How long until 4.5E/5E?

[Razz]

Three years after 3E came 3.5E

It took some time, but most people switched or simply kept their 3.0E games. Which wasn't hard for either side, because the changes were rather minor or simple to convert. Damage reduction, skills, some feats, everything was the same but changed around a bit.

Now it's been 5 years since 3.5E, six once 4E is released. At this rate how long would it be until 5E is released?

Think about it. All of you "4E Fanboys" are just going to deal with yet another edition change come the year 2013. Why bother, really? Why let WotC dupe you?

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I count 5 years 2003 - 2008.

D&D XP, Feb 2007, RE:4E:

I'm surprised it took this long for someone to ask that. It's going to come at some point. It's a long ways away. You'll get an announcement when that happens, but it's a long ways away. We have a lot of good stuff coming out through 2008."

Aug 2007: D&D 4E announced for release in May 2008 with teaser books in the Jan timeframe.

How much should we trust WotC on these sort of announcements?

 

[Razz]

I count 5 years 2003 - 2008.

D&D XP, Feb 2007, RE:4E:



Aug 2007: D&D 4E announced for release in May 2008 with teaser books in the Jan timeframe.

How much should we trust WotC on these sort of announcements?

I remember that exact quote, also. I wasn't expecting 4E until at least 2011 when he said that.

And what a bold faced lie that was. I won't trust WotC anymore after this.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

WotC could have done a more extensive revision when they released 3.5; they already had the example of d20 Modern to go by, and in other, smaller games, RPG Theory existed in a serious way and they could have attempted purpose-driven design. The original Mutants and Masterminds had also already come out.

But as it stands, it took till 2005 for Iron Heroes to come out, 2006 for True20, and till 2007 for Star Wars Saga. The first two were more purpose-driven, better designed games - but it wasn't until the third that we got a game that have a streamlined, purpose-driven design and was ALSO at least 80% backwards-compatible.

If the pace of development accelerates, then five years should be more than enough time. If not, another eight to ten is fine by me. Since early indicators in Merric's "what we know" thread seem to be that WotC will be making 4e OGL, and purpose-driven design in RPGs continues to be refined, I think a five-year plan would be ideal.

 

[DragonLancer]

I give WotC 6 months to a year after 4th ed hits the shelves before they throw out 4.5 edition.

 

[drothgery]

Having no marketing and sales data to look out (just fan reaction here at ENWorld), I'd suggest WotC's probably looking at 5 years to a largely backward compatible 4.5 (how much it varies from 4.0 will be dependent on what the biggest problems with 4.x are percieved to be; could be anything from 4e with errata and new art to a 1e->2e size revision), and then another 5 years to 5e.

Almost everyone eventually moved to 3.5, but it really caused a lot of pain to the third-party publishers and was recieved with a lot of grumbling; my group didn't go 3.5 until nearly a year after launch. On the other hand, there seems to be a fair amount of enthusiasm for 4e.

 

[WayneLigon]

Think about it. All of you "4E Fanboys" are just going to deal with yet another edition change come the year 2013. Why bother, really? Why let WotC dupe you?

Editions change. You had might as well accept this and get used to it, and deal with it. Yes, there likely will be a 5th ed and further on up, probably in less than ten years. NO other game that has gone through multiple editions waits as long as D&D does. It's not a dupe, a con, a conspiracy or anything other than the natural, normal way things go. Progress, in other words.

 

[HeinorNY]

Three years after 3E came 3.5E

It took some time, but most people switched or simply kept their 3.0E games. Which wasn't hard for either side, because the changes were rather minor or simple to convert. Damage reduction, skills, some feats, everything was the same but changed around a bit.

Now it's been 5 years since 3.5E, six once 4E is released. At this rate how long would it be until 5E is released?

Think about it. All of you "4E Fanboys" are just going to deal with yet another edition change come the year 2013. Why bother, really? Why let WotC dupe you?

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[ST]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

Publishers are in business to make money. They're not your friends, they're not a magical resource that gives you kewl new feats and powers as long as you slip them a $20 every so often. They sell books.

Buy the books or don't buy them, but I almost feel sorry for the people who are interpreting corporate business decisions as if a friend betrayed them by stealing the girl they liked.

(And that WOTC quote saying 3.5 stuff would be published "through 2008" isn't a lie, nor is 8-12 months not "plenty of warning".)

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Editions change. You had might as well accept this and get used to it, and deal with it.

I think its a little wrong to get on people's backs for complaining at this point. I mean, how many thousands of dollars are sitting on people's shelves unused? They have a right to complain if they want to.

However, they also have a right (like many people will) to just not move forward with the rules for a while. Some wise put up an excellent quote sometime since I joined here on ENWorld (How's that for specific? ) They said they were an every-other gamer. They missed OD&D, got in on 1e, skipped 2e, got in on 3.x. I'll likely be the same. 4E can largely be for the birds. If there is a 5E in ten years, I might be ready to jump completely over 4E and go there.

Progress, in other words.

Who says it is progress? You might, but other people don't have to see it that way. If they are content with the 3.5 ruleset and are willing to acept that no WotC support is coming and (hopefully not, but ...) little 3rd party support is coming, then so be it! I know I can play decades more tabletop games without ever feeling like I've repeated myself just with the books on my shelf! Once the old 3.5 books start hitting the used book bins, I might be able to go the rest of my life! [Or until 5E comes out in a decade or so]

One thing that you say is right, though. It will eventually happen. Editions will come and go, and it is innevitable. They need money to stay a company, and that's just part of living in a capitalistic world!

But when they create a D&D that comes with holographic helmets/goggles so I can virtually experience the world with my fellow players ... I'll convert on the spot! Until then, I have the right to stay put wherever I am happy with the rules.