D&D 4.0 in about 6 hours

[Gilvan Blight]

As anyone who checks this section of CMON will note I was about to start up a D&D 3.5 campaign. Having spent like $200 on stuff getting ready for this, I am very frustrated to announce that it looks like D&D 4th ed will be launched in about 6 hours.

I first got the feeling that a new edition was in the works when WotC started buying back and cancelling old D&D licences. First Dragonlance was taken from Margret Wiess Productions, then the D&D rights were not renewed with Kenzer and Co (for Hackmaster). It really reminded me of when the Lord of the Rings movies were coming out. All rights were bought up and re-distributed, cosing us gamers the amazing Middle Earth Roleplaying (MERP) system.

Sadly it looks like I was right. Well I guess not that sadly, refreshed rules aren\'t really a bad thing, just frustrated that I spent I don\'t know how much on 3rd edition books I never got to use due to 3.5 and now over $200 on 3.5 books I probably will never use due to 4.0

Oh and just why do I think 4th comes out in about 6 hours, well check the wizards webpage, if you go to anything D&D (including past articles) you are greated with a sad ass spalsh page, that greets you with the 1337 spk title 4dventure! with a countdown.

Check it out:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome&dcmp=ILC-DND062006FP

 

[Temporary Sanity]

Not coming out yet. Was originally slated for 2009, but looks like sometime in 2008 now.

So, yeah, kinda irritating that they are re-releasing everything again so soon after 3.0/.5, especially compared to the time between 2.0 and 3.0. But you can still get some use out of your 3.5 books!

 

[Onis Lair]

I knew about this a few years ago. Just after 3.5 came out there was already rumors and stirrings about a 4.0 edition. It\'s all due to OGL. WoTC had the idea originally that an OGL would cause a huge interest in the D&D system since it allowed all these other companies to use their game system, and it worked.
But by 3.5 WoTC realized that people only needed to buy 3 core books from them and then there was no more repeat WoTC buying. So they stopped releasing OGL material, that was when the rumors of 4.0 became a guarantee.
Supposedly the new Star wars RPG book is the prototype of D&D 4.0 and i have heard nothing good for that system. 4.0 is supposedly incompatable with 3.5, meaning all of your 3.5 books are now useless if your switching to 4.0 rules. The bitch of it is that if your in the RPGA, like me, you will have no choice but to switch from 3.5 to 4.0. It\'s all so WoTC stops losing money to other 3.5 OGL games, damn frustrating for us gamers.

 

[Gilvan Blight]

At this point, as neither myself or my players know 3.5 (I\'ve read it, but that doens\'t mean I know it), I\'m tempted to just put everything on hold until 4th comes out, so there isn\'t yet another re-learning curve.

EDIT: as Oni posted while I was typing. I picked up the Sage Edition of Star Wars as I had a running game of the last two editions (yet another sytem that swapped rules way way too often) and I was not impressed. Not by the rules as much as the publishing, about half the size, half the content and a higher price tag. As for the rules, I think they work for Star Wars as it\'s more of an action adventure storytelling game, but I can\'t see that working for D&D. Reduction in combat complexity isn\'t really something D&D needs, it\'s why people keep playing the system.

 

[StarFyre]

hmmm

Onis...all i have read states that Star Wars saga edition is D20 and that 4.0 will still be d20 compatible and thus 3.5E/3.0 and due to teh conversion books, basic, 1e, and 2e compatible if u are willing to do the conversions.

However, wizards will revoke the open source part for DnD4.0 and thus not have competing companies making new rules for it.

Sanjay

 

[funnymouth]

yeah - im a lil iffy. here is a link to the first video of their releas e presentation. release 1

the web gaming platform is only available on windows (which makes me sad )

its a shame too, i was just getting real comfortable with the system. i think we\'re in for a dumbing down of the game play too.
im a lil apprehensive about the web app to - im sure they will make some facets of the game dependant on it to generate money. i enjoy using my laptop as a tool, but i dont want to be forced to. it also seems like it will lose some of the creative versatility - many of my adventures are a typical, involving multiple elevations etc, and im unsure how it will cope.

several of my players (i, too, am a dm) also just bought a bunch of books - sux. i however see no point in buying any of the new 4e rules until the new rule set is completely released (no point to) so my campaign will continue to completion.

i, however, do see an upside - WE might be able to play a game someday.

 

[DM of Doom]

It\'s been a while since I\'ve checked in around here, (Mods can lurk, too ya know) but this story has made me want to sound off.

Since we won\'t see it until May of 08, everything is based on speculation, even the stuff coming from WotC (rhymes with nazi) because it\'s so far off who knows what they\'ll change their mind about.

From my perspective, it\'s a (nevermind the pun) double-edged sword either way. I\'m planning to do a serious breakdown on my blog in a day or so, but here\'s my quick and dirty:

Cons:
1. All of the old books are going to be out of date. Sure, we can do some converting, but that just adds to prep time.
2. The rules seem to be slated to be \"dumbed down\". I\'m all down for simplicity, but not so simple that there\'s no challenge.
3. Reduction of core classes and addition of \"defined roles\". To me, one of the things that made versions 3.X better than the ones before it are the variety of character types and customization of the same.
4. It just plain leaves a bad taste in my mouth. From the beginning of the GenCon presentation, it seems way too marketing oriented.

Pros
1. No one says we have to \"upgrade\" to 4. There is plenty of 3.5 stuff out there, and from what I hear, while v4 isn\'t OGL, all the other companies can still produce 3.5 compatible stuff (which, I imagine they will).
2. Dungeon and Dragon Magazines will be online editions. This is something I had always sort of wished for.
3. The addition of other online resources. If the DM aids and other programs they speak of become a reality (and are worth a crap) then I feel this will be a great stride in the right direction. Has anyone else been frustrated with the limitations of \"e-Tools\"?
4. They might just surprise us. Like I said above, no one has any susbtantial information concerning specifics. Maybe the changes will be for the better. I liked 3rd ed better than 2nd. and I liked that better than 1st.

We\'ll just have to wait and see...

 

[Gilvan Blight]

Actually 4th is OGL.

The presentation was interesting, the virtual tabletop looks better done then most of the ones on the market. The fact that I may actually get in a game with friends far away is definately a good aspect.

There\'s quite a bit up on their webpage, which is finally running again.

Paying for the DnDinsider does seem worth it if it gives you access to both Dragon and Dungeon at less then the subscription to both used to be, then if you use the other stuff great.

I seriously hope they put out Annuals though, as I much prefer hardcopies.

What I realy don\'t like though, is I currently don\'t have a way to have my PC at the gaming table, so I really hope the online content is optional enough that I don\'t need it right there.

 

[DM of Doom]

Originally posted by Gilvan Blight
Actually 4th is OGL.
...
I seriously hope they put out Annuals though, as I much prefer hardcopies.

I must have faulty sources on the OGL thing. And I too like hardcopies. I would imagine that they will have those, as it would be another thing to sell to us...

 

[Gilvan Blight]

Here\'s the line from the official Press release

The Open Gaming License will continue as it has in the past, allowing the use of the rules in other publishers\' games.

As I have for 3.5 so far is the core rulebooks, and 2 modules (well and some dungeon tiles, those shouldn\'t matter what edition I play) I am tempted to go with the new system. What I want to do if read that damned Star Wars Saga Edition I picked up about a month before my daughter was born and haven\'t had time to pick up since. That will give me a good indication of whether or not I like the new direction.

I have to admit some temptation to actually start playing a game when it comes out. Everything else I have played I got into either once it was already out of print or it went out of print soon after. Picking up THE first 4th ed module, running my players through that as their intro to the game as mine. There is some appeal to that.