no small amount of attention. While the game would not require miniatures, the idea is to make them so attractive (especially to newcomers) that you wouldn’t want to play the game without them. The first order of business - increase the grid scale from 1” to 1.5” and increase the size of the miniatures appropriately. The new 4e line of larger miniatures would fall under two banners…

1. The “Baseline” Miniatures Line: Pre-painted, well-made and affordable. Their larger than normal size will allow for better detail than their smaller cousins, making them more attractive on the new tilesets/battlemaps.

2. The “Masters” Miniatures Line: As you might guess - a high quality line that is a clear cut above in detail, color… and naturally, price. For humanoid figures there would be limited pose-ability with hands and arms free for “accessories”. One of the biggest drawbacks to standard miniatures has always been finding one that matches your character. With the Masters Line, you could buy box sets of accessories to gear up your mini (weapons, shields, magic items, legendary artifacts…) to have at least some customizability. McFarlane toys to produce?

Masters Line monsters come with their own “Monster Card” with a picture of the beast on one side and the relevant stats on the back. Appropriate monsters come with a variety of gear. Giants for example could come with a “boulder”, a sword and a club.

D&D – The Animated Series:
Time to build those marketable icons. Forget about movies, at least to start. Animated is the way to go. The title of the show should focus on a brand you want to create under the D&D banner (eg. Greyhawk, etc. or something entirely new), rather than D&D itself. You do want to associate it with D&D but at the same time you want to distance yourself from it a little at the same time.

The series should be “semi-dark” in nature (but not too grim for the young teens) but mature enough that adults will enjoy it too (complex relationships and personalities). That is, a little more mature than the JLU, but not animated Spawn dark. After you gain some momentum, tie in with the merchandising… minis, books, comics, larger scale action figures, board games and supplements to the RPG proper.

 

[Ranger REG]

The BBEG of the campaign...

Boo! Hiss!

*makes a cross sign with his fingers*

Begone, you foul pink fiend! I will not be bewitched by your goofy laugh!

 

[Ranger REG]

4e... My thoughts.


Rules:
I think there are plenty of clever ways the core rules could be streamlined and simplified in areas but it really does need to break some new ground in order to make it distinct from 3e. How? Topic for a different discussion… And I definitely agree the brand the name (Dungeons and Dragons) should not be diluted by a myriad of variations on it.

Do not ignore the digital revolution – be the guiding hand in it. Build a lush online gaming experience for your players. Allow them to buy digital versions of adventures that you can run in virtual tabletop games (chat and message board style). Offer a free service with X amount of functionality and a pay for service that offers all the goodies and eye-candy for your online games.

Buy digital adventures? No way. I like having FREE ORIGINAL Adventures I can download ... for FREE.

 

[A'koss]

Buy digital adventures? No way. I like having FREE ORIGINAL Adventures I can download ... for FREE.

I'm thinking more along the line of "Castle Ravenloft" than "The Dreaded Cave of the Kobold King"...

 

[Sanackranib]

Blimey!

Sounds very interesting, but doesn't sound anything like the D&D I know and love, or in fact any sort of game I'd like to play quite honestly.

If that was 4e then I'm fairly sure I'd be sticking with 3.5.

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with the notable exception of "blimey" since i'm not british and really have NO IDEA what that means these were my thoughts exactly.

 

[crazy_cat]

with the notable exception of "blimey" since i'm not british and really have NO IDEA what that means these were my thoughts exactly.

I used "blimey" as an expression of suprise - it obviously loses something in translation

My initial thoughts were "WTF?" but I felt it would be rude to simply post that - I may not agree with Upper Krusts ideas, but they are at least well explained and structured in the initial post.

Just posting WTF seemed a bit harsh really for a first response (although I am still thinking it)

The boxed sets idea sounds to me like a good idea maybe for the DDM game if you want to expand it as an entry level product line using minis, maps and simplified rules which sells alongside the main D&D game.

The issue then is how you get players to move on from just DDM to DDM and D&D as well, and how you market the two games so that the potential games buying public see them as complementary.

I suspect with themed boxed sets with non-random minis in them you also hit Merrics law and are in danger of ending up with a very expensive "entry level" product that may actually cost more than the current core rule books (which can be found for £41.22 here)

Interesting ideas - this hybrid game just wouldn't be D&D as I (and many others) understand it. Marketing it as such would IMHO damage, and potentially destroy the D&D RPG brand very quickly. As I said, this would be a bad thing.