D&D 4E Hypothetical Scenario: What if WotC chooses never to do 4E?

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

"The average age of RPG tabletop gamers is probably 40 or so."

--Shortman McLeod, Enworld (2007)



Actually, 40 is a bit high. It's probably closer to 35.

Its probably closer to 20 or even 18.

But the majority of those players likely just stick with their college/high school groups and don't appear at places like this.

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

The average age of RPG tabletop gamers is probably 40 or so.

Average? So for every 25 year old there's a 55 year old, and for every 16 year old playing there's a corresponding 64 year old? I find this proposition a bit unlikely.

I've recently started a 2nd career as a high school teacher. Within a single year, I've encountered a surprisingly large number of high school students who play ... just in my experience alone, in a single school district. I kind of doubt there are too many senior citizens playing. Some, to be sure ... but not many. I'm 32, and everyone in my group is in their 20's. I've had several high school students beg to play in my group. I believe you underestimate how much fresh blood has been continuously joining our ranks.

 

[Shortman McLeod]

Average? So for every 25 year old there's a 55 year old, and for every 16 year old playing there's a corresponding 64 year old? I find this proposition a bit unlikely.

I've recently started a 2nd career as a high school teacher. Within a single year, I've encountered a surprisingly large number of high school students who play ... just in my experience alone, in a single school district. I kind of doubt there are too many senior citizens playing. Some, to be sure ... but not many. I'm 32, and everyone in my group is in their 20's. I've had several high school students beg to play in my group. I believe you underestimate how much fresh blood has been continuously joining our ranks.

I hope that's the case. My impression (and my experience) is that most teenagers who are even remotely inclined towards gaming are playing Magic: TG or Warcraft.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I hope that's the case. My impression (and my experience) is that most teenagers who are even remotely inclined towards gaming are playing Magic: TG or Warcraft.

They're not mutually exclusive, though. A number of people in my WoW guild can't play on Sundays, because they have a big weekly D&D game. I know a LOT of WoW players who also play D&D, at least once in a while.

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

Yup. I also think that WoW is helping to mainstream D&D and tabletop RPGs. It is so weird, though, to hear non-nerdy kids talking about hit points and armor class.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

I should probably not say this, but I have the opportunity to inherit quite a bit of money (but let me tell you, being a poor family with very rich relatives sucks!). SO much in fact that I could buy not only WOTC but most likely Hasbro and it still be a drop in the bucket.

Point is if I did you would never see a 4e. You would see revisions and new Players Handbooks that had rules updates in them and such, maybe every 4 or 45years. But never an edition change.

 

[Numion]

I would be pretty pissed. It's nice to have more stuff to buy, and, *GASP*, maybe they'll make the game better.

 

[Gundark]

I think the same thing that happened to 2E would have to happen, but do you ever see 3.5E drowning in the same garbage 2E did to itself?

I think 3.5 is heading towards that (becoming 2E)

 

[Gundark]

Point is if I did you would never see a 4e. You would see revisions and new Players Handbooks that had rules updates in them and such, maybe every 4 or 45years. But never an edition change.

Well I hope you inherit the money. That said IF you bought said compainies and DIDN'T release 4th ed. I would be incredibly pissed. 3.5 is a great game, however I'm gonna say that if D&D needs to evolve as the market evolves. My needs as a gamer now are changing. For example I need a game that gives me as little prep time as possible and one that runs smoothly.

Beside releasing new PHB's with "rules updates" is really just a sneaky way of releasing 4th ed.

 

[Tumbler]

I'd much rather have rules updates with guides to how to modify previous books. There is no way that with the investment I have in 3.5 I can afford to box up all of those books and move on. Plus, the idea of being limited to the races and classes in the PHB again terrifies me.

I'd buy a PHB every couple years with rules updates and new options that didn't invalidate everything else I've purchased. I'd even be willing to accept big changes like polymorph (which I have).

I'd also buy a sort of complete package every year or two that included a new phb (new classes, feats, spells, whatever) plus an adventure path built to use that new stuff, but compatible with the stuff I already have.