Where does 3.5 go from here?

[seskis281]

No, since 3.0 came out in 2003, it will be at least four years between 3.5 and whatever comes next, not two years.

It bugs me just a teeny bit when I see people claiming that the D&D rules are being revised more frequently now that they were in the early days of D&D. As an exercise, I'm going to list the years in which major revisions of the (A)D&D rules were published. I'll ignore minor revisions, and new packaging, and look only at rules revisions which were comparable to the 3.0 -> 3.5 update or more significant. Here goes:

1974 Original D&D
1977 AD&D
1977 D&D Basic Set
1981 D&D Basic Set (Second Revision)
1983 D&D Basic Set (Third Revision)
1989 AD&D 2nd Edition
1991 D&D Basic Set (Fourth Revision)
1995 AD&D Player's Option
2000 D&D 3rd Edition
2003 D&D 3.5
2007+ 4th Edition?

Sure, it wasn't necessary to purchase all of these versions of the rules to play the game, but that's just as a true of D&D 3.5 as it is of, say, the Player's Option books. D&D has a long and rich history of revising rules, updating books and printing new editions. If anything, the pace of completely new versions of the game has slowed down since the 1980s.

I think the steady evolution of the game is healthy and keeps D&D alive and interesting. Without this process of change, I don't think D&D would have the same following it does today, although Diaglo would probably be very happy and have a much lower post count .

Sorry my friend, I certainly didn't mean to say anything to "bug" anyone - just my feelings that WoTC Executives (and that's meant to differentiate between some of the fine writers and RPG enthusiasts who certainly work there) are motivated more by marketing strategies - how to get the most people to buy the most books (and they do run up a good bit of money!) As a business it's a good idea - that's why TSR ran into the trouble it did and got bought out in the 1st place.... so in deference to the suggestion that 4.0 won't change much in core-book category, I wouldn't hold my breath... the business move is to make it significant enough of a change to make enthusiasts who already bought 3.0, then 3.5, then 3.5 volumes II, III etc. turn around and start again.

Wake me up when we reach D&D version 9.0 and D&D NX.

JMW

 

[wmasters]

I'm not sure what I want from 3.5 at the moment, but there's a lot I'm sure I don't want.

I don't need more players option books, personally. I haven't even bought the Races books, and there's more that I want to play than I'll ever need. And I've got more spells, and plenty of feats.

From the other side of the table, I also don't really need another generic campaign setting. With FR and Eberron and Greyhawk all as fairly standard fantasy, I think I've got enough. I would be quite interesting in something a little different; I'd love to see a Dark Sun campaign setting, or a return of Al Qadim or Ravenloft for 3.5. Whether they'd be popular enough to turn a profit, I don't know.

Aside from that, more adventures like WLD, Shackled City etc. The big adventure paths are excellent. And tools for making DMing and writing adventures easier are always appreciated. Things like NPC Designer, a WoTC Heroforge with continued support for the WoTC products etc.

I'd quite like to see some support for the planes, perhaps a high level campaign book focussed on one or more of them.

 

[Hussar]

Cadfan - Excellent post.

Personally, I can see a lot more of the Terrain books in the future. THere's still lots to do. An Air book for flying machines and the like, a Jungle book (heh), a Mountain book and a Swamp book.

In addition, I would love to see some more of the New Rules type books. Particularly one that would detail running low magic. And one for running very high magic as well. Additionally, something for running mercantile style campaigns and intrigue based ones.

As far as new "Core type" books, well, honestly, I don't buy any of them, so, I can't say as I care one way or another.

I buy books that will help my campaign by reducing my workload. I bought Sandstorm because I was running an Arabian Nights style campaign. Core type books really don't play into that, so, for me, they aren't going to entice me that much.

 

[tetsujin28]

A setting I can get into (unlike Eberron). Bring back one of the great settings from the days of 2e, like Ravenloft, Dark Sun, Planescape, or Al-Qadim.

 

[Matafuego]

A Giants book!

Lords of Giantness
Giant Codex
Giantanomicom
Libris Gigantis (?)

whatever!
But please give us some giant love.
The FR Giantcraft was a really good one, I bet they can make something better now. Maybe with a reprint (or remake?) of against the Giants?
That last one is higly unlikely but one can always dream...

Return to Against the Giants (!!!)

 

[green slime]

Downhill?

 

[JVisgaitis]

Seems like we have a lot of DMs posting in this thread which is cool and I agree that ways to make the game easier are always welcome. That's a great way to classify the supplements Cadfan.

For me, I'm pretty much a rules junky. I like seeing things that take the rules into new and interesting directions, however I'm not sold on entirely new systems (like Tome of Magic), though I have a preexisting bias in that regard, but that's just me.

I'd also love to see some old settings make a comeback. Specifically, Dark Sun and Planescape. Tome of Battle has me excited to see in which direction they'll take combat (and yes I'm contradicting myself, but I love combat!). I'd also like to see more core-like products like Unearthed Arcana and Player's Handbook II.

Any players out there want to comment?

 

[halfpintgamer1976]

Seems like we have a lot of DMs posting in this thread which is cool and I agree that ways to make the game easier are always welcome. That's a great way to classify the supplements Cadfan.

For me, I'm pretty much a rules junky. I like seeing things that take the rules into new and interesting directions, however I'm not sold on entirely new systems (like Tome of Magic), though I have a preexisting bias in that regard, but that's just me.

I'd also love to see some old settings make a comeback. Specifically, Dark Sun and Planescape. Tome of Battle has me excited to see in which direction they'll take combat (and yes I'm contradicting myself, but I love combat!). I'd also like to see more core-like products like Unearthed Arcana and Player's Handbook II.

Any players out there want to comment?

FEY!

I'd love to see a 3.5 supplement, solely committed to fey, that doesn't treat them like pansy's and such. Something dark ala Blood Spawn, but more comprehensive. And, something that doesn't just regurgitate the few entries that have already been published.

 

[Psion]

For me, I'm pretty much a rules junky. I like seeing things that take the rules into new and interesting directions, however I'm not sold on entirely new systems (like Tome of Magic), though I have a preexisting bias in that regard, but that's just me.

I'm getting burned out on my rules junkiness. I really can't think of very many things about which I say "I really need a book that does X".

I'd like to sit down and, y'know, play. Kick back. Toss things around.

I'll still eagerly gulp down new rules for other games and d20 variants that I feel are less complete, but I already feel like I have an embarrasment of riches in the d20 fantasy realm.

 

[Scribble]

I'm getting burned out on my rules junkiness. I really can't think of very many things about which I say "I really need a book that does X".

I'd like to sit down and, y'know, play. Kick back. Toss things around.

I'll still eagerly gulp down new rules for other games and d20 variants that I feel are less complete, but I already feel like I have an embarrasment of riches in the d20 fantasy realm.

I'm not. But I think because I was never so much a "junkie" in the first place.

I like new rules but only if they have a new and unique feel. Psionics in 3.X didn't... Magic of Incarnum did... (in my opinion at least...)

In anycase... I'd love to see someone (wizards?) come out with a big book of like 500 (or more) NPCs.

Just random dudes and dudettes I can use when I'm feeling lazy.