Do you want/are you ready for a D&D 5th edition?

[Dannyalcatraz]

Kevin2moon
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Join Date: Dec 2011
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[Kaodi]

I think that the question of whether 5E should or will be open is tied up with the question " Does 3rd party support increase the strength and longevity of the game? " You really need to ask this question about both 3e and Pathfinder, then compare to 4E, before trying to apply the lessons to 5E.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Fortunately, Third Edition fans were not left hanging, because Paizo has supported them without fail since 2008. I hope that Fourth Edition will get the same kind of support in the future, but I have my fears.

That is a valid concern. But it was another company, not WOTC that appeased 3e crowd (most of them). If your prefered edition isn't supported, yes that isn't much fun, but there are other games out there. I haven't played D&D since 2009 and I doubt I will play after 5e. The reason is simple: I want a consistent and stable product. I don't want to play a game that reboots to something new every 8 years (new editions are fine but smaller changes like Cthulu not massive overhauls like 3e and 4e). WOTC just doesn't approach editions the way I want. So even if 5e is stellar there is a chance I won't play.

 

[molepunch]

Sure, why not. I'm not too emotionally invested in a system so I'm coming from an "outsider's" point of view, perhaps.

I currently play 4E. When 4E first came out my jaw dropped at the very idea of spammy Magic Missiles like most others in my gaming gang. Within' seconds I shrugged it off and said "let's give it a try!"

Even if 5E were totally different, I'd be okay with it. Is it too soon for the industry? Perhaps. But I'll plonk down money for a PHB and a DM book anyway.

 

[drothgery]

I think that the question of whether 5E should or will be open is tied up with the question " Does 3rd party support increase the strength and longevity of the game? " You really need to ask this question about both 3e and Pathfinder, then compare to 4E, before trying to apply the lessons to 5E.

FWIW, 3e (not 3.5) had the most extensive 3rd party support of any version of D&D; it lasted 3 years. 1e and 2e had no third party support, and lasted much longer (though a 3e -- if not the one WotC published -- likely would have been out sooner if TSR had the resources to publish it). 3.5 had less, and lasted 5 years; if (as is rumored), 5e is announced next year for a 2013 launch, 4e lasted as long as 3.5.

 

[Nemesis Destiny]

I would still miss the on-line resources, but I would accept building and researching characters by hand if a third party could make a cleaned-up compiled version of the most important classes, powers and feats.

Long after WotC nails shut the coffin for 4e, there will still be people using and updating the old offline builder (including with custom and 3PP stuff). Nothing to worry about there.

If you ask them nicely, they'll even add your own set of houserules. Of course, I can't tell you how to find it, but it's out there.

 

[Kaodi]

FWIW, 3e (not 3.5) had the most extensive 3rd party support of any version of D&D; it lasted 3 years. 1e and 2e had no third party support, and lasted much longer (though a 3e -- if not the one WotC published -- likely would have been out sooner if TSR had the resources to publish it). 3.5 had less, and lasted 5 years; if (as is rumored), 5e is announced next year for a 2013 launch, 4e lasted as long as 3.5.

If I counted 3e and v3.5 as truly separate games, I would have distinguished. If you are going to count them as different games, I think you ought to count Essentials as distinct from 4E, in which case 4E will have lasted 2 years and Essentials 3. As well, I am not so sure that the WotC era is really directly comparable to the TSR era. There is no BECMI in the current era unless you want to say roughly analagous to Pathfinder.

 

[Matt James]

Why does it matter the length of each? Isn't it about creating fun and enjoyable games? I've played them all, but started just after AD&D 2e came around. I've loved each iteration of the game since.

 

[Rechan]

Why does it matter the length of each?.

Money.

I've loved each iteration of the game since.

I have not. There are some editions you couldn't pay me to play.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Why does it matter the length of each? .

It matters because lots of people want a relatively stable system that remains consistent over a number of years. Chances are you play a game because you like what it does. So you may not want to upgrade every few years.