4th Edition: The Only Opinion That Really Matters...
...is mine, of course!
I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised so far. A small part of me suspected that the crowd that wants to see D&D tank (comprised mainly of certain competing publishers spreading FUD as well as old edition grognards) would be correct - 4E would be completely miniatures-based to push the DDM figs. Granted, the game will be presented as if you must have miniatures - specifically DDM - to play, but from the sounds of it it'll be no more miniature-centric than 3.5 (which, despite people's complaints, can play just fine without minis).
I'm also surprised to hear that the OGL/d20 license will continue. The crowd above as well as plenty of non-haters figured the license would be killed with 4E, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Not a big deal for the few commercial interests left doing d20 (Necromancer, Goodman, etc.), since they could have had a licensing deal with WotC for product. But it's still nice for the amateur PDF press. Sure, lots of their product is crap, but there's some good stuff out there as well. The PDF publishers also can fill in various niches quite nicely.
Will I switch sight-unseen? Of course not. But I'm optimistic so far. And gosh - my 3.5 books haven't burst into flame and been rendered completely useless! Am I happy about the fact that they're going to be out of date? No, but it's not an issue with 4E for me - the money I spent on most of them was wasted to begin with; 4E isn't at fault for that.
I've been amusing myself much of the day listening to the wailing about how terrible this is...just like when 3.5 came out and just like when 3.0 came out. Granted, it sucks if you just dropped $100+ a month ago on 3.5 books (and I do understand the ire towards WotC since they basically implied 6 months ago that 4.0 was at least a couple years away), but for the people that have been playing for awhile - if you don't want to buy 4.0, don't buy it. Keep playing 3.5. Just quite complaining about how that's what you're going to do. I really don't see what that's going to accomplish (it's too late for WotC to change their plans), and just as most people switched to 3.0, then 3.5, they'll switch to 4.0.
For the people that are really, really upset - lighten up: it's a fucking game. And yes, I understand how much time and energy you may have invested in it (a look at my website should make that obvious). But realize - this investment is in a private, commercial property. Having editions change is a risk you take with that investment, whether you realize it or not. Now, you minimize your risk if you stick with 3.5 (just as people have who stuck with 1E or 2E). But it tends to be easiest to attract people if you're playing the latest version. That may suck for you, but that's reality - accept it and deal with it. In my experience, it's not really that difficult to find players for any edition anyway.
I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised so far. A small part of me suspected that the crowd that wants to see D&D tank (comprised mainly of certain competing publishers spreading FUD as well as old edition grognards) would be correct - 4E would be completely miniatures-based to push the DDM figs. Granted, the game will be presented as if you must have miniatures - specifically DDM - to play, but from the sounds of it it'll be no more miniature-centric than 3.5 (which, despite people's complaints, can play just fine without minis).
I'm also surprised to hear that the OGL/d20 license will continue. The crowd above as well as plenty of non-haters figured the license would be killed with 4E, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Not a big deal for the few commercial interests left doing d20 (Necromancer, Goodman, etc.), since they could have had a licensing deal with WotC for product. But it's still nice for the amateur PDF press. Sure, lots of their product is crap, but there's some good stuff out there as well. The PDF publishers also can fill in various niches quite nicely.
Will I switch sight-unseen? Of course not. But I'm optimistic so far. And gosh - my 3.5 books haven't burst into flame and been rendered completely useless! Am I happy about the fact that they're going to be out of date? No, but it's not an issue with 4E for me - the money I spent on most of them was wasted to begin with; 4E isn't at fault for that.
I've been amusing myself much of the day listening to the wailing about how terrible this is...just like when 3.5 came out and just like when 3.0 came out. Granted, it sucks if you just dropped $100+ a month ago on 3.5 books (and I do understand the ire towards WotC since they basically implied 6 months ago that 4.0 was at least a couple years away), but for the people that have been playing for awhile - if you don't want to buy 4.0, don't buy it. Keep playing 3.5. Just quite complaining about how that's what you're going to do. I really don't see what that's going to accomplish (it's too late for WotC to change their plans), and just as most people switched to 3.0, then 3.5, they'll switch to 4.0.
For the people that are really, really upset - lighten up: it's a fucking game. And yes, I understand how much time and energy you may have invested in it (a look at my website should make that obvious). But realize - this investment is in a private, commercial property. Having editions change is a risk you take with that investment, whether you realize it or not. Now, you minimize your risk if you stick with 3.5 (just as people have who stuck with 1E or 2E). But it tends to be easiest to attract people if you're playing the latest version. That may suck for you, but that's reality - accept it and deal with it. In my experience, it's not really that difficult to find players for any edition anyway.
Labels: DnD
2 Comments:
Hey Bruce!
I've kept up to date on your Mythosa site and the setting has really blossomed!
As for my own opinion on 4e, I stated it on my own blog here: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-M9USPKAiYqojHjyIWceVNQPUBQ--?cq=1&p=28.
Seeing how as I'm getting married, investing in D&D 4e really isn't an option for me. At least not if I value my health and other enjoyable aspects of life (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more ;)
Pax et bonum,
Dale Meier
Dale -
Good to hear from you (if you're the same person I'm thinking of ;))! Thanks for the complement on Mythosa!
I read your comment on 4E and have to say it's nice to see an "anti" 4E post that is coherent and not filled with hyperbole :)
One thing I have to disagree with:
Over the years I've seen the game grow to become more complicated by the "required" use of miniatures and a number of hardcover "Complete" books
I've heard this from others over the years as well, but it's not really a sentiment I understand. As I said above, you can play 3.5 fine without minis, and you never needed any of the "Complete" books to play the game. 3.5 isn't really complicated if you stick to the core books. That's one of my biggest regrets about 3.5 is dropping the cash on a bunch of hardcovers that I ultimately never used. But if you don't want to "complicate" your game, just don't include them.
If I switch to 4.0, I really don't plan on getting much beyond the three core books. I'm sure I'll get more, but not to the degree I did for 3.0 or 3.5.
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