Dislike 4E? You can write off 5E

[ExploderWizard]

We will see an announcement for 5E before the end of 2011, possibly late 2010.

This is just a feeling and in no way based on any sort of facts whatsoever. I'm just using the force on this one.

 

[Quantum]

They pretty much did that with 4e and dumped 3e within a couple of years.

 

[DaveMage]

When they start to gear up for a new edition, they *hire* people instead of laying them off. Since they just laid off a bunch of folks, I highly doubt we'll see a 5E anytime soon.

 

[Scribble]

We will see an announcement for 5E before the end of 2011, possibly late 2010.

This is just a feeling and in no way based on any sort of facts whatsoever. I'm just using the force on this one.

Say this every year (just change the dates to the next year) and hey... eventually the force will be with you!

 

[Aeolius]

I´m still left to wonder: If i like 4e, can i "write on" 5e? Hmmm, does that mean... 5e is the iPad? Mac-only DDI for 5e?

C'mon... it wouldn't be so bad iGamer

Personally, since 4e reminded me of 2e (which I skipped), and 3e reminded me of 1e (which I liked), I'm hoping 5e is more akin to 3e.... though I'm betting it will be an entirely different beastie. Monster Manuals more akin to a Spiderwick Field Guide, where stats seem like an afterthought, three options for combat, to appeal to the no-minis crowd and the wargamers alike... hey, I can dream, can't I?

 

[billd91]

When they start to gear up for a new edition, they *hire* people instead of laying them off. Since they just laid off a bunch of folks, I highly doubt we'll see a 5E anytime soon.

So we should watch for the year in which they don't lay people off and predict the announcement of 5e within the next year? I suppose not laying people off at year end would be a break in their normal behavior pattern.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

So we should watch for the year in which they don't lay people off and predict the announcement of 5e within the next year? I suppose not laying people off at year end would be a break in their normal behavior pattern.

More than likely 2 to 3 years, it would appear they hire more and then ramp up R&D.

 

[Alaxk Knight of Galt]

Well said!

I've been told point blank from Greg Leeds, WotC's president, that they're not even going to start thinking about 5e for years. They're invested in the current rule set. As sexy as scurrilous rumor is, this may be a little extreme.

This may be 100% true. Here is a look at WotC's edition track record when it comes to editions.

• 1997, WotC purchased TSR and began work on 3E
• 2000, WotC released 3E
• 200?, WotC starts work on 3.5 (I can't source it right now, but word has it that Monte Cook confirmed 3.5 development began in 2000).
• 2003, WotC released 3.5
• 2005, according to the Psion preview article on DDI (Dragon 377, page 6), WotC began/was working on 4E
• 2008, WotC released 4E

What this record shows is that a new edition takes about 3 years to develop in WotCs hands. If you assume a 201X data, the start date was 201X - 3.

WotC has not gone more then 5 years between edition changes (03-08 being the longest).

 

[Nikosandros]

1997, WotC purchased TSR and began work on 3E

IIRC, TSR was already working on a 3rd edition before being bought by WotC.

 

[Windjammer]

How very touching that so many of you think Wyatt will be still employed when 5E is in the works, and that his opinion on this topic is at all relevant.

WotC already fired every key designer responsible for the earliest stages of 4E except Wyatt and Collins. Who know the clock is ticking. And of course anyone working so closely on 4E would say that 5E couldn't possibly depart from their brainchild, the emblem of perfection.

It's like asking the Monte Cook of 2001 whether 4E will be a big departure from 3E. "Erm, no, I suspect a couple of tweaks here and there, but nothing major. You know hows they say... Diamonds are forever?"