GreyLord
Legend
First, before beginning, this is NOT an edition war, do not bring it into this thread.
This is also my opinion on why D&D next may have a sharp drop off in sales after the initial core...
Originally I thought Next was going to be a game which had compatibility with ALL editions of the game. It would not simply be something trying to "emulate" the feel of games, but an actual game where someone who wanted to play 1e, could sit side by side with someone who wanted to play 3e.
At the worst, I thought perhaps you'd have different groups, one playing a 1e game, another a 3e game, but the core of the game would be the same, hence the same game, but different options in use.
Instead, what's now being presented is a completely new and different game. Instead of being compatible it's "recreating the feel" of the game.
I don't know how many others like me are out there, but I could care less about a new game that emulates the feel, I want a game that is compatible with all the games I've played previously called D&D, or at least compatible with many of them (I've played most of D&D since OD&D...inclusive to 4e and am currently what one may term as a rabid PF fan).
I don't need yet another new game that "emulates" the feel of another edition or game, I already have those by the dozen. I have the entire OSR movement for the older style D&D, I have PF for the 3e/3.5 (actually I like PF better then 3e/3.5 truth to tell) and 4e is still so recent I really am not concerned about that one (yet....).
I think D&D NEXT does a fine job at creating the feel of an old style game, but it's NOT OD&D/BECMI or AD&D. OSR does a better job at that to tell the truth and are even closer in style. If it's the feel, we already have other games such as DCC, or C&C to do that. I don't want a completely new game again...I WANT D&D...aka...the old rules compatibility.
Or at least the new rules (3e/3.5) with complete compatibility...then again, if WotC simply did that...I'd probably stick with PF at this point anyways.
The problem is, in picking to emulate rather than compatibility...it doesn't give me any incentive to play their new game...because it's just that...a new game. It doesn't have any catch to it. 3e had new rules and smoother play in areas...4e had more tactics and easier monsters...but the NEXT doesn't seem to have anything unique to offer in and of itself...and in trying to emulate other games...as a NEW game rather than one that is compatible...it doesn't offer enough in the emulation arena to actually attract me more than other games that are already on the market.
So when it comes out, if it is what it's appeared in the playtests...I'm probably going to stick with PF, and C&C...along with my normal AD&D games...and not transfer to D&D NEXT in all likelihood (that doesn't mean I will or will not pick up a copy of the core rules...still do not know if I'll do that or not), not because I don't want D&D to succeed, but because I have no use for a new ruleset that doesn't do anything more exceptional, or better, then what I already have.
Is there anyone else leaning this way, or feeling this way. Basically, I don't need a new ruleset just to get a new ruleset, especially if it doesn't offer anything new or unique to the picture I already have?
This is also my opinion on why D&D next may have a sharp drop off in sales after the initial core...
Originally I thought Next was going to be a game which had compatibility with ALL editions of the game. It would not simply be something trying to "emulate" the feel of games, but an actual game where someone who wanted to play 1e, could sit side by side with someone who wanted to play 3e.
At the worst, I thought perhaps you'd have different groups, one playing a 1e game, another a 3e game, but the core of the game would be the same, hence the same game, but different options in use.
Instead, what's now being presented is a completely new and different game. Instead of being compatible it's "recreating the feel" of the game.
I don't know how many others like me are out there, but I could care less about a new game that emulates the feel, I want a game that is compatible with all the games I've played previously called D&D, or at least compatible with many of them (I've played most of D&D since OD&D...inclusive to 4e and am currently what one may term as a rabid PF fan).
I don't need yet another new game that "emulates" the feel of another edition or game, I already have those by the dozen. I have the entire OSR movement for the older style D&D, I have PF for the 3e/3.5 (actually I like PF better then 3e/3.5 truth to tell) and 4e is still so recent I really am not concerned about that one (yet....).
I think D&D NEXT does a fine job at creating the feel of an old style game, but it's NOT OD&D/BECMI or AD&D. OSR does a better job at that to tell the truth and are even closer in style. If it's the feel, we already have other games such as DCC, or C&C to do that. I don't want a completely new game again...I WANT D&D...aka...the old rules compatibility.
Or at least the new rules (3e/3.5) with complete compatibility...then again, if WotC simply did that...I'd probably stick with PF at this point anyways.
The problem is, in picking to emulate rather than compatibility...it doesn't give me any incentive to play their new game...because it's just that...a new game. It doesn't have any catch to it. 3e had new rules and smoother play in areas...4e had more tactics and easier monsters...but the NEXT doesn't seem to have anything unique to offer in and of itself...and in trying to emulate other games...as a NEW game rather than one that is compatible...it doesn't offer enough in the emulation arena to actually attract me more than other games that are already on the market.
So when it comes out, if it is what it's appeared in the playtests...I'm probably going to stick with PF, and C&C...along with my normal AD&D games...and not transfer to D&D NEXT in all likelihood (that doesn't mean I will or will not pick up a copy of the core rules...still do not know if I'll do that or not), not because I don't want D&D to succeed, but because I have no use for a new ruleset that doesn't do anything more exceptional, or better, then what I already have.
Is there anyone else leaning this way, or feeling this way. Basically, I don't need a new ruleset just to get a new ruleset, especially if it doesn't offer anything new or unique to the picture I already have?