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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 5320478" data-attributes="member: 29398">I've sometimes dreamed of this very scenario... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />  [long essay warning]I'd first have to accept that 4e cannot be undone, it's too late for that; so its previously-set publication schedule would have to run its course.  But here's what I'd try to do from there, given time and resources:Year 1: - publish 4e material as scheduled but don't schedule any more.- look into buying out a company that makes metal minis, bring them into the D+D line, start producing minis of (among others) what will later become the iconic characters of 5eA and 5eB (see below).  Keep producing plastic minis of monsters.- take a long hard look at DDI and everything associated with it - can it be saved, or does it need to be rebuilt from the ground up.- get the design team working on some edition-neutral settings including two new somewhat-generic ones that become the core settings for 5eA and 5eB.- offer official support for all previous editions, put a selection of old-edition .pdf files (but not all of them) back up.- find a way to get a paper-based magazine out there again, either in-house or licensed out; use this over the next year or so to float new ideas.- do a whole bunch of informal research as to what people want from and in the game.Year 2:- publish 4e material as scheduled but by now it should be winding down.- put out a series of adventures, 4e-based but as edition-neutral as possible; in a new and reworked format designed by and for DMs.  No more delve.- do whatever needs to be done to make DDI what it should be in preparation for Year 4.- reprint and re-release some classic material - adventures, mostly - from earlier editions; these would be the things not put up as .pdfs the year before.  These would be slightly reworked to fit in with 5eA and 5eB and would be something of a trial balloon for the new systems (kind of like SWSE was for 4e).- try my damnedest to bring some of the lost design/writing/art talent back in.- behind the scenes, design like crazy - building up to:Year 3:- release D+D 5e version A and D+D 5e version B simultaneously.  Version A is 1e revisited, taking the best ideas from all sorts of other rules-light old-school style games and putting them together into a modular and as-malleable-as-possible whole to which DMs are not only allowed but encouraged to make their own modifications.  It has a DMG and PH.Version B is a mash-up of the best of 3e and 4e, also taking the best ideas from other new-school games and putting them together into a modular and cohesive whole.  DMs are again encouraged to tinker but are also warned that the math involved is balanced on a much finer edge than 5eA.  It has a DMG and PH.- release three other books that apply to both versions at once: a MM in which stats for both versions are given for each monster, a Deities and Pantheons guide, and a Guide to Better Play designed to offer advice and hints to players and DMs alike on how to role-play, come up with character ideas, and generally make the game work. (so that's 7 books in total at initial release: DMGA, DMGB, PHA, PHB, MM, D+P, and GBP)- release 2 boxed sets that are starter kits for each version of 5e.- release a series of adventures for each version of 5e.- reintroduce a version of the OGL but have tighter quality and power-creep control and looser (or no) censorship.Year 4:- design and release fully electronic versions of both 5e's; playable online a la WoW.- design and release a virtual tabletop for both versions, that as far as possible allows for house rules in either.- release a few more settings and lots of adventures, also allow fans to submit their own adventures.- hold a contest for design of new spells, winners get published in Year 5.- keep the paper magazine going but more as support now rather than trial.Year 5:- release a new book for each version, this one fills any gaps missed by the first 6 and introduces some new spells/items/classes etc. but things are generally *less* powerful than what came before. (so there's now 9 books in total; more than enough to be going on with).  Some of the spells come from the Year 4 contest.- perhaps branch into non-traditional settings e.g. revisit Planescape, Boot Hill, etc.- release lots more adventures.- support, support, support.- put out various add-on items e.g. dice, generic battle mats, etc.- sit back and enjoy the ride. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Lan-"I can dream, can't I?"-efan</blockquote>

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