I'm sick of...

[Mercurius]

If there was a "Rant" prefix then I'd use it, but I'm left with Humor...this isn't really a humor post, although it isn't deadly serious either; I'm okay with the prefix because it softens the rant a bit, and the rant is meant to be playful and not too serious, although to make a point.

I'm sick of two things RPG-related:

One, I'm sick of Pathfinder and 3.5 fans complaining about how WotC killed D&D for them. Come on guys, get over it. 4E came out three years ago...time to move on. Enjoy the game you enjoy and quit pissing in my corn flakes! This sad story is just getting old. Move along, please.

Two, I'm sick of Wizards of the Coast. Yes, the company as a whole and in general. Specifically, I'm sick of their handling of D&D - the greatest RPG brand in existence. Screwing it up is like screwing up the New York Yankees - it is virtually impossible to do (except for the fact that George Steinbrenner did do it, for about fifteen years during the 80s and early 90s, but that's another story). I'm sick of their crappy communication. I'm sick of them waffling, teasing, and just not being clear as to what direction they're going in. I'm sicking of them making decisions that seem to be made without any awareness or care of the fan base. I'm sick of DDI. More than anything, I'm sick of them producing a product that is less than what it could be.

Feel free to comment on my rants. Feel free to add your own.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

I'm sick of chocolate being in everything. Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip muffins, chocolate smoothies, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate chip chocolate iced chocolate truffle cake with chocolate sprinkles on top...yech!

I realize that chocolate is the favorite flavor of 99% of the female population, and 59% of the male population, but stop assuming I love it too!

 

[Wiseblood]

If there was a "Rant" prefix then I'd use it, but I'm left with Humor...this isn't really a humor post, although it isn't deadly serious either; I'm okay with the prefix because it softens the rant a bit, and the rant is meant to be playful and not too serious, although to make a point.

I'm sick of two things RPG-related:

One, I'm sick of Pathfinder and 3.5 fans complaining about how WotC killed D&D for them. Come on guys, get over it. 4E came out three years ago...time to move on. Enjoy the game you enjoy and quit pissing in my corn flakes! This sad story is just getting old. Move along, please.

Two, I'm sick of Wizards of the Coast. Yes, the company as a whole and in general. Specifically, I'm sick of their handling of D&D - the greatest RPG brand in existence. Screwing it up is like screwing up the New York Yankees - it is virtually impossible to do (except for the fact that George Steinbrenner did do it, for about fifteen years during the 80s and early 90s, but that's another story). I'm sick of their crappy communication. I'm sick of them waffling, teasing, and just not being clear as to what direction they're going in. I'm sicking of them making decisions that seem to be made without any awareness or care of the fan base. I'm sick of DDI. More than anything, I'm sick of them producing a product that is less than what it could be.

Feel free to comment on my rants. Feel free to add your own.

Sounds like WotC is killing D&D for you. It starts with the peripherals just ask the PF and 3e crowd.

I would have to agree that WotC waffling is irritating. They are incredibly secretive and vague like some top sectret govenrmant agency. Asking questins giving no answers.

 

[Mark CMG]

ibtl

 

[Herremann the Wise]

I'm sick of two things RPG-related:

One, I'm sick of Pathfinder and 3.5 fans complaining about how WotC killed D&D for them. Come on guys, get over it. 4E came out three years ago...time to move on. Enjoy the game you enjoy and quit pissing in my corn flakes! This sad story is just getting old. Move along, please.

Two, I'm sick of Wizards of the Coast. Yes, the company as a whole and in general. Specifically, I'm sick of their handling of D&D - the greatest RPG brand in existence. Screwing it up is like screwing up the New York Yankees - it is virtually impossible to do (except for the fact that George Steinbrenner did do it, for about fifteen years during the 80s and early 90s, but that's another story). I'm sick of their crappy communication. I'm sick of them waffling, teasing, and just not being clear as to what direction they're going in. I'm sicking of them making decisions that seem to be made without any awareness or care of the fan base. I'm sick of DDI. More than anything, I'm sick of them producing a product that is less than what it could be.

Is your "humour" then that your rant 2 seems to be leading towards your rant 1? [Perhaps you have been given a perspective on why those that did not like 4e's direction REALLY didn't like it. They saw 4e as so much less that it could have been - for them]

I went over to the D&D forum yesterday which is something I rarely do... and I was amazed at the vitriol being spewed out by so many 4e supporters at 4e. While the sprays also happened to involve Pathfinder more often than not as well, the rabid vitriol from a few who frequent EN World amongst many many others was simply breathtaking - the increased PF sales message obviously stirred up a hornet's nest. It is the division between 4e "classic" versus "essentials" though that has me concerned although the almost complete lack of moderation on the WotC boards was laughable in this regard. IF this was what D&D was all about I'd be worried... but in truth I'm not; or at least not yet.

I accept that WotC moves very slowly (although this glacial pace may soon change). I'm almost positive though that they ARE listening. With the departure of Bill Slavicsek; I would say the new head will be looking to make their mark and defining a clear direction be it Essentials, 5e or some other direction. I think this year's Gencon is going to be very interesting to say the least in terms of D&D and the D&D brand. Whatever the case, I agree that WotC do need to step things up a notch. Paizo have shown them the power of having so many people all working in the same direction.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Lord Captian Tobacco]

I never really cared much about the new editions. I stopped after 2nd and given the wealth of information aqvailable for that mechanic alone (plus anything that couldn't get out of the way fast enough to not be assimilated), I never saw just how bad things had gotten.

Part of the reason for the crash after 2 was the fragmentation of the consumer base ( the players). When forced to choose between GH, FR, DL, RL, DS, BR, SG, PS and a dozen or so other settings, many bailed, making their own settings and incorporating the best parts of the above.

To some extent this appears to be happening again ( but not as large a scale). The need to get more books and information to the gamers is what the publisher are about. (My wife giggled about the starter kits when they came out. Have we, as players, really gotten that bad?) But if the company does not publish- revenue drops off. It must walk a fine line between a setting that works and one that adapts and changes from what the players are expecting. This can be minor ( a source book that details the shake-up of a minor kingdom or region) or could be catastrophic (Battletech and it's Jihad/Dark Ages). Either way, the players and GM should sit and figure what changes if any they want to use.

Safer for all involved.

I remain pleasantly surprised when a good reference book, of any source, comes out; more often this means that I don't have to spend the money on a sub-standard re-hash of the same materiel covered in a previous edition.

Perhaps this is what really has you mad...

 

[Scott DeWar]

regarding the opening post, i agree with much that was mentioned.

I hate: when I can't get on en world but can get any where else on the inter webs!!

 

[billd91]

One, I'm sick of Pathfinder and 3.5 fans complaining about how WotC killed D&D for them. Come on guys, get over it. 4E came out three years ago...time to move on. Enjoy the game you enjoy and quit pissing in my corn flakes! This sad story is just getting old. Move along, please.

Well I'm sick of people telling me how I should feel or that I should get over it. If you don't like me mentioning that WotC screwed the pooch with 4e, I suggest you get over it.

 

[Starman]

In regards to WotC's handling of D&D, I think it's because they are genuinely struggling to figure out what to do next. The industry is changing quite rapidly with the internet, electronic forms of distribution, the ease of small press publishing and so on. They know that one big mistake could send them spiraling down. I think the OGL (and more specifically Pathfinder) has also made them very nervous. It's scary knowing that someone can do your shtick (D&D) in everything but name and that they can do it as well in at least a large portion of your customers' eyes. I imagine WotC management is feeling like they are sort of on the brink and that their next big decision could make or break them.

 

[Hussar]

I gotta admit, I'm absolutely shocked at the lack of outreach by WOTC into the internet. Other than blogs, what contact do they have with fans? Granted, after the first year or so of the release of 4e, any WOTC employee that made the mistake of wandering over here got flash mobbed, but, it has quieted down considerably since then.

I actually can't remember the last time I saw a WOTC employee make an appearance here. And that's sad. It used to be that you'd see them once in a while. Maybe not all the time, but, at least once a month or so they'd drop in and have a few words.

Yeah, WOTC's not exactly topping any charts with its reaching out to the community, that's for sure.