Monte's 3.75? (A sequal is on its way)

[mearls]

Riiiiight. Monte has a time machine and posted about this stuff long before the 4E announcement just so he could cash in now, of all times.

Actually, Monte does have a time machine. He just uses it to steal great works of art from the future.

 

[mmu1]

I hardly think 4E is "getting rid of or changing everything there is to like about 3rd Edition."

That's good, because that wasn't what I wrote.

 

[Pinotage]

PS: 4E doesn't seem any less backwards compatible than any other new edition of D&D that has come out, so I'm confused by that complaint.

You're right, it isn't any more backward than most editions (3e and 3.5e aside, but they're essentially the same edition). That's not what I said, though. I want to give 4e a try. But it's really hard to justify doing just that on top of the investment in 3.5e. Being backward compatible would've made it a lot easier for people to switch if they could readily convert material to the new edition (and the 2e/3e switch is different since those editions were many, many years apart). Trying to convince an entire gaming group with the same level of investment to switch is even harder. Believe me, it's a rational decision based on sound principle which would've been different had most of the material been compatible.

Most really are, and only hate the up-coming edition simply because there won't be support anymore for the current edition.

That's not entirely true. 3.5e is going to be supported at least until the end of 2008, simply because many companies are not going to invest the $5000 in getting the GSL early. They'll have to wait until 2009, which means producing 3.5e material. Even beyond that 3.5e will still have support. And some larger companies like Paizo have not yet indicated whether they are switching or not. They'll likely drag a large company fan-base with them if they do switch. 3.5e could be supported nicely by Paizo alone.

Pinotage

 

[Reynard]

This little tidbit reminds me that there are so many ways to improve D&D without completely reinventing the thing -- in either flavour or mechanics. I am trying to "come to grips" with the fact that 4E is coming and that I need to at least play the thing before I write it off, but sometimes I think "Just scour the best of the best of 3rd party OGL and build the 3E you want" -- and Monte's work certainly fits that bill.

I mean, is it any more work at this point to put together a "personal 3.x" than it is to adjust to 4E?

 

[Spatula]

Most really are, and only hate the up-coming edition simply because there won't be support anymore for the current edition (which is a dumb thought from the people who oppose 4e because of that, because having several hundred books is proof that the current edition had more than enough support, and it would take decades to play with all the options presented in it, more than the 4th edition is going to last anyway).

So if we already have decades worth of material for 3e... why should anyone switch to a new edition now? You just refuted your own argument.

 

[A'koss]

So if we already have decades worth of material for 3e... why should anyone switch to a new edition now? You just refuted your own argument.

Uh... because maybe people like what they're hearing about 4e and feel it improves on the game enough to warrant the switch?

 

[Spatula]

That's fine, but my comment was in respone to "Most people who aren't switching really are afraid of change." People who aren't switching have plenty of material right now and (obviously) don't see the current edition as completely broken. The people who are switching (also obviously) feel differently, but they were not the subject at-hand...

 

[Mistwell]

This little tidbit reminds me that there are so many ways to improve D&D without completely reinventing the thing -- in either flavour or mechanics. I am trying to "come to grips" with the fact that 4E is coming and that I need to at least play the thing before I write it off, but sometimes I think "Just scour the best of the best of 3rd party OGL and build the 3E you want" -- and Monte's work certainly fits that bill.

I mean, is it any more work at this point to put together a "personal 3.x" than it is to adjust to 4E?

If your gaming group is absolutely fixed for the next decade, then no.

But if you see the possibility of new players coming in at some point, then using the current version of the game will be a lot more advantageous than using a completely houseruled older verison.

 

[Dragonblade]

I like Monte's stuff and may give this a look. But like another poster said, its basically yet more rules patching for an edition that I feel no longer works for me.

I'm ready for a fresh start with a whole new system. Bring on 4e!

 

[TerraDave]

Mr. Mearls: As always, thanks for the reply/clarification/proper time machine usage.