Remathilis
Legend
I voted, but in all honesty the scenarios that could bring AD&D back into play are so varied, its hard to say...
If WotC released some form of collector's edition (a 1e or 2e complete set like the TSR Silver Collection) sure, I'd buy them because I'm asucker collector.
If WotC put them on some electronic format (PDF, Kindle, iPad) I might consider it. I have all the books I need on PDF for now though, so some new release would have to "Wow" me.
Now, assuming the OSR movement is big enough to warrant diverting time, money and manpower from 4e (not likely, but lets say for argument it is). First, we'd have to establish what "base" we're aiming for. Purists don't need (or want) anything new. Retro gamers have a wealth of options already (BFRPG, LL, S&W, C&C) that only lack the D&D name. 3e players have Pathfinder and a million d20 variants. Anything like this project would have to compete with all of these.
Even if there was a niche among all these D&D variants, what would look like? Would it be based off 1e, 2e, OD&D, Basic, or some amalgam of each? Would it include new rules or merely a cleaned up presentation of older rules? Is compatibility with 1e/2e/4e an issue? Do we include post 2000 revisions (upwards AC, for example) or is that too "3e"? I bet the edition war on such a project would rage for years...
Ultimately, if WotC wants to jump into the "retro" market, do a collectors print run of one of the older editions (1e would be logical, as would Basic/Expert or OD&D 3-book) with WotC's logo covering TSRs and a new copyright date, and sell it as a collector's item. (WotC could probably do the same damn thing with a limited run of Unlimited or Revised M:TG). However, sinking resources in following the retro market is a fool's errand, let the small companies and PDF makers chase that market, WotC has D&D and thats worth more than enough, even in 4th edition...
If WotC released some form of collector's edition (a 1e or 2e complete set like the TSR Silver Collection) sure, I'd buy them because I'm a
If WotC put them on some electronic format (PDF, Kindle, iPad) I might consider it. I have all the books I need on PDF for now though, so some new release would have to "Wow" me.
Now, assuming the OSR movement is big enough to warrant diverting time, money and manpower from 4e (not likely, but lets say for argument it is). First, we'd have to establish what "base" we're aiming for. Purists don't need (or want) anything new. Retro gamers have a wealth of options already (BFRPG, LL, S&W, C&C) that only lack the D&D name. 3e players have Pathfinder and a million d20 variants. Anything like this project would have to compete with all of these.
Even if there was a niche among all these D&D variants, what would look like? Would it be based off 1e, 2e, OD&D, Basic, or some amalgam of each? Would it include new rules or merely a cleaned up presentation of older rules? Is compatibility with 1e/2e/4e an issue? Do we include post 2000 revisions (upwards AC, for example) or is that too "3e"? I bet the edition war on such a project would rage for years...
Ultimately, if WotC wants to jump into the "retro" market, do a collectors print run of one of the older editions (1e would be logical, as would Basic/Expert or OD&D 3-book) with WotC's logo covering TSRs and a new copyright date, and sell it as a collector's item. (WotC could probably do the same damn thing with a limited run of Unlimited or Revised M:TG). However, sinking resources in following the retro market is a fool's errand, let the small companies and PDF makers chase that market, WotC has D&D and thats worth more than enough, even in 4th edition...
