There are going to be a lot of people disappointed.

[Herschel]

I think a good bit depends on how they release it. If they release a core rules book and then sell the "modularity" in additional books, then I see a greater chance of people being unhappy. But what if they have the core assumption in the first few chapters and then the "modularity" tacked on in later chapters in the book.

Then a person buys one book and has what they need in one book. Want simple and rules light? Stick with the core chapters. Want a more complex system or a mix and match? Add in later chapters as needed to enhance your game.

I think physical presentation of this new D&D offering is going to have a rather large bearing on people's like and dislike of it.

Just look at the FR thread, there's posters in there saying they won't buy a product if they can't tear every mention of the Spellplague out of their books. One of the tough questions is do they put a whole bunch of modular elements in the first book or keep the modules actually separate.

Will people want to drop $75 on a big, initial offering with a bunch of stuff they don't want included or make the basic PHB $30 and sell the modules for $10 - $20 each?

 

[Glade Riven]

I don't give a flying flumph what's in it so long as it's fun. Sure, it'd be nice to surpass the genre modularity of the heydays of d20, but not a deal breaker.

 

[Wormwood]

Till this weekend is over. I think it is a bit early for pronouncements of Doom, Doom, Doom!

I would like to take this opportunity to express how pleasantly surprised I've been with the tone on this board overall. Yes, there are some doomsayers, but for the most part this community has been positive, constructive, and open-minded.

I've had many pleasant exchanges with former enemies from the Last Great Edition War, and for that I'm doing my best to keep chill.

(okay okay, I may have pushed back a little in a couple of posts---but I'm trying to be the shepherd, Ringo)

 

[thedungeondelver]

I think the new edition will be a great disappointment to people who expect it to be a Perfect Game that can replace whatever previous version of D&D they play.

It won't be. AD&D isn't perfect. Original D&D isn't perfect. 2e isn't, nor was 3e, nor was 4e.

However a game that features enough options for a DM to switch on or off or set to varying degrees to approach what they like out of D&D will be close enough.

Perfect is the enemy of good enough.

As I said in the thread about Rust Monsters, I want the choice to make them the quicker er-uppers, Q.E.D. Likewise I want other DMs to have the ability to make them into little magic item COINSTAR machines that you put unwanted magic items in to and voila get a new magic item out of (or the poop to make one).

There are people - and I cannot fathom why other than my earlier fear thesis - who absolutely don't want the knobs to be able to be turned all the way to the right. Hopefully their voices will be lost in the maelstrom and what we get at the end of the day is a customizable game that supports multiple playstyles.

My hate-on for WIZARDS OF THE COAST has been pretty serious for edition-warry reasons I won't go in to right at the moment. But...this new game, D&D NEXT, 5e, call it whatever...the effort being put forth by WIZARDS, the tone of the LEGENDS & LORE columns, reaching out to people who play not just AD&D but 3e, 2e, original D&D - that tells me they're at least trying to get it in one sock.

When they weren't even trying? When crap like cut-and-pasting the 30 YEARS OF D&D (incorrect) information into the 4e books hit, the whole promo phase for 4e? THAT was the "disappointing" part (frustrating and infuriating, actually).

If D&Dn fails to completely thrill me and make me put my AD&D books away, but I see a game that'd make a good secondary "gotta get my D&D fix" game? I won't be disappointed.

Why should anyone?

 

[FireLance]

Disclaimer: completely tongue-in-cheek :

What with all the PCs that died after failing a single saving throw, all the magic items destroyed permanently by rust monsters, and never being able to get the magic items that they want, old school players are probably used to disappointment. In fact, many probably think that it's a Good Thing and that modern players are soft because the game system doesn't disappoint them on a regular basis.

So, the designers of 5e should keep old school players happy by making sure that the new system is an utter disappointment to them.

 

[Wormwood]

So, the designers of 5e should keep old school players happy by making sure that the new system is an utter disappointment to them.

"Disappointment? Don't talk to me about disappointment."

 

[howandwhy99]

Monte Cook - is designing a new edition of D&D and trying to make it fit with 3e.
Mike Mearls - is designing a new edition of D&D and trying to make it fit with 4e.

Color me crazy, but I think those guys are both #1 on anyone's list for those jobs.

And they have said the whole team has been playing through every edition of the game. So while they may not have OSR guru reputations, they are paying attention to and seeking to understand older games.

If it isn't in the game for you, please don't complain. Just homebrew it and house rule it. If you're patient, it may be published anyways.

 

[Griego]

I would like to take this opportunity to express how pleasantly surprised I've been with the tone on this board overall. Yes, there are some doomsayers, but for the most part this community has been positive, constructive, and open-minded.

I've had many pleasant exchanges with former enemies from the Last Great Edition War, and for that I'm doing my best to keep chill.

(okay okay, I may have pushed back a little in a couple of posts---but I'm trying to be the shepherd, Ringo)

It has been a congenial atmosphere around here lately... WotC must be pleased with their marketing efforts so far.

 

[MoxieFu]

Marketing has done it's job well when you are positively disposed toward the product and can't tell any marketing has been done.

Kind of like special effects in a movie. They work best when you don't notice them.

 

[Anselyn]

But really, I think the big hangup is Old School. As Tome of Battle showed, there is a fluent transition between 3E and 4E. But I don't see how they can reconcile with editions that are not based on the d20 + modifier mechanic.

But we always wanted to roll a d20 and get a high number. Well, Ok - to hit.

We had to roll low for saves, I think .... Perhaps I'll but a new AD&D PHB after all.