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Message: <blockquote data-quote="UngainlyTitan" data-source="post: 5585377" data-attributes="member: 28487">I think it is pretty clear what the playerbase fractures with each new edition the fact there there is a 1e community out there is proof of that.What is not clear is how relevent that is.If the total active player base is static or declining over the last 40 odd years then the fracturing is relevant because at some point the people willing to go with the new edition will become too low to support it.If the player base is increasing over time then the fracturing may be less of a problem.Of course even with a declining player base and severe fractuing of said base. Wizards could perhaps release a new version and still make a profit.The trouble is we do not know.However I still think we will not see a 5th edition until Wizards online strategey is in place. I think right now we are looking at a company in transition (and a pretty painful one at that, but perhaps the worst is over). I have no real idea on where the end point is, I have some opinions of course but that is just reading the tea leaves like everone else on the outside.I think the publishing industry is going to be hit by change over the next 5 years or so as big as the change from vinyl to CDs and CD to mp3s.This will impact on WoTC and it would be very smart of them to have a strategy in place for when the tipping point comes.By the way I do not see books completely disappearing, I do see the paperback market being most affected. People who buy hardbacks will continue to do so.</blockquote>

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