I can't keep doing it

[jonshaft]

I can't keep giving them money if they're going to keep doing this every few years.
I'm finished.

 

[jimmifett]

It's not like you are forced to buy new books. They aren't coming to burn your books.

 

[Raunalyn]

See, this confuses me. How many years were there between iterations of 1st and 2nd edition? 2nd and 3rd? Yeah, it was a small space in time between 3 and 3.5, but I always considered 3.5 as an optional upgrade of 3e. 4e was a new direction for WoTC, and I think that they've learned a lot. I'm a little disappointed that it's so soon; 4e is still in its infancy. But I'm excited to see how they will implement what they've learned into 5e.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I can't keep giving them money if they're going to keep doing this every few years.

Then don't.

 

[trancejeremy]

I agree - they need to stick to a rules set for a long while.

Going from OD&D to AD&D was pretty short - 4-6 years (77-79 is when the 3 core AD&D books came out), but 1st edition lasted for 10 years, and then 2nd lasted for 11. And the two were mostly compatible.

While obviously people can choose not to upgrade, that does sort of defeat the whole purpose that WOTC has - selling more products in the long run.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

I can't keep giving them money if they're going to keep doing this every few years.
I'm finished.

See, this confuses me. How many years were there between iterations of 1st and 2nd edition? 2nd and 3rd?

I agree - they need to stick to a rules set for a long while.

OD&D - 1974
BASIC - 1977
AD&D (1E) - 1977, '78, '79
BECMI 1981+
2E - 1989
2E Options - 1995
3E - 2000
3.5 - 2003
4E - 2008

By the time we see 5E on the shelf 4E will have run for 5 years. "Can't keep doing it"? Compared to the 3 year lifespan of 3E before 3.5 kicked it to the curb, or moving from OD&D to Basic you would have nothing to complain about. Sure, it makes one long for the days of 1E AD&D's reign of 12 years but that ended with some 35 hardcover rules books. You don't want to change systems? Don't. As was said nobody is going to burn your books. I bought the 4E core books and immediately shelved them. Bought the Pathfinder rulebook last year. Have hardly even looked at it since. That's ALL I've spent on gaming materials since 2008 and I've been playing 3.5 and 1E.

But this thing of, "can't keep doing it," suggests to me that you REALLY didn't know what this hobby involved did you? Sad that you've had such a rude awakening but I've been playing D&D since 1977 (Holmes' Basic) - 35 years. This is nothing new. THIS IS SPARTA! This is what happens when you play D&D long enough - when you play ANY RPG long enough - you are eventually faced with a choice of play the current edition, move to the new edition, move to an older edition - move to another RPG or another hobby entirely.

Don't take it personally. Whether you knew it or not, THIS IS WHAT YOU SIGNED ON FOR. Aren't you having fun yet?

 

[TerraDave]

I sympathize.

I think they also know there is a problem. PF, which is 3E revised shows them there is a problem.

I kinda think its the whole point of a unity edition. To be more backward looking and enduring.

And then they get your money through various digital services. But thats another story.

 

[Umbran]

The only constant in human existence is change.

 

[Pilgrim]

I can't keep giving them money if they're going to keep doing this every few years.
I'm finished.

While I can certainly understand, my thought is, "Well, before I make a hard decision, it might be worth it to wait and see what they have in mind."

Quite honestly, it may be that the stuff you have is perfectly still usable. Until they reveal more about the system, it's really anyone's guess. Trying waiting until more info is released to see if they are indeed, alienating the 4E system, or perhaps surprisingly working with it.

 

[hanez]

Who actually viewed 3.5 as a whole new system anyways? It was the exact same thing with some errata and different tables (that we mostly ignored anyways). Sure I bought some 3.5 books, but comparing it to the 2-3 or 3-4 transition is a bit odd.

I support WOTC in making new editions whenever they like, I like new books and if I didnt want to support them I would just use one of the many srd/d20 free websites and print books. There are many many options if you dont want to spend the cash.

I just hope they make the system better