D&D 4E Is it DMs or players that are more apprehensive about 4e.

[ThirdWizard]

I'm impressed we are getting almost exclusively negative (apprehensive) DMs' and players' posts while, at the time I voted, the votes for "more like than dislike it" were clearly leading the poll both among mostly DMs and mostly players.

What are the stats? 95% of all comments companies receive about their service is negative. People who aren't happy complain and content people generally feel little need to comment. It's the reason you can't take customer feedback (and internet posts) too seriously with regard to total customer satisfaction. For that, you have to do independent, random, polling.

EDIT: I remember where I got the 95% number, there was a blog post somewhere from someone in the theater business recently that quoted it for that business. I can't seem to find it, though.

 

[Umbran]

I gots to be difficult - I am not forming an opinion until I read the actual rulebooks.

 

[Evilhalfling]

As a long term I am excited to play a new version of an old game, working a changes in my world, or creating a new one. Allowing players to try new and different options (although I am sure my fighter player will still play fighters.)

My world is built on 3.x assumptions and demographics, and balanced by my own tastes.
I look forward to working out a new balance.

My players are apprehensive, and as a group (over six years) we have only played 3.X D&D.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I'm impressed we are getting almost exclusively negative (apprehensive) DMs' and players' posts while, at the time I voted, the votes for "more like than dislike it" were clearly leading the poll both among mostly DMs and mostly players.

That should tell you something about the 4e forum. And the internet in general.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

The problem with these polls is that most people who hang out here are dms.

 

[Khairn]

WOTC's great PR in previous months have gotten my players pretty anti-4e to the point they don't go to wizards or similar sites anymore.

That is pretty much the same for my players.

I'm currently getting into a new system (Savage World Solomon Kane) and really enjoying it. As a general rule, I love learning new systems, and trying out new settings. But between the numerous stumbles that WotC has had in handling customers, and the lack of anything I find really special in what we've seen from 4E, I find myself clearly apprehensive (if not downright negative) about 4E.

 

[Reynard]

That should tell you something about the 4e forum. And the internet in general.

It is pretty obvious that there is a division (at this time) between those that are optimistic about 4e and those that are not (the former being in the majority, of course, but the latter being a significant minority). The tendency to handwave any "disent" as being anomalies based on "internet fandom" is an easy way to ignore the issue and a simple "fix" for people that can't imagine the vast majority of people not liking their current version od D&D, but if there is no real reason to believe the negative attitude is a realistic portrayal of the gaming public's atitude about 4e (once the general gaming public starts to become aware of it), there is equally no reason to believe that the positive viewpoint represents the general attitude.

I don't think this division is based on players vs DMs, age, or any of the other things we've had polls here about, though. i think it is generally a playstyle/preference thing, and 4e is a big enough departure that some segment of the people that play and really enjoy their 3.x games are not going to like what WotC has wrought with 4e. The big problem is that each side has its extreme proponents which colors every discussion. I mean, here at least, we all love D&D. If we can't agree on aspects of 3e vs 4e, we should be discussing the cool stuff in our games, the great adventures we have and the general fun to be had. Instead, we squabble and bicker and ultimately, EN World, IMO at least, is much the worse for it.

 

[Scarbonac]

I am difficult.

Think it's peculiar that anyone can form a positive view of 4e based on what strikes me as the pixie-dust and unicorn-fart releases coming out or WotC's PR machine.

 

[Fifth Element]

Think it's peculiar that anyone can form a positive view of 4e based on what strikes me as the pixie-dust and unicorn-fart releases coming out or WotC's PR machine.

Peculiar that someone could disagree with you?

There's more to it than just the press releases. There's knowledge about the designers, there's SWSE, there's Bo9S, there's the warlock, etc, etc. Not to mention the first full preview book. We have more to go on than "This is cool!"

 

[Spinachcat]

1) I can not like or dislike any game that I have not played.

2) I can not be apprehensive about 4e because WotC can not take away my other editions.

3) I do not believe SWSE, PHB II or Bo9S tells us anything exact about 4e because Alternity did not tell us anything exact about 3e. I played Alternity and 3e and they have as much in common as Traveller and 1e. Liking or disliking SWSE does not make sense as any determination that you will like or dislike 4e.

4) I am looking forward to reading the preview books - especially the parts by the designers discussing particular issues. I am NOT a fan of the new gnome changes, but I am very interested in their thoughts on gnomes.