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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ulrick" data-source="post: 5981357" data-attributes="member: 775">I don't want WotC promoting my hobby or influencing what happens at my gaming table, because WotC doesn't really encourage players to become imaginative anymore. Instead, players are supposed to follow the game rules as written without much deviance or risk to their characters, all in the name of fun and, for WotC, profit.Does that sound bitter? Sure. But hear me out.1. 4e certainly was the turning point for my opinion, but I had been wary of WotC for sometime before that. See, under TSR, D&D had core rules, but at the beginning of every rule book there was a caveat that said that most of the rules were guidelines, play and adjust the rules to taste. With 3e, this changed to "here's you must play the game." It was a subtle change. I didn't notice it for sometime until I realized how bloated the rules were or when I tried to change something. 4e is even worse in this regard. 4e geared all of its powers and abilities around combat, combat, combat. 2. Before, the rules supplemented your imagination. Now the rules supersede your imagination in order for games everywhere to be standardized--like a video game. Yes, I know that's a trite criticism to 4e, but at least earlier editions encouraged people to read the books that inspired the game (long live Appendix N!). You see this in the evolution (de-evolution?) of the character sheet. Back in the day an entire character could be written easily on an index card. Over the decades the sheet became more complicated, but in 2e actually had a layered system to ease players into the game. Don't want to use Non-Weapon Proficiencies?--fine, use that extra-space for notes. 4e character sheets resemble a strange mathematical flow chart to me.3. With 4e, WotC made it clear that I am not their target demographic. Others have stated similar views elsewhere. Now, I do realize that they are trying to amends with my age group, but it'll be really hard to earn my goodwill back if its remotely possible, especially when they release stuff like the Red Box--but instead of actually having Basic D&D inside, its 4e lite.Furthermore, while at first it seems admirable that the books will generate some money for the Gygax Memorial Fund, in the back of my mind I think WotC is just selling the books so they can limp along until 5e comes out. I already own multiple copies of the originals. So lemme get this straight: WotC initially made it clear with their advertising campaign for 4e that I was fool for even wanting to play earlier editions, and now that their bottom line for D&D 4e is hurting they are using the memory of Gary Gygax to generate revenue?!?) That's just despicable. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but so far haven't seen an actual percentage (5%? 10%, 20%???) of what WotC will donate from profits to the fund. But for now, I say if you want to donate money to the fund, donate it directly, don't let WotC act like a filter. Heaven forbid if a company wants to make money. I'm not upset with WotC about that. I strongly disagree with their methods (the "ends justify the means" and all that.)For me, WotC has blown it. They are done. While certainly they have led the way for years now in getting people into the hobby, I don't want them doing that anymore. But I know that they're going to continue anyway, despite my viewpoints above. They promote rules before imagination and profit over being decent to their customer base. They've used up their goodwill with me.Finally, we all need to stop wondering what WotC will do next for/to the D&D and take a more active role in recruiting for the hobby. I'll recruit for Paizo/Pathfinder. I'll recruit for the Old School Renaissance. I'll recruit for other RPG systems/companies. But I'm done recruiting players for WotC.</blockquote>

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