Will anyone fill WOTC's shoes with 3E?

[pawsplay]

I don't think I have a unique viewpoint in that, while I am excited to hear about a lot of changes, I also know that some of what they are talking about emphasizes a style of play I'm not crazy about. So I might actually end up getting 4e, but continuing to use and tinker with 3.5.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

My understanding is that Paizo are going to think about the future of Pathfinder, and there's no guarantee it will switch to 4.0

Personally, I think they will switch, but I have no actual evidence for this.

Who knows, maybe for the first time ever the "I ain't switching crowd" will stand by their words in large numbers and 3.5 could remain a lucrative market.

well, this would be the first time the "I ain't switching crowd" could potentially continue to have new product available to them (and to new people interested in joining their groups). It's a brave new world and all that, it doesn't have to be grognards playing a dead game - it can be grognards playing a live game.

 

[EricNoah]

It's a brave new world and all that, it doesn't have to be grognards playing a dead game - it can be grognards playing a live game.

Indeed, there's never been a better time to not go on to the next edition!

 

[Treebore]

Indeed, there's never been a better time to not go on to the next edition!

Is that a subtle hint?

 

[Christoph the Magus]

I have so many things that I still want to explore with d20 3.0/3.5 that I doubt that I'll switch anyway. I hope that there is still a company that publishes a few things here and there. I imagine that my game group can continue exploring 3.5 up to the time that 4.5/5.0 comes out.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I voted "Other," since I

1) already play many other systems of varying age & mechanics,

2) will keep playing 3.X as long as I play with gamers playing 3.X,

and

3) would play 4Ed with anyone I like if I like 4Ed.

I agree that the current structure of the industry lends credence to the theory that 3.5 could have a robust existence post 4Ed's release. We already have KenzerCo's homage to 1Ed/2Ed in Hackmaster to show that it can be done, and the OGL and the number and quality of 3rd party publishers means there are players in the market who can do it.

FWIW, some other speculation on this same topic exists here:
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=204323

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I'd stick with 3rd Edition if there is continous support for it, but I'll be buying 4th Ed's core three regardless.

Hoiwever, I game to have fun, not to rely on rules to define a fantastical reality. So, if anyone I game with wants to play with 4th Ed, I'll play it anyway.

 

[Mark]

There's aready more 3.x stuff out there for people than anyone could use in a lifetime. There's really no need fr someone to fill WotC's 3.x shoes (except maybe with jello and just because that happens to be fun). However, I do not doubt that many companies will continue to produce 3.x material for as long as there is a market for it, particularly in pdf form. Likely, those customers who in the past have foresworn pdfs in favor of a print-only mentality might need to adjust their thinking if they wish to have the kind of varety to which they are accustomed. It is probably best to make this adjustment sooner rather than later lest some of your favorite companies begin to switch over too much of their machinery, so to speak, to the new edition and lose sight of the fact that a 3.x market still exists.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Likely, those customers who in the past have foresworn pdfs in favor of a print-only mentality might need to adjust their thinking if they wish to have the kind of varety to which they are accustomed.

Speaking for myself only, that will never happen. I hate PDFs- all of them, not just the ones for RPGs. I haven't even opened the ones I received as gifts or prizes (sorry, the Le).

For anything I'm holding onto long-term, I'd rather own something as hardcopy than as a collection of bits & bytes- books are computer/code upgrade-proof. As long as I can read, my books will never become obsolete due to a tech change.

The familiar reply is "But you can print PDFs!" Yes, I know that. However, that shifts the costs of printing from the publisher with economies of scale to me, the consumer, who has no such economies. Thank you, but no. There is a huge difference in cost & quality between a professionally printed hard or softcover book and a bound copy of a PDF I'd get at Kinko's.

Anybody who wants me (and some others, I'm sure) to buy their product had best continue to make hard copies.

To continue with prognostication, I'd even go so far as to say that if there ever comes a time when D&D becomes purely digital, that is the day I wouldn't upgrade. I'd stick with the last hard copy version available.

 

[Mark]

As long as I can read, my books will never become obsolete due to a tech change.

When you can no longer read, it is not your books that will have become obsolete.

The familiar reply is "But you can print PDFs!".

More accurate to say, "You can but POD from PDF Publishers!"

Anybody who wants me (and some others, I'm sure) to buy their product had best continue to make hard copies.

Since you are a lawyer, I am sure you can appreciate the sense in compromise, and many pdf companies are doing their best to accomodate fans just like you by making previews available electronically and then offering both electronic/pdf and print-on-demand/pod versions of their offerings. Many pdf publishers already have you covered these days and that is only going to get more common. You are in luck!