D&D 4E The Soonest You Would Purchase 4e

[Psion]

I don't see how I could escape buying at least the core books for the game, to see if anything is worthwhile.

But if it's something that would requirement to scuttle my current investment, my wholesale adoption, purchase of follow-on products, etc., are likely to be non-existent, as I have enough 3.5 material to keep me going for quite some time.

I consider a revision that consolidates and cleans up existing material more likely than a true "new edition", though. That would be something I would consider more strongly.

 

[Nightfall]

As soon I know more about them releasing a new SRD, a new d20 type deal, and oh yeah, when I finish my Scarred Lands bible.

 

[Greg K]

Depending upon the changes (and if I were getting SSI or able to go back to work full-time), I might be willing to pick it up tomorrow. Then again, I have not invested that heavily in 3.x.

 

[Beckett]

Late next year is the earliest I'd feel comfortable buying it. It really depends on how it looks, though. Once it's underway, I'll be keeping an eye out on all the news released.

Chances are, I'll be the first in my group to buy it, and I'll have to sell them on it.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

I would gladly buy 4E well before the snoods invade, hopefully securing myself one last, contented memory before the evil bastards succulate my brain.

 

[zibeck]

I'd probably buy it whenever it came out, though I think 2010 would be a good release date for 4e.

 

[Nightfall]

*sings* Time...is on my side....Yes it is! Time...is on my side, yes it is. You say...you wanna be free. But you keep coming back...you keep coming back to 4...eee ddd!

 

[Seeker95]

My interpretation and thoughts

The results in the short time this poll has been have led to a few general conclusions and questions. I think I'll start with the question.

Those who chose 2010...
How many would have instead chosen 2009 if that was the last year listed?
How many would have instead chosen Never if no 2010 option was offered?
(I suspect the majority would have chosen 2009, selecting whatever year was last.)

Those who chose never...
How many play 3.5?
How many play 3e?
How many play D&D at all?

Those who say they will not buy 4e are largely non-factors in any decision WotC will make regarding the release of 3e. Just as Porsche does not care much about what features I like r do not like in a luxury sports car*, WotC does not worry about the impact a release date might have on those who will not buy the product in the first place.

In looking at the results at this time (113 voters), 25 say they will not buy 4e. That leaves 88 with votes that would matter to WotC. 30 are willing to buy in 2007, and 22 in 2008 -- 62%. I bet WotC has done or will conduct similar market research. I suspect the results of such research will be similar.

Based on all of this, I predict a GenCon 2008 release, with enough momentum to allow for significant Christmas sales on top of the "first in line". Of those who voted 2009 or 2010, I also predict that 50% will pruchase in the first six months of release, with the majority of those by Christmas 2008.

Thank you all for your participation. I look forward to seeing the reality as well.
(For the record, I woudl buy it tomorrow, assuming it will be as good in my opinion as 3e and 3.5 have been.)

*Neither my income nor my vehicle buying habits make me a candidate for a sucha car.

 

[Ourph]

Those who say they will not buy 4e are largely non-factors in any decision WotC will make regarding the release of 3e. Just as Porsche does not care much about what features I like r do not like in a luxury sports car*, WotC does not worry about the impact a release date might have on those who will not buy the product in the first place.

This is not necessarily true. I currently play 3.5e D&D. I buy supplements for this game. I will almost certainly keep my 3.5e books and continue to play in 3.5e games after 4e comes out. I will also continue to buy 3.5e compatible supplements (from WotC and others) as long as they are produced.

If WotC produces 4e and publishes only 4e compatible supplements my gaming dollars will no longer be flowing to them. They will go solely to independent publishers who stick with producing 3.5e material.

Yes, core book sales are the main profit-grabbers for WotC, but the supplements make money too. WotC has to factor in what a 4th edition will do to their ability to make money off of their supplemental material, especially in the face of a large group of independent publishers who are perfectly free to continue publishing 3.5e compatible materials (even core rulebooks based on the SRD) due to the Open Gaming License. If they feel there is a point of diminishing returns for supplemental material, it would make sense to wait until after that point before they lose customers like me.

 

[dren]

I stated 2010.

But if I always have a gaming group that is willing to stick to 3.X / d20, maybe never. My priorities have changed a lot even since 3.0 came out, and I can't really see myself spending 1/20 of the money I have for previous editions. You never know, I might be making a lot more money and then a couple of hundred dollars may seem trivial to plunk down, but unless someting like that happens or I can't get my gaming fix any other way, I want to delay it as long as possible.