I'd like to be excited, but...

[Lord Rasputin]

That might be a bad thing. Better to have an x.5 than to be stuck with a system that needs lots of corrections and balance changes.

Then why have a new edition?

The issue to me isn't a new edition. The issue is a new edition so quickly. Fourth Edition will come out five years after 3.5e which came out three years after 3e. By contrast, 3e came out 11 years after 2e which came out 12 years after the original Advanced game. In two-thirds the time between earlier editions, we've had two editions. Maybe 11-12 years was too long between editions, but 3-5 years is too short.

 

[EricNoah]

I hear you. It's not good news for everyone. For some it's "interesting but irrelevant to my situation." I find it easy to be happy for those who are excited about it because I remember how excited I was over 3rd edition, even if I'm not necessarily planning on switching.

 

[s.j. bagley]

Give it a couple years from the release and you'll be on 4.5 - if I was a gambling man I'd put money on it.

erm, okay.
i never said i wouldn't buy or support a 4.5 so your snarkiness is unwarranted.
i simply said that, whatever and whenever the next edition may be that they simply call it 'fifth edition.'

 

[DaveMage]

Let me first say that I'm not reflexively hating 4e. I think it'll probably be fine, and I'll most likely purchase it if I'm still gaming. But..

I just can't find myself getting excited. I look at the great books I have now, Nine Swords, Monster Manual V, etc. and I think, "Wow, shortly I will buy all new books and those will sit on my shelf until I finally eBay them..."

Why? I just finally "got" 3.5. I can do grapples, melees, attacks of freakin' opportunity. Now, new system! Everyone get happy! Cast off your shackles, all your worries are at an end! Except, I didn't have any worries. I liked 3.5, more than I ever liked 2nd edition (the only one I ever experienced.) Now, 4e. And after the myriad denials that WOTC put out.

And, much like the year and a half long campaign season in the US, the length of the wait spoils the excitement. I'm not looking forward to a year of slow releases, just knowing that what I buy will be obsolete shortly. And I'm not looking forward to the countless 4e discussions that will arise.

And, if this edition doesn't live up to expectations, let's hear it folks: 4.5!

Sigh.

Einan

Yeah, some of the things the WotC folks are complaing about (which apparently other have complained about) - grappling, XP to create magic items, etc., aren't things that bother me.

Ever since the announcement, and even reading the (few) new things we're hearing about 4E, I'm feeling a profound sense of disappointment.

But the beauty is, 3.5 *works*, and it will work for the rest of my life if I choose....

 

[Mortellan]

Anyone can choose to stay with a previous edition but no one likes to be 'left behind' in a forum like this since clearly all the chatter will be on 4E from here on out.

 

[EricNoah]

Anyone can choose to stay with a previous edition but no one likes to be 'left behind' in a forum like this since clearly all the chatter will be on 4E from here on out.

Not true. I'm not switching, and I'm not leaving. There will be plenty of room for all manner of D&D player here.

 

[Gargauth]

Not true. I'm not switching, and I'm not leaving. There will be plenty of room for all manner of D&D player here.

I'll be with you for a while Eric, unless converting my purchased 3.5 modules is easy enough to be fun for its own sake.

 

[Mortellan]

Of course you won't leave leave that's not the left behind I meant. I mean intellectually. You may not switch but I bet money you will still buy or be informed of 4E to be socially conversational about it.

 

[Gargauth]

Of course you won't leave leave that's not the left behind I meant. I mean intellectually. You may not switch but I bet money you will still buy or be informed of 4E to be socially conversational about it.

True enough... there won't be much to talk about otherwise.

 

[HeyJoe]

4e? Pfft... I never made the switch from 2e to 3e!