D&D (2024) I am so torn [UPDATE: I bought it]

[Micah Sweet]

For me, the tone of 5e was good at start but drifted a bit much both with regard to art as well as content. I skipped 2e, 3.5 and in large part 4e.

I hate not being current in some respects but am not afraid to be an outlier if I must.

I just can’t with 2024 D&D. It’s just not going to please me. I don’t want to be the complainer and the downer so I won’t do it but I just can’t make the shift. I wish that was not the case.

I like 5e but realize at other times I want the old harsher grit. I decided no on 2024 and bought Dragonslayer instead for non 5e gaming. For me it is 5e and perhaps at times dragon slayer.

WOTC is still WOTC. That has not changed. So for me it’s about what I want to play, period. I have a lot of wizkids minis…so they may get some cash from me that way regardless.

That may end too though if they keep changing the aesthetics. I got an orc mini that looked like a light blue half orc that does aerobics and wears a hamburgler mask.

I…just can’t anymore.

I liked 5e and wish I could stay current but with my precious time do I want to learn new rules that fix things that were not really a problem for my group?

The drawback which sucks is that most discussions d community sticks with the new. I know that but I have a built in group of family and friends. If I did not, there would be more incentive to go 2024.

But u can make sure to buy second hand and not support that business much at all. Play what you like…play what will afford you community and whatever you choose you don’t have to give them money.

I feel you. The secondary market is your friend here.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I’d just look for a secondhand copy. Then you can have the book without giving money to WotC, if you feel strongly about that.

Yeah. I can sell him my copy for 60 Dollars... and then buy a new one.

 

[Reynard]

Considering how influential WotC D&D is in the industry, nothing they do with it is niche.

It is an additional expense and built to be virtual Dwarven Forge. I doubt it is going to have much penetration except among very hardcore online D&D players.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It is an additional expense and built to be virtual Dwarven Forge. I doubt it is going to have much penetration except among very hardcore online D&D players.

I hope you're right, but I strongly suspect WotC isn't targeting hard-core D&D players. They haven't done that with anything in years.

 

[dave2008]

It is an additional expense and built to be virtual Dwarven Forge. I doubt it is going to have much penetration except among very hardcore online D&D players.

I could be wrong, but I think you are thinking of the 3D VTT, not Maps. Maps is 2d

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Me too, re: GMing.

My line in the sand has been "release the 3.5 SRD into CC" because the threat of "de-authorizing" the OGL is really only an issue for those games and companies reliant on the 3.5 SRD via the OGL. However, those seem fewer and fewer these days. In fact, I am not sure if any currently published games or companies are dependent on that situation anymore.

If you do not want to give WoTC your money as a point of principle to yourself then do not give them money. If it is to change their behaviour, in my opinion, you are treating a corporation as a person and that cannot ever work.
Corporations (and other large human collectives) only remember things in so far as the people in charge remember them. They also are chaotic in decision making, the bigger they are the more so. As the business get divided into little fiefs and these can work at cross purposes.
All this is a little pet peeve of mine about some attitudes on these boards, feel free to ignore it.

Why do you want these books?
Assuming you can afford them, only you can answer this question, and the opinions here should not really matter.

For instance, you state your engagement with 4e was brief? does that mean you never bought the PHB 2 or the Essentials line? Do you intend to play this version at all? Do you regard yourself as a collector?
What is the rush? This edition has a minimum life of about 5 years and a maximum of about 10, there is plenty of time.

 

[Reynard]

I could be wrong, but I think you are thinking of the 3D VTT, not Maps. Maps is 2d

That's what I said. The VTT is niche, and maps is low feature. WotC isn't going to dominate the VTT market with either of those thing -- or both, even.

 

[mamba]

From the specific perspective of WotC supporting 3rd parties and open gaming, it actually is a show of good faith.

not really, offering 2024 on Foundry is, but offering 3pp products on DDB is not

 

[mamba]

Sure. But until they deliver the product, all we can ever have are words. They can't give to use before it is done after all. I mean what else are they supposed to do until it is done.

doesn’t really explain the holdup for the 3e SRD though

 

[mamba]

I'm not sure WotC does want to dominate the VTT market.

they definitely do, no question about it. You do not pour tens of millions into it, which is easily a magnitude more than anyone else, and shoot for less

The one they are building is exceedingly niche,

if it remains niche, they failed, hard