D&D 4E Will 4E be announced at D&D Experience?

[Goblyn]

After thinking about it, I wouldn't mind something like '3.5 Revised' as in a new PH released that includes other stuff that "is core, though it wasn't in the core 3" such as *maybe* psionics but definitely swift and immediate actions as well as some of the good feats from the later books(those in PHB 2 and some of the general ones from the XPH and the splatbooks. Of course, that might push the PH size to something rediculus like 500 pages or something.

I bet there would be some religions that require less up-front reading. Still; swift and immediate actions and some of the feats. Oh, and errata.

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

So, I rather think that 4E will be now announced for release at D&D Experience 2008.

Merric, I think you could be right with this, if there wasn't one problem: The coincidence of one of the major D&D franchise moments of the last few years - the release of the Dragonlance film. With all the current d20 stuff out for DL, I doubt that WotC would endanger the success of the one thing that may accomplish what D&D Online and the lousy older movies have failed to do: Increase the popularity of the pen & paper game.

Apart from that, I consent that the lack of rule supplements is suspicious, but I also think that a new edition won't come before 2009 - rule compendia are not worth buying if the gaming system is about to be outdated within a question of months.

 

[Mercule]

I'd be quite happy with a 4E announcement now, though maybe not for the reasons WotC would like. I was a "bleeding edger" with both 3.0 and 3.5. This time around, I'll just be happy to not be tempted by new books and continue to play 3.5 for a while while I continue to explore what the system has to offer.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Thing is, I'm looking forward to 4E. I don't think it'll be a bad thing. (It would have been bad if it had been released in, say, 2004).

Cheers!

I don't really have a problem with buying a 4e in the next few years, though the irritating follow on (waiting 3 months for New Eberron Core for instance) would be bad. As long as the rules are changed in a style I like...

That said, the 4e threads are much worse than any 4e could be. Never anything new, since WotC repeatedly denies a 4e.

 

[Quartz]

Let's work backwards. Assume a Nov / Dec release to tie in to Christmas. This would mean an announcement at Gencon to allow 4-5 months of hype, articles in Dragon, proofreading, printing, and distribution. You're probably going to require 6 months to a year of playtesting, feedback, and more playtesting before that, which, as last time, will be utterly secret (right, Piratecat?) And before that, there's the development work: another 3 months to a year. So we're looking at about 18 months, minimum. More like 2 years. Of course, when they're ready to make an announcement, development will be well along.

PHB2 was only printed last year. I would expect some life in it. So I'm plumping for exploratory work next year, with playtesters being quietly invited after Gencon 2008 and an anouncement at Gencon 2009 hyping up for Christmas 2009.

 

[jester47]

One way to tell if 4e is comming:

The art stops.

Lockwood and WAR and all the other artists for some reason become booked, or their production slows down. WAR is Dungeons coverboy right now, though, I have not seen much from Lockwood.

But a new edition would require new art (or so we would like to think) and that requires taking up time with the popular artists.

In the broad spectrum of things, each edition has a lifespan of 10 years. 1e started in 1977, but was not a really complete game until the release of the PH in 1978 and the DMG in 1979. So the number of operating years was from 79-89. 2e lasted 90-99 (basicly when 3e was anounced). 3e lasted 2000- in my prediciton 2009. Years advance warning would place product release at GenCon 09 or 10 so announcement will probably be in 2008 or 2009. As years go, 3.x is almost out of time.

I will say no, not this year.

 

[Aaron L]

I really have no idea. It could be possible.

I will only buy the books if it is a significant improvement over 3E. I really don't think my group or DM will want to, however. My DM has just now finally started to embrace most of the options of 3.5 and use the splatbooks (thank goodness), and he would e highly resistant to a new edition. If it is good enough, however, I will bu the books and use it for the games I run.

If it is a significant improvement, that is.


But I still see room for lots more 3.5 material, and can't really imagine what they could do to improve the game that much. If it is more miniatures focused, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 meter cattleprod. If it is anything like a board game with collectible elements *shudder/vomit* I wouldn't touch it with a 50 meter cattleprod while wearing a hazmat suit.


3.5 fulfills all of my D&D needs. I won't claim that they couldn't blow me away with some new ideas, but what I want from a D&D game is character customizability, not simplicity or "ease of play" (whatever that is) as some people say they want, and if a new edition makes any sacrifices in character customization to make play speedier or simpler, I won't be interested in the slightest. I want to make my character exactly the way I want, and to have mechanical benefits befitting the roleplaying concept (if I say my character is a swordmaster, I want mechanics to support that assertion rather then him just being the same as any other Fighter with a sword, for example.)


If, however, they make the game less miniatures focused (which I know they will not do) while keeping all of the tactical options they have in 3.5 (Attacks of Opportunity or a similar mechanic) then I will rush out to get the game while giggling like a 12 year old Japanese girl going to get a Hello Kitty backpack. But I have the nauseating feeling that, considering the apparent success of D&D minis and the love of miniatures that most gamers seem to have, I am going to be SoL.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Let's work backwards. Assume a Nov / Dec release to tie in to Christmas. This would mean an announcement at Gencon to allow 4-5 months of hype, articles in Dragon, proofreading, printing, and distribution.

I'd still think a GC release. Sure you'd sell a lot for Christmas, but really, you're dealing with people that will buy or not buy based on the game, Christmas means nothing to the sales of the initial release, how many players would hate the November release, where all the loved ones go "oh, I'll get you that for Christmas!"

Besides, GC's sales are all direct cash in, full retail. No middle-man, no 40% take.

 

[Mighty Halfling]

I think they'll be sticking with 3.5e for a little bit longer.
Maybe instead of announcing 4e, we'll be offered something totally new -- like a way to truly play D&D online without it being a MMORG.
Or perhaps they'll announce a new contest along the lines of the Campaign Setting Contest.
Or, as someone mentioned above, a new movie or expansion into another media.
Or a major change in the SRD that would open the floodgates for new products from third-party publishers and trigger some major runs on already published WotC books.
But 4e? Gosh, I hope not. Like so many others said, there's so much more to do with 3.5e. It's so good right now to play D&D. It's so much fun. I hope they don't make a step backwards.

 

[Xyanthon]

No, I think it'll be more along the lines of 2009 or 2010 (I'd think that a late 2009 launch for 4e would be the prefered year). Why? Well, 3e is well established but there are still a few things to be put out there for it (FC III, more Eberon material, More modules, Fantastic Locations, etc). It also seems that at this point, there is a considerable amount of resistance to it in the gaming community.

I think they will probably announce an impending release in 2009 and make that year a year of transition. Probably have some teaser material released throughout the year in places like Dungeon and Dragon magazines. They will probably have a big preview at GenCon 2009 and then release it right around Christmas time. I don't think they would stand to gain anything by a surprise launch at a con. I think the resentment level by those outside the online communities would be too great for them. They will want to build up the hype and get the buzz going much like they did with the transistion to 3e.