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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Orius" data-source="post: 5168791" data-attributes="member: 8863">I don't think 4e vs. Pathfinder is like the previous split between Basic and Advanced.  The the Basic/Advanced split was something that happened within the same company rather than two products produced by two companies.  Also, I don't think early on the Basic/Advanced split was all that noticable; Basic was meant as an introduction to the game, while AD&D was for more skilled and experienced players.  The differences grew as Basic morphed into BECMI and AD&D went into 2e.  I think it was 2e in particular that spelled the end of Basic, since the rule changes in 2e made the systems even more incompatible and 2e had the edge on popularity with the various settings, particularly Dragonlance and the Realms, being firmly in AD&D.  If WotC does things right with this new set they're releasing, it'll be a streamlined set of simple easy to understand rules that make it easier for new players while not having compatibility problems with the more complex stuff.  I doubt WotC will go down the same path TSR did with Basic and AD&D, since the conventional wisdom is that too many different product lines is what hurt TSR in the first place.</blockquote>