Should WotC update the rules WITHOUT issuing a new edition?

[KenM]

Did'nt TSR do this with 2nd ed? They made minor changes in the rules every few printings or so. But it just made playing harder becuse people thought they were playing a certin way and they we not.

 

[DaveMage]

In my specific instance, I'm recommending redoing several spells. Should that be done in a supplement rather than fixing the problem in the core rules?

Depends on the number you're talking about. If you're talking about one or two, then I'd suggest a web enhancement. If you're taking about a dozen or more, then I'd wait for a new edition.

 

[Markn]

Depends on the number you're talking about. If you're talking about one or two, then I'd suggest a web enhancement. If you're taking about a dozen or more, then I'd wait for a new edition.

I think that a web enhancement has the same inherent problems as a rules update book as well as the same benefits. First off, not everyone has access to a computer and so a web enhancement is a poor way to reach the mass of their audience. I think a rules update book, whether soft cover or hard cover reaches more of the masses and it is a strong marketing process by WotC to say 'Hey, gamers, well here is how we are supporting the game. If you want this support buy it, if you don't feel you need it, don't". At least there won't be any confusion as to whether an update was posted on the web site last night or not...

Some other poster previous brought up the fact that 2e was using rules updates similar to what I am suggesting. I would say that I envision it a little different to that. First, many of those were optional rules. I am not advocating optional rules. Nor am I advocating experimental rules. I am advocating rule changes, for the sake of improvement and balance. One may argue that new rules are always experimental but for the sake of testing they can be released in other books (a la Unearthed Arcana). Once the masses like the idea release it in the rules update book. Finally, although the book is not meant to be optional they shouldn't be necessary and this is the tricky part. How do you support gamers not using the latest rules patch per se? Well, I think WotC has shown that it can be done with the advent of 3e. Many players still play 3e and still buy new products. Hell, from group to group, there are many different rules (house rules) and playing styles so I don't see it as much of an issue as others might.

I think a rules update book makes the most sense to me....

 

[Desdichado]

I remember it being said that during the 2E years TSR used to update the rules in the core books when a new printing came out (not necessarily every new printing). They didn't make a big deal of this, advertise it or the like. My understanding is the changes were tweaks and errata, not major changes.

Do you think WotC should follow this procedure?

I think they should do more or less as the 3e ==> 3.5 transition. Evolutionary rather than revolutionary updates to the rules, they are available via the SRD, and they are largely compatible with older material, but different enough that most customers will buy remakes of the older material anyway.

 

[Markn]

I think they should do more or less as the 3e ==> 3.5 transition. Evolutionary rather than revolutionary updates to the rules, they are available via the SRD, and they are largely compatible with older material, but different enough that most customers will buy remakes of the older material anyway.

My one big beef with the 3 to 3.5 transition was that it was WAY to easy to miss some of the rule changes. Some spells are worded differently and so forth. I think that a book dedicated to pointing out the changes would be best rather than saying here is the udpated PHB, find they rules changes yourself.

 

[Ranger REG]

Did'nt TSR do this with 2nd ed? They made minor changes in the rules every few printings or so. But it just made playing harder becuse people thought they were playing a certin way and they we not.

All I can remember of 2nd edition Revised is the ever-shrinking list of allowed elf's multiclassed character combination. Then I remember the Player's Option which runs counter to the Complete Handbook series.

 

[Gentlegamer]

They did, it was called 3.5

AKA d20 Fantasy, 2nd Edition

 

[JustKim]

Did'nt TSR do this with 2nd ed? They made minor changes in the rules every few printings or so. But it just made playing harder becuse people thought they were playing a certin way and they we not.

Yes they did, but I never heard of anyone being bewildered by books with corrections in 1E, 2E or 3E. I recall once we had two versions of a PHB and one was slightly different in some way. We looked at the front of the books for the publish dates and where the books where at odds (It couldn't have been more than one or two places), we used the more recent one. This took all of thirty seconds and we were probably fourteen.

You could say that theoretical people were confused by different books with slight corrections and it ruined their day, their game or their lives, but it's equally feasible that if WotC did not update books, those theoretical people would see on the site corrections from two years ago, look at their own books reprinted last month that say something different, and be just as confused. It's a moot point.

 

[thalmin]

I believe that TSR did not really change the rules with future printings, but rather only made corrections, mostly for typos though some were for clarification.

 

[Glyfair]

I think they should do more or less as the 3e ==> 3.5 transition. Evolutionary rather than revolutionary updates to the rules, they are available via the SRD, and they are largely compatible with older material, but different enough that most customers will buy remakes of the older material anyway.

Except 3.5 was met with a lot of disdain because of the amount of changes it made. It also upset the d20 industry, because of the number of products that were now "incompatible."

Honestly, although I dived into 3.5, I wouldn't upgrade event to a 3.6 anytime soon. If WotC goes to a 4E anytime soon, I might honestly just jump ship to a different game (and maybe continue playing in Eberron with what I have). However, I don't necessarily want to see such things in the game sit there and not be fixed because WotC is waiting for a "new edition."