Will you buy the preview books?

[Shortman McLeod]

I crave mechanics too. But I also crave the design philosophy for those mechanics so I can have more context. I don't like to just see what a designer has done, but also the how and the why.

You are convinced, I suppose, that this preview product will actually spell out all the how and why of 4e game design?

I tend to think these preview books are more like glorified advertisements that will contain the word "cool" about fifty million times. I highly doubt the game designers will show us too many actual cards. They'll instead tell us things that will seem to the uninitiated to be "the secrets of game design", etc.

 

[Ranger REG]

For $30 each?

There has got to be a better way to market 4e.

I didn't need to spend $30 to know that I want to buy 3e back in 1999. I had Eric Noah 3e News fansite.

Sheesh. When they laid off a lot of people, they must have laid off some of their better marketing agents.

 

[The Little Raven]

You are convinced, I suppose, that this preview product will actually spell out all the how and why of 4e game design?

Since that's what design philosophy is all about, and they've stated that design philosophy is a big part of those books, yeah.

I tend to think these preview books are more like glorified advertisements that will contain the word "cool" about fifty million times.

I tend to take these people at their word, since they've never deceived me.

I highly doubt the game designers will show us too many actual cards.

If by 'actual cards,' you mean 'game mechanics,' then you're right, since they've openly stated that no mechanics will appear in the books.

They'll instead tell us things that will seem to the uninitiated to be "the secrets of game design", etc.

Is this to imply that anyone who would enjoy any game design elements gleaned from this book is an uninitiated bumpkin?

 

[Stogoe]

Is this to imply that anyone who would enjoy any game design elements gleaned from this book is an uninitiated bumpkin?

Of course that's what he's implying.

There need to be more options in this poll; I'd vote for a 'probably' option if I were to vote at all.

 

[Pygon]

I'll probably thumb through a copy at the store. I wasn't impressed enough with the Rules Compendium to buy one, and I'm put off paying for a preview with no crunch, especially when it's going to mirror the way WotC has been communicating with us about 4e.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I crave mechanics too. But I also crave the design philosophy for those mechanics so I can have more context. I don't like to just see what a designer has done, but also the how and the why.

Same here. And in UK Pounds, it's usually not that bad... compared to the price of food!

If it's not the Dungeon Survival Guide all over again, and reads like 25% ads, 75% Behind the Curtain... then yeah, a definite buy. But I'll leaf through before shelling out my quids.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Steve Jung]

No, why pay money for a preview when you can wait a few months for the real thing?

 

[GSHamster]

It depends a lot on what's in them. If the content is anything like MaRo's column on designing Magic, or the Development column (magicthegathering.com) then I will probably get them, even though mechanical information may be sparse.

 

[Starglim]

I will know the design philosophy for 4e when I read the SRD.

This is just going to be more of the same (or, to a large extent, literally the same) as what's on the website, and that's pretty thin on actionable information.

 

[Belorin]

I put them on my wishlist for Christmas and my family preordered them for me, as well as H1; Keep on the Shadowfell.

Bel