Should WotC update the rules WITHOUT issuing a new edition?

[DaveMage]

Other than minor corrections, no, I don't think there should be updates without a new edition. If there's something that makes the game better for this edition, then release it as a web feature or put it into a book like Unearthed Arcana.

 

[JoeGKushner]

God, I hope not.

Don't get me wrong, if they want to also make it available in an e-format, that's cool. But the thought of a new edition being only available in that format makes me shudder. I hate reading on a screen; give me a real book, or give me death!

Well, okay. Maybe not death. I probably wouldn't play the new edition, though.

I could be off base here, but aren't you part of Lion's Press and do e-format books?

 

[Mouseferatu]

I could be off base here, but aren't you part of Lion's Press and do e-format books?

Yep, I am.

Here's the thing, though. LDP products are, for the most part, relatively short. I object far less to reading a 25-page "article" on the computer screen than I would an entire rulebook.

Secondly, if I could manage to make LDP a successful print company, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I love the stuff we're doing at LDP, and I'd prefer to do it in whatever form is available than to not do it at all. But given the choice, I'd go with print every time.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Just to avoid any misunderstanding of my previous comment--we all know how the internet can be --I don't think PDFs are "evil" or "wrong" in any fashion. Nor should my comments be taken to suggest that I feel Lion's Den's stuff is somehow "lessened" by coming out as PDFs.

My preference for print is purely a personal one, not something I expect everyone to agree with.

 

[Hand of Evil]

God, I hope not.

Don't get me wrong, if they want to also make it available in an e-format, that's cool. But the thought of a new edition being only available in that format makes me shudder. I hate reading on a screen; give me a real book, or give me death!

Well, okay. Maybe not death. I probably wouldn't play the new edition, though.

It is still a few years out, maybe 5, but it would almost be a disposable media, cheap color thin screen about 7 inches by 5 inches and 1/2 or less thickness, good memory for storage and a USB port and will play music, you will download newpapers to them, books, mags. They are out now, price out of reach and not as compact but soon, very soon, some publishing company will start mass producing books directly on them.

 

[Shadowslayer]

Dude, who shat on your toast this morning? Seriously, it's a word. Not worth making a government case out of it.

Heh...you haven't seen my wife when someone refers to a lectern as a podium.

Anyhoo, I don't think its the end of the world if an updated version is released. My only thing would be that if they change what's inside, they should change the cover so folks know the diff, even if its just a slight color change, and maybe putting "2nd printing" right after the D&D 3.5 logo.

 

[Markn]

Here's a thought.

If I were WotC I would consider releasing a rules update book every year or perhaps every 2 years. Now before people jump all over me let me explain. First, a rules update and not an edition change would allow people who are interested in updating to update and those who don't see the need to simply avoid buying it. It allows the game to become a living, evolving rules set. By no means am I advocating massive rules changes but large enough changes to warrant a book. For example, an overhaul of the metamagic system, spell rewrite (AKA polymorph as a past example) and for clarifying existing rules are examples that come to mind.

From WotC point of view it would accomplish 2 things. 1) A book that most players/DM's would buy and thus would give them 1 really good selling book a year on par or close to in sales comparison to the PHB, DMG and the MM which is something most other products of theirs does not meet. 2) New products could then be released based on the new rules updates. This ensures a continuing source of new and hopefully interesting products to accompany the new rules which in turn helps to create a stronger market for purchasing new books. Which of course then create a profitable company and reduces the need for massive revision changes (4e, 5e, etc).

From a customers perspective this will have a limited impact on their play. For those customers who buy most of the books, buying these books would not be an issue. It will simply become part of their libraries. For those out there who buy very few books (and this includes some of my playing group), 1 book a year isn't going to break you, especially if it has some crunch to it that helps to improve the quality of gameplay or enhance/balance the game. Really it comes down to, if you want it buy it, if you don't then don't buy it. However, I suspect a majority of customers would buy it.

Although this is not perfect, it does seem to strike a balance from the WotC perspective and the customers perspective. I guess the main drawback I can see is that people may be playing with different rules sets from group to group, but in reality that is beginning to happen more and more with each edition released. There are some who only play Basic still, others 1e, others 2e, others 3e and still others on 3.5e. So as time grows and more editions are released it is only going to get more and mroe fractured. In addition, those players who attend Gen Con and that sort of thing tend to be up on the latest rules (I could be wrong here) and so most players attending gaming conventions will likely be using are at the very least be familiar with the latest rules. For those groups who do not attend gaming conventions then really what does it matter what rules subset they are on.

Food for thought.

PS - One more thing. If WotC were to consider something like this they should inform their customers that this is their approach to the game from this point on (that is at the time of adopting rules updates like this one). It would lessen confusion and prepare the mental state of the their customers that this is how their game will be supported for the foreseeable future. Then those who would be on board with this will have an understanding of how the game will evolve and for god's sake it will kill all the 4e, 5e edition threads that pop up all the time.

 

[JoeGKushner]

One thing that RMSS by ICE used to have, is an annual of different rule bits that crept up in various places and could be added to the game.

 

[Glyfair]

They have. The Special Edition printing incorporated the errata - including a couple of changes to Divine Favour, etc. That printing is now in regular PHBs as well. (See if your PHB has the "Special Edition" line in the page).

Yes, however, I'm talking about a slightly more aggressive approach. In my example, several spells would be changed for balance reasons. This was done a bit in 3.XE (notably the polymorph spells). I'm recommending more of this, compared to a move towards a new system because of small balance issues.

I'm specifically not arguing for as many changes as 3.5. Advance the game rules balance without actually needed a system "revamp."

If possible, I think that they should make swift and immediate actions part of the core rules. I don't think that would add too much space.

This I specifically wouldn't recommend because nothing in the core rules requires it. Admittedly, a majority of supplements now use them, and that's a lot of wasted space reprinting the same information over and over. So, it might not be too bad.

Other than minor corrections, no, I don't think there should be updates without a new edition. If there's something that makes the game better for this edition, then release it as a web feature or put it into a book like Unearthed Arcana.

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?

 

[Ranger REG]

Yes, however, I'm talking about a slightly more aggressive approach. In my example, several spells would be changed for balance reasons. This was done a bit in 3.XE (notably the polymorph spells). I'm recommending more of this, compared to a move towards a new system because of small balance issues.

I'm specifically not arguing for as many changes as 3.5. Advance the game rules balance without actually needed a system "revamp."

This I specifically wouldn't recommend because nothing in the core rules requires it. Admittedly, a majority of supplements now use them, and that's a lot of wasted space reprinting the same information over and over. So, it might not be too bad.

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?

So, we're not talking about correcting the rules anymore, we're talking about amending the rules.