01-01-2012, 06:34 PM
Some things to consider:
4E is not doing poorly. It is still one of the most popular RPGs on the market. Its just that its not doing as well as WotC would have liked. The success of Pathfinder and others is annoying to WotC, but it doesnt mean 4E was a failure on all accounts.
The Old School segment of the fans make up a really small portion of the overall D&D fanbase. Not only that, but a large portion of the Old School segment have very little interest in spending $ on new material, since they already have more than they will ever need.
The problem isnt pleasing the fans, but its pleasing _all_ of the fans. There are tons of people who like 4E and it probably drew lots of new people into the hobby. But it failed to bring a large portion of players from 3E to 4E. Probably a great many more went from 2E to 3E than from 3E to 4E. Of course having Pathfinder around as an option for those who dont want to switch editions is a problem in itself, but I also think the article is spot on about making too dramatic changes away from the former games both in terms of rules and setting features with 4E. They might have been able to pull of one or the other, but both proved tricky, especially if you want to appeal to the existing fan base.
3E was controversial to the old school fan base because the rules seemed different, but it still focused on the same elements (Races, Classes, old settings, magazines etc) making it a very retrospective game in those regards. Perhaps there is a lesson there for those making the next edition...
-Havard
4E is not doing poorly. It is still one of the most popular RPGs on the market. Its just that its not doing as well as WotC would have liked. The success of Pathfinder and others is annoying to WotC, but it doesnt mean 4E was a failure on all accounts.
The Old School segment of the fans make up a really small portion of the overall D&D fanbase. Not only that, but a large portion of the Old School segment have very little interest in spending $ on new material, since they already have more than they will ever need.
The problem isnt pleasing the fans, but its pleasing _all_ of the fans. There are tons of people who like 4E and it probably drew lots of new people into the hobby. But it failed to bring a large portion of players from 3E to 4E. Probably a great many more went from 2E to 3E than from 3E to 4E. Of course having Pathfinder around as an option for those who dont want to switch editions is a problem in itself, but I also think the article is spot on about making too dramatic changes away from the former games both in terms of rules and setting features with 4E. They might have been able to pull of one or the other, but both proved tricky, especially if you want to appeal to the existing fan base.
3E was controversial to the old school fan base because the rules seemed different, but it still focused on the same elements (Races, Classes, old settings, magazines etc) making it a very retrospective game in those regards. Perhaps there is a lesson there for those making the next edition...
-Havard
Currently Running: The Blackmoor Vales Saga
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign
Currently Playing: Daniel S. Debelfry in the Throne of Star's Campaign