What if they're on to something

[Tehnai]

So, I've been pretty active here (after years of not even stalking these forums) ever since the announcement of the new D&D, I enjoy wild speculation as much as the next guy, and honestly believe that someone at WotC is being paid, right now, to read absolutely everything we say about D&DN (if not, they probably should)

That being said, everything we're saying here is wild speculation, the only information we do have for sure is, summed up :

- D&DN is coming in open beta this spring;

- D&DN is built around bringing the fragmented fantasy roleplaying community together into one big happy family;

- D&DN is, according to the people who tested it but can't write much about it, and, predictably, to the designers, awesome.

I can't help but feel that through all of our speculations of modular systems and treasure distributions and discussions of the necessity of warlords and so on, we are missing something massive. I don't know what, but we are missing a sort of Rosetta's Stone here.

I mean, of what we know of Monte Cook and Mike Mearls (the first being an expert in the ludicrously detailed and the second as one who's prefered playstyle seems to shift from old to new school every so often), what would be the chance of these two men being so excited about the same product. This isn't just the next version of DnD, this is the vision of two very different designers coming together and somehow not exploding but becoming something more (although explosions are pretty awesome).

I'm not telling everyone we should stop speculating and debating because we can't possibly see the big picture, because all of this debating, on top of probably giving ideas to the guys on top, is loads of fun. I guess what I'm trying to say is that putting Mearls and Cook in the same room for an extended amount of time, with a couple of dice and a laptop can't possibly go wrong on every level.

I'm not saying this game is going to be perfect, just that, you know, I have faith.

 

[Gundark]

Hey it's way easier to be negative , so in case DnD next bombs you can come back and throw it in peoples faces and maybe even add it to your Sig.

 

[foolish_mortals]

I hope they are onto something as well. I only got turned off of WOTC after not liking 4 of their products and they all are from the 4e era. For me simplicity is becoming more and more important as time goes on. I'm for light rules and heavy on the campaign adventure mush. And monsters that haven't been neutered.

foolish_mortals

 

[hanez]

Monte Cooke is freaking awesome. He has my complete faith. Loved loved loved Arcana Evolved and Iron Heroes

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

All we can do is hope for the best, and hope that Mike & Monte are gathering good ideas from EN World ... which I doubt.

 

[Jack7]

From what I've read so far I am hopeful it will be a vast improvement over 3E and 4E.

Not that there weren't good things about both editions, I'm talking overall improvement.

If they can also amalgamate, and improve on, some good things from AD&D I'd be very glad of that as well.

Personally I like progress. I am half traditionalist and half progressive (not the political term, I mean half of me favors new developments and experimentation). If they can achieve even something close to that, improvement and development without abandonment of traditional ideals, then I wish them good luck and Godspeed with it. D&D is my sentimental favorite RPG so I hope they do the best job possible.

And I'll be pulling for their success.

 

[Halivar]

I have high hopes. I thought 4E was pretty awesome; of course not everyone agrees, and we recently learned that the developer motto for 4E was "This must be awesome or WE ARE ****ED!"

The developer motto this time appears to be a barely constrained childish squeal of glee, so I'm getting some good vibes.

 

[Crazy Jerome]

I mean, of what we know of Monte Cook and Mike Mearls (the first being an expert in the ludicrously detailed and the second as one who's prefered playstyle seems to shift from old to new school every so often), what would be the chance of these two men being so excited about the same product. This isn't just the next version of DnD, this is the vision of two very different designers coming together and somehow not exploding but becoming something more (although explosions are pretty awesome).

I'd might be a little worried about this too, if they hadn't already worked together before--see Mearls' very productive time at Malhavoc.

 

[Jack7]

Yes, sometimes natural opposites (assuming they are) temper, refine, and improve each other.

They end up doing things together neither could do alone.

 

[Phaezen]

Monte Cooke is freaking awesome. He has my complete faith. Loved loved loved Arcana Evolved and Iron Heroes

Given that Monte was behind Arcana Evolved and Iron Heroes was Mearls' project until he joined WotC, the brand seems to be in good hands.