Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
Please pick one. Feel free to elaborate, but please stick to one reply each for this thread. I'm not interested in fights or refutations of incorrect points or baiting or whatever.
I want to know how you, at this moment in time, feel about the idea of converting to a new edition of the game.
I expect that people's answers will change over time. This is not the last time I will ask this question, so we'll have a chance to gauge the issue as we go along.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
Please pick one. Feel free to elaborate, but please stick to one reply each for this thread. I'm not interested in fights or refutations of incorrect points or baiting or whatever.
I want to know how you, at this moment in time, feel about the idea of converting to a new edition of the game.
I expect that people's answers will change over time. This is not the last time I will ask this question, so we'll have a chance to gauge the issue as we go along.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
D. Starting a new campaign and continuing old games as 3.5 or converting. I'm pretty happy with everything I've read so far, and I'm pretty optimistic about what the WotC crew can do. As soon as I've got the three core, I'm probably starting up a game. But, at present, I have a Savage Tide and a Age of Worms game about midway through, and I've also started my group on Pathfinder (I tend to have a few games in progress at any one time, spending a while with one before switching back to another). I want to see all those games to the end.
Now, even though the official line from Wizards is that conversion might be difficult, I think I can manage; I did do an on-the-fly conversion of Temple of Elemental Evil to 3.5 which went pretty well. But, depending where we are on the three paths, that might be a lot of work. Right now, I'm leaning toward leaving those games as 3.5, but depending on how good 4E is, I might introduce 4E elements or just convert them completely.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to:
Stick with the current edition for at least another 2 years or longer (however long it takes me to use all of the books I purchased for v.3.5 to justify the hard-earned $$$ I shelled out). I may skip 4th edition altogether and start playing 4.5 or whatever WotC is going to call it at that time (yes, there will be a 4.5. you better believe it.) That depends on whether the system even interests me.
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So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
D) I'm going to get the core books for 4E out of a sense of tradition. Whether or not I use them will be up to the kids in my school's gaming group. If they want to go with the new rules, we will. If not, we stick with 3.5. The way I see it, they're the future of the game, and if they want to go in the direction that WotC wants to take them, so be it.
For games with friends away from school (which is where my "real" gaming takes place), I'm sticking with 3.5. It's not a perfect system, but the rules as published never will be. It works well enough, though, and I have a good time using 3.5. Third Edition maintained the feel and spirit of the game I grew up playing while allowing for endless possibilities in character and encounter creation. To me, 3E is what D&D was always meant to be.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16
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I suspect we'll switch but right now I'm a wait and see. I like some of what I've seen but there are some bits that give me pause.
I know I'll buy the three core books but the single biggest deciding factor for or against switching is what you guys do. I'm running Pathfinder and the less work I have to do in conversions the better. So chances are Paizo will be the largest deciding factor as to whether 4.0 makes it to my table or gathers dust on my shelves.
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
C) We'll see. Need more information.
Yup C for me. I'm about a third of the way through DMing a 3.5 version of return to the temple of elemental evil and I'm not going to change systems mid-way. After the campaign is done then I'll check out 4 and see what its like. If its good then that's what we'll use for the next campaign.
I'm going to have to say B. I'm sticking with 3.5 for the long haul.
I honestly was trying to be open minded, and not make up my mind until I got to see what was coming out, but the more concrete information we get, the less it feels like D&D. I'm not saying the system might not be fun, or a good game system, but there are plenty of systems I can play if I want another fantasy RPG that might be more streamlined, but if I want D&D, I want it to still feel like D&D.
Between the flavor changes in "core" D&D (Eladrins, Succubi), the direction of 4th edition FR, and the fact that you can't, by any stretch of the imagination, describe wizards as having abilities remotely the same as wizards of other edition, it just doesn't feel like D&D to me.
D) As the main DM of my group, I have made, with the agreement of the players, the decision to stick with 3.5 for as long as it takes to finish Savage Tide and Rise of the Runelords (and Curse of the Crimson Throne, if it's fully 3.5). When those are finished, however, the switch will be made. I'm already designing a new campaign world for my first campaign in 4th edition (which is kinda hard not knowing what races are in the PHB, or even how races work in the new edition...)
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C. I will pick up the core books for sure, but after that ... who knows. If the changes to the mechanics make sense to me and make the game easier to run, yeah, I'll buy more 4.0. I doubt I will ever go as hog-wild, try -to-get-it-all as I did with 3.0/3.5, though. And if it sucks, I'll swipe an idea or two from the core books and go back to my own 3.75. I don't really care if they screw up fluff (like resorting demons and devils) because I've always just taken what I wanted and ignored the rest. All the digital stuff is lost on me because I've got a Mac.
I will also keep buying most of the Pathfinder/GameMastery stuff for a while, regardless of the edition; I enjoy reading it even if I don't get a chance to use it all. And even if you are publishing one edition and I'm using another, I like the world you've created and would find a way to use it in my campaigns.
Considering that 4.0 looks like its ripping off Monte Cook for their "new" magic system and its new multiclassing system is basically a fix for incompetent DMs (and I don't play with those), 4.0 has yet to provide even one thing I need in a new edition.
I'm also insulted by some of the flavor choices.
Sooo.... that being said, I'll wait and see.
I'm guessing that I will buy the three new core rule books as they are released, just to get a feel for what's in there. My friends and I took forever to make the switch from 2nd ed to 3.5 (luckily we switched after 3.5 was released!), but now that we have, we really like the system. That having been said, even though no edition of the game is (or ever will be) perfect, I am confident that 4E will include significant mechanical improvements over 3.5 (that should hopefully outweigh other changes I might be less fond of).
Does that mean that I will convert? I really don't know. I have a fortune in D&D materials from 1st ed through 3.5 (and own most of the Greyhawk and Ravenloft lines), 90% of which hasn't actually been used. I dream of playing more than I actually play. So I'm guessing that my current slow-motion campaign, which theoretically could take years to play out if the group remains committed (we're at level 1!), will continue to be played using 3.5 rules.
All in all, though, I think it would make sense for d20 publishers to convert to 4E and keep up with "progress." I'll probably catch up a little later...
So my answer seems to be an uncertain mix of A and C, with a light sprinkle of B...
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
Please pick one. Feel free to elaborate, but please stick to one reply each for this thread. I'm not interested in fights or refutations of incorrect points or baiting or whatever.
I want to know how you, at this moment in time, feel about the idea of converting to a new edition of the game.
I expect that people's answers will change over time. This is not the last time I will ask this question, so we'll have a chance to gauge the issue as we go along.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
B) 3.5 or bust. (sort of.)
Why? Well, if I start a champaign it will be 3.5 since I have so much material from it. I will be picking up the 4.0 players guide, but only so I can play in other peoples games. For all intents and puposes, I have no need to switch to 4.0 for the forseable future. (3 - 4 years.).
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
I'd have to say B.
And that is unlikely to change. Unless my group proves me wrong, or the Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords aspect is toned down a great deal.
But I wish y'all luck either way!
C I'll read the 4.0 SRD before I make any decisions about purchasing the core books. I'm not happy about the change (see below) but I don't want to be left behind either if everyone is producing 4.0 material. (ie. the 3rd Pathfinder Adventure Path)
Some of the changes sound good (I actually like Tome of Battle, which seems to be a minority opinion), but others seem to be either crap, or unnecessary. (Like the demon/devil re-alignment and scrapping the fluff of the Great Wheel.)
IMHO, Changes to improve mechanics = Good. Changes to 30+ year old fluff for the sake of change = Bad
*Erik, why didn't you make this a poll?
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
Please pick one. Feel free to elaborate, but please stick to one reply each for this thread. I'm not interested in fights or refutations of incorrect points or baiting or whatever.
I want to know how you, at this moment in time, feel about the idea of converting to a new edition of the game.
I expect that people's answers will change over time. This is not the last time I will ask this question, so we'll have a chance to gauge the issue as we go along.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
As things presently stand, I will go with option C. I've already pre-ordered through you fellas the players and races book (which, at the time, was not clearly marked as a 4th edition book), so when I have that in my grubby paws and have masticated it a bit, I will reconsider at that point in time.
A, eventually.
I'll probably pick up the books when they come out (especially if they offer a low introductory price), but I doubt I'll actually be playing 4th ed anytime before 2009. I'm already running two 3.5 campaigns (Age of Worms and Rise of the Runelords) and after those I plan to run Savage Tide and Curse of the Crimson Throne.
I am ready for the next edition and am excited to see how the mechanics have been streamlined. I feel like WotC are bungling their marketing and are making serious missteps which are making gamers anxious instead of eager, and that once the new edition is out, many will see it as an inspired step forward for the hobby. Until then, it is terrible to see how awful the press is on this one and how misguided the attempts to drum up interest are.
Bring it on. I am ready for a jet of fresh air. Just put a competent spokesperson in charge.
Paizo has handled Pathfinder beautifully. Can't some of you explain to the fine folk over at 4 ed design that they are opening themselves to attacks of opportunity and are flat footed in the surprise round.
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
Please pick one. Feel free to elaborate, but please stick to one reply each for this thread. I'm not interested in fights or refutations of incorrect points or baiting or whatever.
I want to know how you, at this moment in time, feel about the idea of converting to a new edition of the game.
I expect that people's answers will change over time. This is not the last time I will ask this question, so we'll have a chance to gauge the issue as we go along.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
Given what I've seen thus far, the farce of information that doesn't stand up to the 2e to 3e conversion Dragon Magazines: I am going for Option B.
The following is my elaboration and opinion:
On the Designers:
I don't feel it. I just don't feel their commentary has been anything short of condescending and shortsighted. What it looks like is they are trying to say that regardless of setting that "this is the only way to play this completely open-ended game." I understand excitement, but everything just seems forced (including their excitement). They've even said that there's nothing wrong with the way that 3.5 works, in their own podcasts! On the flip side, I like most of the designers work with the game, just not what's been said about 4e.
As to the Changes in the game itself
30 levels? Okay, I don't care about that. I play a level based system, but the thought of extending the "sweet spot" of D&D seems silly to me. There's a point to certain levels being more fun, and not everyone feels that mid level play is best (I actually like levels 1 to 4!).
Succubi are not Erinyes. I could go on, but this has been pretty well hammered out elsewhere on these very forums (as well as a couple of others I've been to).
Eladrins are outsiders, not Elves, Not Fey, and most certainly not Blood Elves, which is exactly what they look like to me. (Plus it's a subrace of elves, from what I can tell, which will get a separate set of ability scores which brings me to my next point...)
Elves are not universally wood elves, nor are all dwarves Hill Dwarves. I disagree that the "subraces" don't get slightly variant ability scores. To further this, Eladrin are "elves" with different ability scores... What?! Either go all for it or go for none, don't dally around the "fact" that everyone loves elves, so we should make more and find a way to break every rule we just stated (I like Dwarves, Gnomes (the illusionist type), and Humans as they are, by the way).
Until I dissect the Wizard article more, I can't give you a more fair view of things, but I will say that I don't particularly care for what I've seen. I agree with a familiar more than the baggage the Wizard has to carry around now.
There, my opinion has been stated and bar coded.
Thank you very much Erik for posting, reading, and listening. I find that most encouraging, especially since you posted it at 11:00pm at night (if I have my times right). It shows you care, which matters to a lot of us.
/d
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B. If WotC's handling of the planned product had at any point seemed to take long-time fans likes/dislikes into account, or seemed like anything other than a naked money-grab, I would lean more to need more info. As it is, the only thing that will make me likely to pick up a copy of the new version in the store is morbid curiosity. Then I will put it back down, unpurchased. Much like a watch manufactured by 'Rollecks' or a handbag by 'Gnuchi,' this just seems like a cheap knock-off. An insulting, cheap knock-off.
C,
I will buy the core books of 4th ed. I didn't like 2nd ed so just stuck with 1st. I have heard little to impress me about 4th ed so I suspect I will stay with 3.5.
In fact when 2nd ed came out and I didn't like it I became concerned that my 1st edition books would disappear, get lost or fall apart, so I bought up the modules I could find and a few 2nd hand copies. I have about 4 copies of 1st edition PHB,DMG,MM,MM2,FF-- still got 'em packed away. If 4th is rubbish I will probably be hunting around to buy up some 3.5 gaming material such as modules- though not so many core books.
Option B
I really don't like what I have seen so far from 4E and I have got enough material in 3.5 to last for the next 5 years.
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C. I will definiately pick up the new books as they come out. And will evaluate but I think there is some improvement to be made in the game and I love the idea of online versions of the books. I can print what I want in the order I want or as the game flows and I will need it rather than having to look things up on the fly.
I love my Dungoen and Dragon and Pathfinder PDFs for that same reason - I am not starting Pathfinder until next month and have already created my notebook to work out of. I reorder everything so it makes sense to me. I am a happy camper...
(a)
I will convert to 4, EVENTUALLY. My opinion is that you should make the change. SOMEONE will make conversions for the deniers.
Now, I'm DMing in China so I don't have the player factor to consider and you might want to ignore me as an extraordinary case. Kids here have just started translating 3.5 SRD and are using that sans minis. If D&D catches on in China 3.5 might last kind of the way the fps shooter Counter Strike v1.5 is STILL played here.
Also, I mostly teach the rules orally, and have the only physical rule books, and I don't want to re-teach to my current batch of players.
At the soonest, I will start using 4 when and if I get an all new batch of players after next summer, and then only if the winds of opinion on these threads indicate there will not be any 4.5 nonsense, which will see me buying the new rules.
I don't care if you guys change or not because I change so much plot and encounter from ready-made adventures already I consider it part of my duty as a DM.
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For the time being, I've got to say:
C
However, there is a 90% chance of A. I welcome changes and new systems. Everything I've heard so far sounds interesting. I'm also one of those people who will buy strange 3rd-party games just because the mechanics are new and interesting (I picked up 7th Sea and the Serenity RPG for just that reason). I strongly doubt that WotC is going to screw up 4th Ed so badly that I won't like it. So yeah, I'm almost certainly a convert, but stranger things have happened...
C.
I'm sure I'll buy the 4e PHB. Beyond that, we'll see.
I'm in the option D camp: I'm currently running a Castle's and Crusades game, getting a feel for the rules, and plan on running a lot of 1st and 2nd edition stuff using that rules set specifically.
I am also running an Iron Kingdoms campaign (The Witchfire Trilogy to be specific) and this game will last for many months (and then some as all of us love the setting). I will also eventually run Rise of the Runelords, probably when I've received the last issue ( because I don't see myself having the time to do it before then).
However I will pick up the three core books for 4th edition. I play in a few games now and then, and I'm positive that some of the individuals that DM the games will switch. I don't plan to run anything in 4th edition and will stick with 3.5 and C&C.
And that's where a majority of my gaming money will go, to purchasing products from old editions of D&D (and 3rd party material).
A: Convert :)
I'm eagerly awaiting 4th Edition. Everything I've seen so far looks like a well needed breath of fresh air and it's all very interesting. Anything that speeds things up but allows you to do more sounds great. I'm always looking at new house rules, so a revamp of the system sounds like just what I'm after. My players are excited as well.
That said, I'm running a 3.5 game at the moment, which I'll want to finish up first. I highly doubt that it'll be worse than 3.5. I don't need more information: I will convert to 4e, it's just a matter of time (within the next year, I'd say).
Mechanics: A. I'll be switching to 4th Ed.
With all the time I put in trying to "fix" what I felt was "broken" about 3.5, I kind of feel like my computer was tapped by WotC from what I've seen mentioned about the new rules mechanics. The biggest thing is that beat me to press on an HP-based Damage Threshold system and WotC's solution seems like it will play better than mine too. They're also booting Vancian spellcasting to the curb which was something else I'd sought to do. Also, the fact that talent trees are being employed tells me they aren't just making hollow promises with they talk of eliminating dead levels. The amount of diversity and the improved multiclassing viability that one sees with such classes is something I'd always strived for in my own custom classes (example).
Combined with the speedier combat I've seen in the new Star Wars Saga Edition and the overhauled skill system, I guess my frame of mind is best summed up by the old adage, "If You can't beat 'em, join 'em."
With that said...
Flavor: B. I'll be sticking with 3.5.
The mechanics look great to me but I can't say that I'm wild about the flavor changes. I find the categorization of all elves as being wood elves to be ignorant. No offense to the wood elves, but we are a more varied people than that.
Changes made to the planes and fiends also strike me as ridiculous. Calling something that does not exist into being by naming it is magic. Calling something that already exists by a name that means something else is error. I expect such nonsense in Internet chat rooms, not in hardbound books I'm spending good money on.
Still, given that the campaigns I run always take place in my own home brew world, such changes to the flavor will not really impact what I'm doing. What it will do however, is cause the same sort of problems that Peter Jackson's movies caused among Tolkien fans. You end up with a new generation thinking the movies are canon even in instances where they clearly go directly against events that take place in the most popular work of fiction of the prior century. But that is a different rant...
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Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
C. & D. with a splash of A.
i'm sure i'll pick up the core books and the Forgotten Realms guide after that ..?
Pick up things that i like and can scavenge from the system and do a dr. frankenstien version with bits of 2, 3.5 and 4 ed. (it's ALIVE!!)
And judging from the other posts i've read my initial hunch on what would happen re 4 ed seems in the right direction, namely - a LOT of resistance and fudging from the old guard (us) who may seem entirely anti the 4 ed change; yet many of us will still get the core books (i'm guessing 90% of us will get the PH) and those few who stuck with 3 ed or even earlier editions will decide to go all in this time around.
So a lot of us who are apprehensive with the changes 4 ed may bring are still going to pluck down $90 - $120 to WotC.
They've got some fancy/smart folks out there in toyland.
Definitely A.
Although we are currently in the midst of two campaigns in 3.5, we will surely change to 4th edition mainly for the new use of insider, which gives many possibilities, and because 3.5 was getting boring with all these prestige classes and feats. Power-play have evolved in 3.5.
Luckily, 4th will come out in summer when gaming kind of pauses, so I think that by September 08 the new 4th edition campaign would be ready to launched.
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
I'm a collector - I have about 20 to 25 yards of rpg material at home. I have all 3.0 and 3.5 books of wotc and a LOT of the 3rd party products (working on it). Not that I ever have the time playing it ...
I will NOT convert. I don't have any interest in buying the same information again and again, just for the rules.
I played most of my games for many years with GURPS 3, but got sick of the change to GURPS 4 (the new rules are very good, the old one were good too, but I now "have" to buy all that same material again ... any coincidence here? any wonder, why GURPS 4 isn't selling so well?) and play my fantasy games now with 3.5.
Since playing 3.5 I hadn't the time to test everything, play all the nice campaigns or check all the 3.5 compatible worlds. I will do so now. I really don't give a **** if a rule of D&D is better in 4.0 or easier to learn or nicer for new players. I didn't like the new "action" format of the expedition books either, made everything too much like a template. They change a classic game of communication/talking and laughing, of coming together, eating chips and drinking beer and wine to a kind of tabletop/schematic/online thing I don't want to do. I know that the old kind of play is of course still there, but it got a new taste I don't like.
So - no matter if I am right or wrong with what I said, my answer is a clear and complete
- B -
greetings from old europe :)
I'll be converting to 4E (most probably).
4E sounds like it will fix a lot of the problems I have with 3.5 DnD (Namely over reliance on Magic Items [the "Christmas Tree Effect"], and the dominance of spell casters at higher levels). If they find successful solutions for those issues, sign me up now!
My previous plan was to not buy another WotC book, but use Paizo material, and run it in Iron Heroes. Now I will be able to get the same experience using 4th Ed, assuming of course that 4E lives up to the hype, and Paizo switches to 4th ed. But I will still only buy the core 3 books, and rely on Paizo / SRD for the rest.
I really feel like I am in the minority here, I am actually excited about 4th ed. But that may be because I have only been playing 3.5 for about 2 years or so.
C: I will probably buy the PHB to see if the "big flaws" from 3.5 get taken care of. I am playing AoW and ST at the moment and entering higher levels and looting frenzies (talking about walking into a magic shop and selling 27 (!) amulets of natural armor) for the first time shows me the weaknesses of the system. Furthermore I will have to move away next year and I do not know what, with whom and when I will play D&D again.
All I am playing in the foreseeable future is Pathfinder and GameMastery Modules. I do not create my own campaign settings because there's already such a good one available, without any work from me. So, it just depends on what Pathfinder does.
I would like to switch to 4e once all the core books are released, So far, I am excited about it, and look forward to seeing the rules in their entirety. Put me in the A category.
D. I do not play 3.5 now and will most likely not play 4+. Publish Pathfinder and Game Mastery modules in whichever version you want, Erik. I will convert them to my system of choice.
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B.) 3.5 or bust. Until 4.0 has been around for a year or 2 and I feel fairly confident that 4.5 isn't just around the corner. If 4.0 ends up being a glorified Tome of Battle then I will probably stick with 3.5 for the foreseeable future instead of converting and wait to see what 5.0 has to offer in 4 years.
FH
Yeah, what FH said to me; I am a bit sick of 4.0; think it offers little to nothing of use; and dont like the proffessed direction the game is going and am perfectly willing to do my own thing and dont need any wizards of the coast input whatsoever - and most of my RL friends feel the same way (the others want to go back to 2nd ed :)
Given what you know so far, are you planning to:
A) Convert! I am ready for a new D&D.
B) 3.5 or Bust! I'm sticking with the man what brought me.
C) We'll see. Need more information.
D) Other.
Please pick one. Feel free to elaborate, but please stick to one reply each for this thread. I'm not interested in fights or refutations of incorrect points or baiting or whatever.
I want to know how you, at this moment in time, feel about the idea of converting to a new edition of the game.
I expect that people's answers will change over time. This is not the last time I will ask this question, so we'll have a chance to gauge the issue as we go along.
So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
B. I'm staying with 3.5. I will certainly rummage through 4E to see what would make my 3.5 game better, but I'm not buying any 4E-specific products outside the core rules (unless they have 3.5 stats as well).
Bottom line: I have too much 3.5 product I want to use (and do not want to attempt to convert) that I'm not interested in buying products for a new edition.
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So, given what you know so far, you plan to: _______________.
B, most likely. It's not that I am against a 4th edition, but what I have heard so far doesn't really trip my trigger. It seems that, even though Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk is awesome, Wotc is planning to cut out Greyhawk even more than they already have. I don't care for that too much.
Also, my group has multiple campaigns planned out and already written in 3.5. By the time we get through all of them, 5th edition should be out.
Prickly, prickly question.
At this point in time, I plan on... Staying with 3.5e. I have too many books (most of which I've never even used) to switch now.
Of course, if the 3e switch was any indication, I will probably change over... Several years later.
But for now? 3.5e, with no reason to change in the foreseeable future. Simply too much of an investment.