There are going to be a lot of people disappointed.

[IronWolf]

To be fair, some of the items in the list in the first post could be handled via optional rules that plug-in (the dials so to speak) to the core system. Some more difficult than others, but some of those are fairly low hanging fruit to solve.

But I agree, you can't please everyone and we are all likely to have something that is assumed to be the default not match what we want. No game system is perfect, it is just a matter of finding one that most closely matches your group's assumptions and having fun with it!

 

[Henry]

I'm not too worried because I think that:

*People on message boards tend to like friendly arguments
*We all have a different opinion on what the game should be
*The majority of us expect to not get everything we're asking for.

The main reason you see such a riot of opinions across the whole internet is because WotC asked what we wanted to see, and because they do pay attention to various gamer hangouts, some more than others but they do pay attention.

Like Number48 says, we're mature here (well, hopefully ) and can handle if we don't get our way. But as it stands now, two weeks in, I think WotC is getting EXACTLY the reaction they wanted -- rekindled interest, lively debate, and anticipation.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

I think Pirate Cat is right about the re-release of 1E. The biggest likelihood for total blindsinde, "did not see that coming, I hate it, what were they thinking," reaction is from fans that either never played anything earlier than 3E, or don't remember how it worked. (Perhaps they played with a DM that ran it very different, but never really looked at the rules. This was not uncommon.)

The tussle is over the perceived center of D&D. The disagreements are largely driven by where that center is.

 

[darjr]

I'm not too worried because I think that:

*People on message boards tend to like friendly arguments
*We all have a different opinion on what the game should be
*The majority of us expect to not get everything we're asking for.

The main reason you see such a riot of opinions across the whole internet is because WotC asked what we wanted to see, and because they do pay attention to various gamer hangouts, some more than others but they do pay attention.

Like Number48 says, we're mature here (well, hopefully ) and can handle if we don't get our way. But as it stands now, two weeks in, I think WotC is getting EXACTLY the reaction they wanted -- rekindled interest, lively debate, and anticipation.

I'm impressed, actually. They've also managed to announce a product that has generated a lot of buzz, a lot of it positive, in places and with people they haven't managed to get to even notice them in a long time, for a previous edition of the game just AFTER they announced the new edition.

 

[Minigiant]

I think the biggest hangup and problem is that people dint understand what 5e is.

5e is supposed to unite gamers of all D&D generations. Therefore it will be the fixed version of your favorite edition. It will not add drastic new ideas that have no history or basis in another edition.

It will be a mix of editions (according to what they are hinting).

To me, it seems like people are arguing about what counts as a touchdown.... in a basketball game.

 

[SensoryThought]

I don't know why anyone will be disappointed. Haven't you heard it is going to be 'modular'.

 

[Number48]

I wonder if the media buzz darjr mentions is actually too soon. Will it still be in the minds of previous players to look for the system when it releases.

About the discussion of interests, wants, speculation on the internet. Are we really representative of the customer base? Would the greater customer base just pick it up because it's the new release and not worry about what version it resembles? This entire discussion board might just be a tempest in a teapot.

As to what Minigiant just said, I don't think it will be a fixed version. I'm pretty sure this isn't what they said, although a lot of people are interpreting it that way. I'm pretty sure they're saying they are looking more at the concepts and less at the actual mechanics. I'm also pretty sure that they didn't guarantee it wouldn't be something wholly new, mechanics-wise.

 

[grimslade]

D&D VE will a lot like my use of German language. It is like Legos, add a bunch of components together to get a meaning in a single word. If you play VEd., you will be expressing your particular style of play by using the modules, that when added together, give the best description of your game, house rules and all. So a group running a 20+ year Planar campaign can use VEd. Basic rules, the kit module option, Spell point module, (for spells and powers) and for the new player who wants to play a githzerai psychokineticist, the monster as PC mod, and the psionics mod. The DM had incorporated a lot of Spelljammer into his Astral Plane so he grabs a DDI Spelljammer mod too. Now the group can enjoy all their old stuff and new stuff too. If not, they continue as they were, no harm no foul.

 

[Gundark]

Like Number48 says, we're mature here (well, hopefully ) and can handle if we don't get our way. But as it stands now, two weeks in, I think WotC is getting EXACTLY the reaction they wanted -- rekindled interest, lively debate, and anticipation.

Yeah thus far Wizards seems to be handling the ball well. There will be fallout when we begin to see rules, but I suspect people will buy in as they give input and gain a sense of ownership over the rules.

 

[greyhaze]

But really, I think the big hangup is 4e. As C&C showed, you can make a 3e game pretty old school. But I don't see how they can reconcile 4e with past editions.

I think elements/tools used by the DM can be brought to 5e safely. Scaling monsters for instance.

I also think the defense system is better; AC, REF, FORT, WILL all being scores to target and counting upwards.

To respond to the OP, yep, there will be a lot of disappointed people - it's just a question of HOW disappointed will they be.