MERGED - "About Edition Wars" threads x9

[TarionzCousin]

No fair! I wanted that pony!

And I have the new and improved donkeyhorse.

So mwah!

I've changed my mind. I want a Zebrahorse.

P.S. I wonder what [MENTION=99]Rel[/MENTION] was trying to say by quoting my post and Holy Bovine's post without adding anything. Was he referencing his slimy mule bones thread (link in his sig)? IS REL REALLY THAT SUBTLE?

 

[Rel]

IS REL REALLY THAT SUBTLE?

It IS what I'm known for.

 

[Piratecat]

We're done.

 

[Herschel]

Can "edition wars" ever truly be over?

Most of the big bombs have been dropped, but occasional bullets still fly. It may be more of a “Cold War” situation, but I doubt it will ever really end unless you remove every fan of a previous edition from the internet.

Most of the big stuff is over, but the passive-aggressive shots still come fast and furious. Just look at http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/294405-so-what-happens-after-d-d-4th-edition.html or any number of threads. The 3E (or older) edition ‘grognards’ still talk about 4E as if it’s “not D&D”, “doesn’t have a connection with older versions (real) D&D”, how a new edition is needed to make it more like said editions. Heck, people who have never played the game complain about it when they’ve never played it because the “read on the internet” it was bad even though their reading choices are obviously biased. I remember in 3E it was a fair amount of the same, just that the internet wasn’t as widely used as it is today, and there’s a lot of people writing about how 2E “ruined the game for them.”

In the end, is there an end? When dealing with people, I don’t think there ever can be just because of the way humans are.

Thoughts?

 

[billd91]

Well, cease fires aren't cease fires when the other half of the edition wars continues to post their own pot shots at the other side in threads like this one. You want a change? I'd recommend embodying the change you want to see.

 

[Herschel]

And see a perfect example of what I'm talking about. It's always "the other side's fault. I'm just defending my edition." It's been going on since there has been a change in the game (people still disagree on the box sets).

 

[Raven Crowking]

And see a perfect example of what I'm talking about. It's always "the other side's fault. I'm just defending my edition." It's been going on since there has been a change in the game (people still disagree on the box sets).

Most of the big bombs have been dropped, but occasional bullets still fly. It may be more of a “Cold War” situation, but I doubt it will ever really end unless you remove every fan of a previous edition from the internet.

Why stop at previous editions? You would have the same effect by removing every fan of the current edition.

Or better, remove both.

Or best, accept that people are going to have different opinions, and build your byass around them!

The Zax Bypass: About the Zax


RC

 

[NewJeffCT]

In the end, is there an end? When dealing with people, I don’t think there ever can be just because of the way humans are.

There will never be an end until you admit your edition sucks and that you now worship the edition I currently play.



But, as long as there are different versions of the game and different ways to play it, there will be disagreements about the versions and how you play.

 

[Nifft]

In the end, is there an end? When dealing with people, I don’t think there ever can be just because of the way humans are.

Like war in general, it will end when all men and gods are dead, and no stone stands upon another.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Azgulor]

I used to think the Edition Wars were a thing of the past, or at least reverting to the "Cold War" paradigm you mentioned. After all, by 2010, things were much brighter for RPG fans of all stripes than it was, or at least appeared to be, at the launch of 4e.

Rather than the RPG market moving in lock step with 4e & the GSL repeating the environment of 3e, you had 4e (with very limited 3PP support) for the 4e fans, and a series of next-gen OGL games (Pathfinder, FantasyCraft, Trailblazer, etc.) for those who didn't see 4e's appeal.

In effect, from where I was sitting at least, both sides won.

However, the past several months & the last few weeks, in particular, have demonstrated that Edition Wars are not over. Now, it's no longer an argument over mechanics or play experiences, it's arguments about the publishers. There's apparently no separating the game from the publisher now. You can't say "I like 4e but boy did WotC bugger the marketing" or "WotC is running a business & I can understand why the did X but 4e isn't for me" without somebody coming along and ascribing all sorts of malicious motives to you.

Additionally, now we're entering the era of RPG political correctness. We've apparently entered a stage of hyper-sensitivity where someone saying "4e isn't D&D to me", is comparable to questioning the virtue of a 4e fan's mother. Yes, a lot of the time the "to me" part of that sentence isn't overtly stated. Y'know what? Grow a thicker skin.

If someone states "PF is just a well-written set of house-rules" while I think that's insulting to Paizo, it doesn't diminsh my campaign, my players, or my enjoyment of the game. I may weigh in with an opposing viewpoint, but my internal Offense-o-Meter isn't registering off the charts.

Once upon a time, I came to ENWorld and spent hours reading about campaigns, adventures, GM tips, and well... stuff about RPG sessions. Now, this forum is glutted with "Will Essentials do X?", "What will 5e be like?", "What would bring you back to 4e?", endless speculation about sales figures, and so on.

Sadly, I don't see a return to the "golden days of EN World" any time soon.

Notes:

• If you play & like 4e. It's D&D to you.
• 4e is D&D b/c the brand owner put it on the game.
• Just b/c the publisher calls it D&D doesn't mean it's a recognizable form of the game to all of the game's previous fans. While I'm not in that camp, I can understand the viewpoint. I love the Empire Strikes back but I hate Return of the Jedi. They both say Star Wars but that doesn't make me wrong.
• If my RPG experiences or preferences differ from yours, that doesn't make me wrong and you right. Conversely, it doesn't make me right and you wrong. We're talking about frakkin' RPGs, for crying out loud, not moral truths.