D&D 4E When will 4e be anounced?

[Scott_Rouse]

Ok here is my prediction.

In 2010 Proctor and Gamble buys the majority share of Hasbro to get exclusive rights to make My Little Pony Toothpaste and Soap. The rest of the IPs are sold over to various multi-nationals. A cooperative of spammers and internet cafe owners in Nigeria working for ousted government cabinet members buy the rights to D&D and immediately announce 4th edition. Their plans include microfiche core rulebooks, pre-painted lead minis, and adventures sold over on-demand cable service. TSR is re-formed and new corporate headquarters are opened in an underground bunker in Nevada where plans are made to re-vitalize the Spelljammer LARP. It is a joint venture between the SCA, the Dept of Defense and the Chamber of Commerce in Roswell NM.

 

[RatPunk]

A cooperative of spammers and internet cafe owners in Nigeria working for ousted government cabinet members buy the rights to D&D and immediately announce 4th edition.

So, if I let them use my bank account as they request 10+ times/day, does that then make me a shareholder in 4E and therefore allow me to reap in the mad profits?? I'm in!!

 

[Scott_Rouse]

So, if I let them use my bank account as they request 10+ times/day, does that then make me a shareholder in 4E and therefore allow me to reap in the mad profits?? I'm in!!

Think of it as stock options

 

[Aus_Snow]

2010, as I've maintained for some time now.

 

[delericho]

Never.

Once the character generator for the DI becomes available, switching to a new edition becomes a monstrous undertaking, as it involves throwing away and rebuilding the database, and probably a large chunk of the rest of the code. Furthermore, the core system used by the game is fairly solid, and so not really in need of revision.

So, what WotC will do is produce books like (but not identical to) the "Rules Compendium" which will gradually roll out key changes to the core rules. Then, every couple of years, they will re-package and reprint the three Core Rulebooks, incorporating the best-received rules changes, and switching in and out some of the prestige classes, spells, monsters, and so on into the 'Core'. They'll never actually call it a new edition, and will in fact claim that the books are "100% compatible". The expectation will be that groups will gradually upgrade, but will do so together, and so they'll hope this will allow them to keep the PHB/DM/MM evergreen, without the bad feelings that a new edition will inevitably cause.

 

[RatPunk]

Never.

Once the character generator for the DI becomes available, switching to a new edition becomes a monstrous undertaking, as it involves throwing away and rebuilding the database, and probably a large chunk of the rest of the code. Furthermore, the core system used by the game is fairly solid, and so not really in need of revision.

So, what WotC will do is produce books like (but not identical to) the "Rules Compendium" which will gradually roll out key changes to the core rules. Then, every couple of years, they will re-package and reprint the three Core Rulebooks, incorporating the best-received rules changes, and switching in and out some of the prestige classes, spells, monsters, and so on into the 'Core'. They'll never actually call it a new edition, and will in fact claim that the books are "100% compatible". The expectation will be that groups will gradually upgrade, but will do so together, and so they'll hope this will allow them to keep the PHB/DM/MM evergreen, without the bad feelings that a new edition will inevitably cause.

You know, I actually really like this idea...

 

[Mark CMG]

Ok here is my prediction.

(. . .)

Obviously bunk! It utterly fails to account for the disembodied-head-of-Gygax-in-a-jar factor. How can you have a sound theory that doesn't include DHOGIAJ?!?!

 

[Wombat]

shrug

For my own games I don't really care, but I enjoy watching the anthill syndrome around everyone else.

Since I am no longer playing D20, and it is highly doubtful I will pick up 4e, I am simply fascinated watching the unending speculation.

 

[The Lost Muse]

4e will be released when The Computer is ready to upgrade. Report to the disintegrator, citizen.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

2029.