Why won't you switch?

[RigaMortus2]

As I read through these posts, I see a lot of excuses for people not wanting to try 4E all seem to come down to spite. A lot of people are unhappy about the DDI, and what they did with Dragon and Dungeon mag. I have to ask... What does that have to do with gaming or enjoying D&D? I've played 3E for 7 years now w/o purchasing any "D&D magazine" or w/o using any info in them. And it's not like you are forced to join DDI. Just pretend that there is no such thing as an internet. Hence, DDI wouldn't exisit. Then one could not use that as an excuse to not play 4E.

Anyway, I chock those excuses up to *spite*. "They got rid of my favorite magazine, so I won't buy 4E products. That'll show'em."

Now, let me just say, there are some very valid excuses I see here. I mean, heck, if you don't like what they are putting in the settings of 4E (Tieflings, Dragonborn, etc.) then I can accept that. Why play a game that you don't think you are going to have fun with? But some of these other excuses just seem to use spite as an excuse, which seems odd to me.
(and even this is stretching it a bit, since you can remove a lot of the fluff, such as a race, if you don't think it fits into your view of the world)

Anyway, just wanted to chime in.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

*removed by myself*

 

[Zinovia]

As I read through these posts, I see a lot of excuses for people not wanting to try 4E all seem to come down to spite. A lot of people are unhappy about the DDI, and what they did with Dragon and Dungeon mag. I have to ask... What does that have to do with gaming or enjoying D&D? I've played 3E for 7 years now w/o purchasing any "D&D magazine" or w/o using any info in them. And it's not like you are forced to join DDI. Just pretend that there is no such thing as an internet. Hence, DDI wouldn't exisit. Then one could not use that as an excuse to not play 4E.

Anyway, I chock those excuses up to *spite*. "They got rid of my favorite magazine, so I won't buy 4E products. That'll show'em."

Now now, the point of this thread was for people to list their reasons for deciding not to switch. Everyone has remained civil thus far. This is a forum for open discussion. If you disagree, you are free to post in the "Why will you be switching" thread.

i don't see the decision to not buy 4E as spite. It's people voting with their wallets. If you dislike a decision made by a corporation, then not purchasing their products is the best means to communicate your feelings to them. Sure, you can send them nasty emails, which will promptly be deleted. You can vent your ire on public message boards too, which normally is nothing more than sound and fury, signifying nothing. However given the number of developers we've seen posting on ENWorld, there's a good chance that your opinions will be read by some of them. Nonetheless, voting with your wallet is the ultimate means of letting them know how you feel.

Canceling the print versions of Dungeon and Dragon magazines is a decision that has upset many people, especially given that the electronic versions have been severely behind schedule and short on content thus far. The timing may be more directly related to the end of the 5 year contract with Paizo than the new edition, but it still looks fishy to some people. Then instead of giving the preview content space in Dragon as was done with the countdown to 3rd edition, they are making you pay $20 each for the preview books. No thank you. I have read over R&C some, but won't be buying it. I think it was too much money for content that should have been free or part of Dragon mag. That they are giving the magazine away free right now doesn't matter. It shouldn't mean that we get a gutted version of it. D&DI is one thing I am unlikely in the extreme to buy into.

In any case, I am cautiously in favor of 4E, but have some lingering doubts. I'm buying the books, unless the reviews from D&D Experience and later the preview module are enough to make me change my mind. I have some issues with 3.5 that may be fixed in 4E. On the other hand, I like skills and skill points and worry that with their removal, a lot of the customization of characters has gone out the window. I am also concerned about how the game will play at higher levels. I refuse to play a game where the gods are cannon fodder for ub3r powered PC's. They are the *gods* and no mortal can slay them. I hate drow. The S&M bondage queens of the underdark can go play in someone else's campaign world. So depending on how thoroughly integrated these concepts are, we may not switch.

I find it interesting to read opinions from both sides of the fence, which I am currently sitting on. Many of the reasons for not switching have been good ones. Others not so much. (Just use hex grids - that solves the 1-1-1-1 diagonal thing!) Please don't denigrate people just because you disagree with them. Thanks.

 

[hong]

You can vent your ire on public message boards too, which normally is nothing more than sound and fury, signifying nothing.

1

 

[Rel]

As I read through these posts, I see a lot of excuses for people not wanting to try 4E all seem to come down to spite. A lot of people are unhappy about the DDI, and what they did with Dragon and Dungeon mag. I have to ask... What does that have to do with gaming or enjoying D&D? I've played 3E for 7 years now w/o purchasing any "D&D magazine" or w/o using any info in them. And it's not like you are forced to join DDI. Just pretend that there is no such thing as an internet. Hence, DDI wouldn't exisit. Then one could not use that as an excuse to not play 4E.

Anyway, I chock those excuses up to *spite*. "They got rid of my favorite magazine, so I won't buy 4E products. That'll show'em."

It's not for you to say whether anybody's reasons are valid or not. This thread is here for people to give whatever reasons they care to and they aren't required to justify them. For you to declare them to be spiteful is ascribing motives to their posts and we frown on that here.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Anyway, I chock those excuses up to *spite*. "They got rid of my favorite magazine, so I won't buy 4E products. That'll show'em."

It could also be:

"They got rid of my favorite magazines. That's part of the REASON I loved the game. I don't think I'll like it as much now, the experience has soured me, and I don't really NEED the next edition. So I'm not going."

Why read malice where there could be none?

 

[Sunderstone]

As I read through these posts, I see a lot of excuses for people not wanting to try 4E all seem to come down to spite.
<snip>
Anyway, I chock those excuses up to *spite*. "They got rid of my favorite magazine, so I won't buy 4E products. That'll show'em."

Anyway, just wanted to chime in.

Short civil answer...... not the case at all.

Longer more detailed answer......
Dragon magazine was hit and miss with us, though mostly hit under Erik Mona's command. I actually looked forward to every issue instead of buying them for the sake of keeping my collection complete.

Dungeon magazine in particular was awesome for my group. The APs still keep us busy today. WotC also made some greats like Slaughtergarde, Red hand of Doom, RttToEE, Return to Castle Greyhawk, Return to Castle Ravenloft etc.

I would buy 4E in a heartbeat if it was a revamped 3.5E with all the classic stuff and faster rules. Who wouldnt want less rules bloat and faster gameplay and prep time. WotC is taking D&D 4E to a place that I dont want to be. The video-gamey fluff and in some cases crunch (the DDI does not fall into this category for me btw) just doesnt interest me at all.

WotC does have some good designers still but their latest incarnation seems to have drifted way too far out out of the classic waters.

 

[Nellisir]

I've played 3E for 7 years now w/o purchasing any "D&D magazine" or w/o using any info in them.

So it's safe to say that you and I have not had the same experience.

Anyway, I chock those excuses up to *spite*. "They got rid of my favorite magazine, so I won't buy 4E products. That'll show'em."

WotC offered a suite of products related to D&D. They've chosen to discontinue parts of that suite and replace them with something else. They made a business decision; everyone here is within their right to agree or disagree with it. Voting with your wallet is probably the most legitimate way of expressing dissent. And never underestimate the power, value, and worth of nostalgia.

Now, let me just say, there are some very valid excuses I see here.

I don't think they're "excuses", I think they're reasons.

Anyway, just wanted to chime in.

As someone else noted, this is a thread for why people aren't switching. I think it's a bit ...unnecessary... to come in and criticize them.

Unless, of course, you want to buy us all copies of the 4e books in June.

 

[Ebon Shar]

I AM switching

Well, I am switching for a variety of reasons:

1) My children are just entering the age range that I find acceptable for introduction to table-top role-playing. We have been role-playing informally since they were babies, but now they are ready for a game such as D&D and they are curious to learn more. The new edition is an excellent entry point for them.

2) I'm tired of 3.5. It's cumbersome, awkward, and difficult to learn. Prep time is ridiculous if, like me, you are a meticulous planner and record keeper. The introduction of rule variant upon rule variant and an endless stream of "options" books has made the game even more of a miasma. I'm not saying that 4.0 will not become that same mass of endless options in the future, but at least now I can get in on the ground floor.

This is an opportunity for me to cleanse my palate and start fresh. It may not be the same D&D game that I have been used to playing, but it will be fun, of that I'm sure.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Well, I am switching for a variety of reasons:

Hey, nice for you...looks like you overlooked this thread here, though. Might be your post is a bit more fitting there. Why WILL you switch.