D&D 3.x Will 3.5 hurt sales for 4E?

[Mephistopheles]

For a lot of people it will probably depend on whether 4E will serve their needs as well as or better than 3.5E is. 3.5E has a strong library behind it now and for a while after launch 4E will be anemic in comparison. I don't expect to switch to 4E for a while after launch as it's unlikely my 3.5E campaign will be wrapped up by then. Even then it will depend on how 4E turns out.

To be honest I've been a little turned off since the announcement of 4E and have been giving some consideration to running a 1E or 2E campaign (core books only, nice and simple) once my current campaign is finished. I'm hoping the online tabletop software isn't locked in to 4E and can function as a generic tabletop that will allow you to run any d20 game on it.

 

[Jhaelen]

"It looks interesting, but I'm gonna wait until 2011-2012 when they come out with 4.5 before I switch."

Directly after the 4th.ed. announcement that was my reaction as well. Especially, since I won't be able to use the new rules before they've been translated into German - there's no chance my players will consider switching to 4th.ed. before that.

WoTC have repeatedly stated that there will not be a 4.5.

After thinking about this, I believe them. It doesn't have to mean much more than that they'll just call it 5th edition if they feel a certain amount of rules updates is needed.

But I guess it may also mean that they are pretty confident that they'll be able to 'sneak in' important rule changes via D&D-Insider updates. I fully expect both more and more regular errata/updates than in 3rd.ed. The pessimist in me keeps thinking this will be worse than ever before, because we will not only have two 'sub-editions' like we had in 3.X., but four new editions per year. The optimist in me doesn't know what to think, yet - except to hope the pessimist isn't right

 

[JoeGKushner]

Seriously, why do people keep believing that WOTC tells the truth? They will not be honest about anything that may hurt their future sales. Telling people that there will be a 4.5 will hurt their sales, so of course they aren't going to tell you there will be.

Or maybe this time they will keep it 4.0 and just call it "errata" that will be in "X" printing and later.

Works for Call of Cthulhu.

 

[Wanderer20]

I must say I'd trust WotC without the fact they switched to 3.5 after 3 years, and always denied they were working on 4E "for the sake of business".

Lol, that one is wonderful ...

For the sake "of my wallet and my nerves", I'd answer, I won't trust or buy anything from you regardless.

I'm happy my gaming group agrees with me, if not totally upon the trust statements, surely upon the money expenditure statements.

 

[Maggan]

and always denied they were working on 4E "for the sake of business".

Lol, that one is wonderful ...

Quote, please?

/M

 

[delericho]

"It looks interesting, but I'm gonna wait until 2011-2012 when they come out with 4.5 before I switch."

That's valid, although it will probably be called 5th Edition. However, if you can't get $90 of use out of your 4th Edition core rulebooks in four years, you're not playing enough.

 

[sfgiants]

The truth is that 4.5 is coming. WotC have made it clear that core rulebooks are where the money is. One way to keep selling core rulebooks is a revision. History suggests that enough people will buy into the revision to make it financially worthwhile for them.

And as others have said wizard's reliability is pretty low right now. As far as business practices go I wouldn't beleive a word they say.

 

[Moggthegob]

It is quite true. After 3.5 i gave them the benefit of the doubt.

However, Dungeon and Dragon being cancelled really push me onto the edge but I figured oh well maybe it will still be for the best but I was definitely a bit edgy.

Then 4th edition came at gencon, after stating that it was so far away(purposefully vague language or not you knew what they wanted you to think so I dont buy the purposefully vague argument) just shattered their credibility for me. So if not for the fact that i am getting the 4th ed books free I would not be buying them and I certainly will not purchase anything extra.

Necromancer and Green Ronin are just as good and I can believe a word they say.
And of Course troll Lord Games present me with a great option in C&C. Who needs wizards.

 

[reanjr]

The truth is that 4.5 is coming. WotC have made it clear that core rulebooks are where the money is. One way to keep selling core rulebooks is a revision. History suggests that enough people will buy into the revision to make it financially worthwhile for them.

But with the new plan to release a PHB, MM, DMG II, III, etc... every year, there is no need to release a new version. They can put new subsystems into the DMG and PHB or errata or even completely revise the way something works.

I'm all for this. The ability to get iterative updates would be great. No one will get stuck with bad design choices for years as WotC will be able to fix them much sooner.

The only drawback is if later books rely on one having ALL the PHBs and DMGs it could cause problems for those who do not buy as many books.

 

[Wanderer20]

Quote, please?

/M

It was said during the first presentation of 4E, published on WotC official D&D site, as the answer to the question: "Why no one said 4E was being developed?".

I was not able to find that particular article (made by a developer) anymore, but unless they removed it, it exists.

Since I'm not so capable with the PC, could someone quote the official first dev article about 4E?