5E Announced

[Havard]

If one system works well for one's purposes, why switch?

The main reason for a switch is that you get tired of an edition after a while. Back when I was gaming alot, it seemed after a while that I had tried out every option the _rules_ would allow me.

Second reason would be curiousity about a new system and brand new approaches to a new game.

Thirdly, new editions tend to be more popular among new gamers, and it might be easier to find players of those editions.

And, then, why switch to D&D 3e, 4e, 5e?

3e books were interesting because of the OGL.

But 4e books? The already flawed ruleset from 3e was made even worse (think of the famous "Mach 3" elves, as the textbook example),
and the overall quality of the supplemental products, and product support in general wasn't great.

The main advantage 4E has over 3E is that it adressed the criticism of 3E taking ages of prep before running a game. If you are more interested in tactical play, you might also prefer 4E. I dont swing that way, but some do.

The real issue, as I see it, is that, since around mid-3e, after the release of, I think, "Mysteries of the Moon Sea",
Wizbro has simply put out bad products.

I disagree. My favorite book from the 4E era is Planes Above by the esteemed Ari Marmell, whom you ofcourse know

I don't know how many of you really check new RPG publications, but, just for example,
one of the biggest strengths of the Paizo books is that they are brilliantly edited.

Or, the new Dark Heresy books: Good editing, good art, very good writing, very condensed and very usable content.

I have never cared too much about editing, but good layout and art are definately selling points for Pathfinder and the WH40K games.

And, the prize!

The usual D&D starter set, which contains of three rulebooks, two setting books, and possibly one adventure module.

That's between 130 $ and 180 $ here that we are talking to have everything we need to play on a most basic level.


Show me one person under 30 years of age that can spare such a sum for a board game that might not even be that great
compared to others.

You dont need that many books to play. Two setting books and a module? To be fair, you only need the 3 Core books to play.


The main disadvantage WotC has is that they lack the flexibility of smaller companies and the ability to communicate with the market. New editions always tend to be a compromise between good game design and commercial interest. One may hate this, but that is just corporate America for you. At least we have smaller companies competing with them, forcing them to get their act straight. It seems like they are starting to learn their lesson, but we shall see


-Havard