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Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Announced

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the roll-for-initiative dept.

bigstrat2003 writes "For the past day, Wizards of the Coast has had a countdown to "4dventure" on their web site. The countdown ran out at 6:30 eastern time today (and the web site promptly crashed), but stories are already appearing on the rest of the web. Wizards also has had their 4th edition forums up for a couple of days."

4 of 463 comments (clear)

  1. I'm not buying any more WoTC products... by thesymbolicfrog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First they cancel the popular and successful Dungeon and Dragon magazines by not renewing the subscription with Paizo, and next they pull a stunt like this? I don't believe I'm the only one to find the DRM-laden "Digital Initiative" to be potentially a very poor substitute for the magazines, and this blunder will only compound the ill will directed against them.


    This move will only alienate their consumer base. The fact that 3.5 is working, and in no need of overhaul, exposes the fact that they are doing this under the motivation of short-sighted greed. I shudder to think what sort of backlash (as before with Dungeon and Dragon were canceled) is taking place on the forum.


    I'm literally in shock right now. I thought Wizards of the Coast understood its consumer base better and was comprised of people more concerned about the integrity of the game and more competent about long-term business strategies.

    1. Re:I'm not buying any more WoTC products... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I played D&D in the transition of the 1st and 2nd edition, and I think the reason they release new versions even when the old ones are working is to stabilize things. Dragon Mag articles, supplements, special rules in modules, house rules, con rules, third party rules, and so on eventually made the game kind of a mess. I look on a new release like a "STABLE" branch in software - it's a way to allow flexibility, but occasionally fold the results back into the core.

    2. Re:I'm not buying any more WoTC products... by someme2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, insightful. (A)D&D rules are about imagining how much fun playing this game would be.
      Reading rules, looking at monsters in the monster manual, discussing adventures and planning and planning and planning all those great games you are going to play.
      The actual game experience never lives up to the imagination. They sell content that inspires dreams of games.

      --
      You can attach boosters to anything. It just costs more. -
      Anonymous Coward on Sunday November 07, @12:26PM
  2. still playing 2nd edition... by Jorgandar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ....and using some 1'st edition rules and books too. I just think D&D has kinda lost its "magic" that made the original game. I never really got into 3'rd edition or 3.5 edition. It's not about rules, it's about gameplay and overall 'feel' that made D&D what it is. If you didn't like a rule - throw it out. if you want to change something, then change it. The heart of D&D has always been flexibility to adapt. updaing the rules ad-nauseum doesn't bring the original theme back. In fact it dilutes the game.