Time for some Black Pages?

[Glyfair]

Maybe it was all speculation, but the year before 3e was released was a lot of fun on my end.

I definitely don't want the designers to spill the beans and give out a lot of information. I just want real tidbits to help fuel the fire. I'm excited/hopeful that 4e will be great.

In fact, in my recent hobby game experience I've seen the opposite. The further in advance the players saw the majority of the game, the less excitement the release of the game had and the slower sales in the beginning overall.

If we knew everything in January (when nearly everything is supposed to be done), we will have 4 months to digest the game. When the PHB is released in July is will be "old news" and the slower sales (at least initially).

Given the amount of outlay the gaming stores have to give the games, this is a bad thing for them. I know for a fact that many gaming stores cut back on everything but D&D (some to the level of skipping many games that week) when 3.5 was released, because they had to stock up heavily on the 3 core books. That took their whole budget. If it hadn't moved quickly, they would have been in deep, deep trouble.

That doesn't mean they don't release information. It does mean they have to space out the revelations over the next 8 months.

 

[broghammerj]

To take a page out the WOTC blogs, "I'm sure this is probably more than I ought to say right now, but"

I get a little tired of the I am not supposed to say this routine, especially since they're not saying much.

 

[Gwathlas]

Since it starwars and dragons

In fact, in my recent hobby game experience I've seen the opposite. The further in advance the players saw the majority of the game, the less excitement the release of the game had and the slower sales in the beginning overall.

If we knew everything in January (when nearly everything is supposed to be done), we will have 4 months to digest the game. When the PHB is released in July is will be "old news" and the slower sales (at least initially).

Given the amount of outlay the gaming stores have to give the games, this is a bad thing for them. I know for a fact that many gaming stores cut back on everything but D&D (some to the level of skipping many games that week) when 3.5 was released, because they had to stock up heavily on the 3 core books. That took their whole budget. If it hadn't moved quickly, they would have been in deep, deep trouble.

That doesn't mean they don't release information. It does mean they have to space out the revelations over the next 8 months.

Gaming stores will have one hell of a wait for me and my group to buy this mutant game. Not on my to buy list!

 

[DaveMage]

If I look back at the archives for Aug-Oct 1999, the numerical tidbits had to do with spell durations (because of going from a 1-min round to a 6-sec round), the concept of critical "threat ranges" (a new thing for D&D), armor class (different numbering system), an incorrect/speculative chart showing ability score modifiers, an official preview of two new "stats" for armor (max dex and skill check penalty).

You'll need to advance that a bit. October 1999 was 10 months prior to release. We're just about 7 months to release. Check January 2000.

So, I'm ready for the 4e versions. There has to be at least one class that WotC has finished up except for minor tweaking.

Wait for the preview books in December & January. They you'll have more info.

 

[BASHMAN]

I do not enjoy the various blogs that discuss how wonderfully fun the playtests have been. I want meat and potatoes.

John

Amen. Fry them up crisp so I can get to the crunch! Tired of WOTC spoon-feeding us fluff.

 

[Exen Trik]

Of course I'm eager for anything new, but I have no complaints about how much info we have now. They're still playtesting, working out whatever bugs there may be, big or small. No matter how certain they think they are about this idea or that mechanic, it could very well be turned over the next day, so why should they toot their horn prematurely?

Also, all our rampant speculation, concerns and knee jerk reactions on the details we do have is being paid attention to, and may very well improve what 4e comes to be. So I say let's give them the time, give them the benefit of the doubt, and keep giving them hell.

 

[Hussar]

People HAVE a massive preview of 4E - it's called 3E; or "the d20 system". There's only so much they can say without just handing out the game!

That's just brilliant.

4e, the one true game, all previous editions are only previews.

 

[Umbran]

Gaming stores will have one hell of a wait for me and my group to buy this mutant game. Not on my to buy list!

And that's your right. Fine and dandy.

But you are in the 4e sub-forum. Dedicated to discussion of the upcoming game. Methinks that if you're so set against the new edition, you're in the wrong place. While I understand lots of folks are not happy with what we've seen, that is not an excuse to use this place as a dumping ground for a bucket of your negativity.

You are free to be displeased, and to even express that displeasure - just do it in a way that promotes further thoughtful discussion. Thank you.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Amen. Fry them up crisp so I can get to the crunch! Tired of WOTC spoon-feeding us fluff.

Yeah, I get the impression that their bosses are already on their cases for giving us TOO much information too early. They want to build up hype slowly, so they can tell us something small every couple of days for the next 7 months. Each thing they say in a blog entry is something that can't be used in January as a preview article. And they'll want to release more information closer to the date the PHB is available. Hype only lasts so long after someone reads something.

If they tell us something REALLY cool next week that makes nearly everyone say "Wow, I have to buy this game", a bunch of people will have forgotten about it by May and might go back to being negative before then. If they release those facts in April or May, then it might cause people to preorder immediately.

They also want people to buy the classes and races book in December. One of the designers said they were specifically told not to tell us about the classes in any detail until that book comes out.

 

[Scribble]

Patience! May will arrive on schedule

Not if we have to deal with that Lousy Smarch...