Wizards Presents: Inside the making of 4th edition, plus new art

[Simia Saturnalia]

But is says "4th Edition Preview" right on the cover:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im.../002-2028907-5518467?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

My own interpretation (which I stand by as reasonable and accurate) is, again, that the books contain a preview of things that are in 4th Edition D&D, but they are not a preview of 4th Edition D&D.

 

[Khairn]

I agree with those who have strongly criticized the marketing. I am actually still interested in 4e, at least to see if it might be an improvement. But I feel like I am interested in it largely despite of the marketing and not because of it. The marketing largely has made me feel talked down to by the designers. It think the key difference was that with 3e, the designers did the marketing by showing bits and pieces of what was coming, and what we saw was interesting. This time they are largely trying to keep things secret, while continuously talking at us to tell us that they know better and we just have to belive them that it is "really cool". Also, a lot of things just seem like marketing gimmicks to get me to spend more money than I need to spend to enjoy the game. I wish they would focus on making a great product rather than trying to force me into paying for things I don't want. If the new rules are great, then I will like them and I'll gladly pay for stuff to enjoy the new edition. If they are not, no amount of internet gimmicks and no amount of bloggers telling me it is "cool" is going to force to to spend money.

I agree with you completely. The amount of effort being spent claiming how cool the results are, does indeed appear to be excessive when compared with the little that is actually being shared.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Although it's listed as informal usage, "concept" as a verb does appear in dictionaries (such as Dictionary.com).

So it's not a WotC thing, and it's not technically improper, to use "concepted."

I've been using it that way for over ten years.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

I preordered these books when I thought they were just shinies. Now that I know they've got some actual meat to them, I'm even more excited.

I love da shiny!

 

[Seeten]

I asked for them, and it look like I'm getting them. Seem I'll be picking this up.

But yeah, that's the internet: 80% porn, 20% bitching.

More like 75% porn, 15% bitching and 10% whining

 

[Matthan]

This just popped into my head and it's probably an evil thought. But if they're trying to reposition the books, maybe they should throw in some odd incentives. Maybe include the digital key that their going to have for 4E, but instead let it be used for a month or two of free D&D Insider once it completely launches. It would be an odd thing to offer free access to something that doesn't release for a few months, but it could push a few of the holdouts over the edge. They could also use it to unlock some special miniatures for the gametable or something, but that idea makes me feel dirty.

 

[Wormwood]

More like 75% porn, 15% bitching and 10% whining

Q.E.D.

 

[Cbas_10]

I have very little interest in 4e, based on the crunch and rules they've hinted at or released through blogs and such. But these preview books seem to be the opposite of all of what has already been leaked out. Essays, discussions, hints, reveals...this is the stuff of a game that is really interesting to me. Numbers are numbers, rules will inevitably be altered to our own house rules, and systems are but a framework to build interesting stories around. However, these previews seem to really bring a bit of substance and "soul" to the game.

I know that I can keep on using my 3.5 books forever and ever....nobody will force me to give them up and play 4e. Like many other players/DMs, I like to buy occasional new books to use for ideas, stories, and such for my games. I hope there will be books in the future for me...but it would be a bit tough to buy 4e books if I'm not going to use any of the 4e stuff. I really tend to not like what I see about 4e, but hang around in the hopes of things turning around and exciting me. These preview books just might bring the first interesting bits of 4e to light.

 

[DaveMage]

Yeah, but didn't the Book of Exalted Deeds say "for mature audiences only"?

Good point.

 

[Tewligan]

But is says "4th Edition Preview" right on the cover:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im.../002-2028907-5518467?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Yes, and Dane Cook also bills himself as a "comedian".