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General Tabletop Discussion
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
What If....4E had been a modular option sub-set for 3.5?
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<blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 6238243" data-attributes="member: 59082"><p>In another thread I had the thought: What if Wizards of the Coast had published 4E as an alternate rules sub-set, or modular option, for 3.5? It would have focused on the AEDU power system and emphasized more "gonzo" play. I'm thinking something along the lines of <em>Magic of Incarnum</em>, <em>Tome of Battle, </em>and the 3E version of <em>Unearthed Arcana, </em>but as its own distinct line of products (<em>Warlords and Dragonborn? Powers and Surges?</em>). The key difference, though, is that this would have been under the umbrella of 3.5 rather than replacing it. 3.5 would have been the default, core game - but this variant would have been a line within D&D, not unlike the mega-settings of the 2E era.</p><p></p><p>I'm guessing that it would have been relatively successful and wouldn't have fractured the fan-base as much. Of course this would likely have meant no Pathfinder, or at least Pathfinder not being as successful or different (maybe marketed as "getting back to true, traditional 3.5").</p><p></p><p>If WotC had taken this route, say starting in 2007, my guess is that the edition cycle would have lasted a few more years and we would have seen a new edition sometime in the 2010-12 range. This edition probably would have been a simplified reboot somewhat similar to what we're likely to see with 5E. After 10-12 years of dense rules complexity and hundreds of rule books, WotC would have been chomping at the bit for a clean start. They'd be thinking, "We liked having that variant for 3.5, but we need to make the core simpler so we can more easily attach these modular options on." </p><p></p><p>Of course this is entirely speculative, but what do you think? What could have been?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mercurius, post: 6238243, member: 59082"] In another thread I had the thought: What if Wizards of the Coast had published 4E as an alternate rules sub-set, or modular option, for 3.5? It would have focused on the AEDU power system and emphasized more "gonzo" play. I'm thinking something along the lines of [I]Magic of Incarnum[/I], [I]Tome of Battle, [/I]and the 3E version of [I]Unearthed Arcana, [/I]but as its own distinct line of products ([I]Warlords and Dragonborn? Powers and Surges?[/I]). The key difference, though, is that this would have been under the umbrella of 3.5 rather than replacing it. 3.5 would have been the default, core game - but this variant would have been a line within D&D, not unlike the mega-settings of the 2E era. I'm guessing that it would have been relatively successful and wouldn't have fractured the fan-base as much. Of course this would likely have meant no Pathfinder, or at least Pathfinder not being as successful or different (maybe marketed as "getting back to true, traditional 3.5"). If WotC had taken this route, say starting in 2007, my guess is that the edition cycle would have lasted a few more years and we would have seen a new edition sometime in the 2010-12 range. This edition probably would have been a simplified reboot somewhat similar to what we're likely to see with 5E. After 10-12 years of dense rules complexity and hundreds of rule books, WotC would have been chomping at the bit for a clean start. They'd be thinking, "We liked having that variant for 3.5, but we need to make the core simpler so we can more easily attach these modular options on." Of course this is entirely speculative, but what do you think? What could have been? [/QUOTE]
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What If....4E had been a modular option sub-set for 3.5?
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