Prediction: 3.5 DMs will *always* find players

[Shortman McLeod]

So a friend of mine and I were waxing philosophical today about the upcoming 4e. And here's one thing we agreed on: unlike AD&D 1e/2e, where it is extremely difficult to find people to play (not impossible, certainly, but difficult), D&D 3.5 is so well-loved and widely played that a 3.5 DM will never have trouble getting a game going, no matter how much 4e has "teh awesome".

I say this, by the way, as a guy who enjoys both 3.x and AD&D 2e. I remember not so long ago trying to get a Planescape game going using AD&D 2e. My group, most of whom played AD&D back in "the day", unanimously cringed and groaned and said things like, "I can't EVER go back to second edition! Ugh! Brutal!"

Honestly, I can't see players ever reacting to 3.5 that way. Five years from now, when I'm trying to start up a new 3.5 campaign, I can't imagine players going, "3.5? BRUTAL! I can't go back!"

Nah, won't happen.

Am I right?

 

[Xyxox]

So a friend of mine and I were waxing philosophical today about the upcoming 4e. And here's one thing we agreed on: unlike AD&D 1e/2e, where it is extremely difficult to find people to play (not impossible, certainly, but difficult), D&D 3.5 is so well-loved and widely played that a 3.5 DM will never have trouble getting a game going, no matter how much 4e has "teh awesome".

I say this, by the way, as a guy who enjoys both 3.x and AD&D 2e. I remember not so long ago trying to get a Planescape game going using AD&D 2e. My group, most of whom played AD&D back in "the day", unanimously cringed and groaned and said things like, "I can't EVER go back to second edition! Ugh! Brutal!"

Honestly, I can't see players ever reacting to 3.5 that way. Five years from now, when I'm trying to start up a new 3.5 campaign, I can't imagine players going, "3.5? BRUTAL! I can't go back!"

Nah, won't happen.

Am I right?

That depends entirely upon the 4E mechanic, I would say.

 

[blargney the second]

I think you're partially right. With the 3.5 SRD remaining publicly available, it's not unreasonable to expect that this version will have a slightly longer shelf life than 2e did.

That being said, there are people that can't even get a 3.5 game going right now!
-blarg

 

[Vorput]

Am I right?

Don't know if you're right, but I agree. 3.5 has enough of everything that I could see people wanting to return to it sometime in the future, perhaps not exclusivly, but for a game- sure!

That being said, after a few years, I don't think anyone is going to remember how to do things like grapple anymore... but then I don't remember THAC0- so it goes.

Vorp

 

[Khairn]

That depends entirely upon the 4E mechanic, I would say.

I think there will always be a solid 3.5 market, and the publisher who positions themselves right will be able to take advantage of that.

I think the continuation of 3.5 as a viable game will rely less on the 4E mechanic, which I believe will be as solid as 3.5 (at a minimum) and more on the perception of the high cost of the new game, the relation between WotC and its customers, and the relation between the DDI and 4E. It's not "all about the game". The game and its mechanics are only a part of the story.

YMMV

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

And here's one thing we agreed on: unlike AD&D 1e/2e, where it is extremely difficult to find people to play (not impossible, certainly, but difficult), D&D 3.5 is so well-loved and widely played that a 3.5 DM will never have trouble getting a game going, no matter how much 4e has "teh awesome".

The only difference between 1E, 2E and 3E in this regard is time, sorry.

Go back and look at some archived threads. This very prediction was made about 2E and, well, we know how that one turned out.

 

[Xyxox]

The only difference between 1E, 2E and 3E in this regard is time, sorry.

Go back and look at some archived threads. This very prediction was made about 2E and, well, we know how that one turned out.

I will predict with relative confidence that there will be more 3.xE players than all prior editions combined. I base that prediction upon the two differences between 3.x and the prior editions, the SRD and the OGL.

I just don't think you'll see enough of a market for a publisher not to follow the cash to 4E. There may be a market in the beginning days of 4E, but I doubt it will be profitable enough to remain with the old edition, with the exception of PDF publishers.

 

[Nifft]

If 4e : 3e :: 3e : 2e, then your prediction may be without basis.

I honestly do hope they pull this one off, because the volume of awesome required will result in ... awesome squared.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I will predict with relative confidence that there will be more 3.xE players than all prior editions combined.

For a while. And, in time, they'll drift away to other things, just like the "hell no, I won't switch, I have $45,000 in 2E materials" people did.

 

[Xyxox]

I think there will always be a solid 3.5 market, and the publisher who positions themselves right will be able to take advantage of that.

I think the continuation of 3.5 as a viable game will rely less on the 4E mechanic, which I believe will be as solid as 3.5 (at a minimum) and more on the perception of the high cost of the new game, the relation between WotC and its customers, and the relation between the DDI and 4E. It's not "all about the game". The game and its mechanics are only a part of the story.

YMMV

If 4E rocks, no third party hard copy publishers will want to stick with 3.5. It won't be profitable. 3.x will be relegated to the PDF publishers, who I predict will actually do better post-4E than they were doing only two months ago.