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What edition of D&D do you currently expect to be playing at the end of 2008?
(Note: You may change your vote at any time!)
Need more information. I'm sure we'll give 4th Edition a try, but that experience will go a long way towards whether we continue on through the laborious process of breaking in a new pair of dancing shoes or go back to the old, comfortable, threadbare loafers.
Nope, it'll be 3.5 for me until all the kinks are sorted from 4th ed- so maybe late 2009.
In the meantime, I'm getting reacquainted with other neglected favorites in my game shelf- Castle Falkenstein, Chill, Coc and Pendragon, then Pathfinder.
WotC just pissed me off once too often.
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Nope, it'll be 3.5 for me until all the kinks are sorted from 4th ed- so maybe late 2009.
In the meantime, I'm getting reacquainted with other neglected favorites in my game shelf- Castle Falkenstein, Chill, Coc and Pendragon, then Pathfinder.
WotC just pissed me off once too often.
Thank god I still have all my CyberPunk, GURPS 3E, and Cthulhu 5E in case Paizo and 3E D&D go the way of the dodo bird!!! Yeah pry that 3E D&D book from my hands and see what happens!!!
I voted for 3rd edition, but I will keep my subscriptons to Pathfinder & GameMastery no matter what edition is used. I am NOT going to support 4th edition. Now, if the Pathfinder RPG would come to fruition, I would support that.
Cheers
The way things are going at the moment -probably nothing but the odd one off game or mini campaign using the 3.5 D&D rules. Want to start ST at some point soon.
Mutants and Masterminds is calling me too.
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The jury's still out. At this point of time, I cannot say if 4E will be appealing enough for me to switch immediately.
But what I can say for sure is that I will play Pathfinder and GameMastery-Modules. If you decide to go 4E, I'm fine with that and this may be the main reason to switch editions.
But even if I decide to switch and you don't, I'll find your products as useful as ever. That would just mean that I've to do the conversion by myself but that's a thing I'm quite used to.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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3.x
we're running through RotR at my fingertips now, and that will take us into 08 if not 09 the way we jabber around the table.
I might step up and start a more local group when CotCT comes out. but that's still going to drag into 09.
That's not counting when our other DMs take over after RotRL and run their 3.x game
For me, it depends on how Pathfinder goes. I would like to be playing 4th edition by then.
While I don't really have enough info (about my own life, not about 4E) to make a quality guess, I said 3rd Ed. If everything stays relatively the same, 3.5 without a doubt. But I am in serious doubt if my life will be "relatively the same" over the course of the coming year.
I'm with Paizo. So whatever rules set they use to publish their high quality campaigns and modules are mine.
I'm following Paizo. It's the adventure that matters, and you guys make GOOD ones.
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I expect to be playing 3.5.
While I'll be picking up the core books for 4.0, there's still a good number of adventures I want to play - and run - using 3.5. I don't see a burning need to immediately convert to 4.0 the very instant it's released.
If 4.0 rocks on toast, and is *clearly* an improvement over 3.5, then I'll probably convert over to 3.5 late next year (or even later, if the 3rd Pathfinder AP is 3.5 and I like the overall storyline). If not - meaning if I think 4.0 is either inferior to 3.5, or if it's just a wash between the two - I don't think I'll be converting to 4.0. Ever.
End of 2008? 3rd edition.
Not because I don't want to convert, I just have too much stocked up and left to run. Once I get through that (and when the 4e psionics rules likely come out in 2009) I'll most likely convert to 4e. Assuming of course that the rules don't suck. :)
If Pathfinder continues with 3.5 (or 3.75 or whatever), then it really just depends on how much those Pathfinder arcs fit my groups. If they are arcs that I really want to run, then I'll stay with it.
But, honestly, I'm starting to look forward to converting to 4e. I just have too many campaigns left to run to convert in 2008.
So at the end of 2008? 3rd edition
End of 2009? 4e (unless 4e sucks, and/or Pathfinder is a perfect fit and stays 3.5 or 3/75)
What edition of D&D do you currently expect to be playing at the end of 2008?
(Note: You may change your vote at any time!)
As others have said it will likely be either both or some strange combination of both.
More than likely I'll be running 3.5 since I still have a lot of Paizo stuff that I want to run and I don't want to take the time to convert it.
But I will likely be playing 4.0 in the group I play in.
I'll be playing 3.5
I'll look at the 4.0 rules but will hold off from buying till 4.5
I'll go with whatever system Paizo goes with. I'll give 4e a chance but my preference is 3.5.
3.5 and for the foreseeable future. Everytime I hear something new about 4e it makes me even less likely to buy it.
I voted third edition, but the reality is I'll likely be playing a hybrid of 3.5 and SWSaga...
I expect to still be playing D&D version 3.5 at the end of 2008. My reasons follow a bit of my history with D&D.
I've played D&D since the early 1980's and have done so continuously through all the editions. I started with the Basic and Expert boxed sets, and quickly moved to Advanced D&D (1st Edition). I treasure my 1st edition library of hardcovers and modules. 2nd Edition came along and I was not impressed. I bought a Player's Handbook because my gaming group was making the switch. Eventually I bought other books when I began to run a 2nd Edition campaign. I did not like much in the way of published adventures / sourcebooks duing the 2nd Edition era with the notable exceptions of the Night Below box set, the Return to series, and the Greyhawk '98 stuff. 3rd Edition came along and I immediately took to it. 1st Edition feel, 3rd Edition rules indeed. I bought into it hook, line, and sinker. I converted my Night Below campaign to 3rd Edition. This was not easy, but it was a labor of love, because I loved 3rd Edition. I have not cracked open a 2nd Edition hardcover since 2000. What is more, I had more fun playing D&D than I had since 1st Edition. The move to 3.5 was somewhat irritating at the time, but one that continued to better my game experience. So I have a vast 3.0-3.5 hardcover library that dwarfs my 1st and 2nd Edition libraries combined. It also includes every Dragon and Dungeon magazine published during the 3rd Edition era, most of the WotC published adventures, a few Freeport adventures, three GameMastery modules, and a subscription to Pathfinder.
Obviously I have a lot invested in 3rd Edition. I want to keep using it because I still enjoy it. I'm running a group through an Age of Worms campaign right now. I'd like to run the Savage Tide and Rise of the Runelords adventure paths as well. Also, I'd like to run several of the modules and Dungeon magazine adventures I have not had a chance to run yet.
Furthermore, my gaming group has edition fatigue. They are more adamant against making the switch to 4th Edition than I am. I'm not adamant really. I recognize that I'll switch someday, but I'm not going to be lining up in June to be one of the first to get the core books. I'll wait for the printing that includes the errata. But my group just wants to play with what we've got. This suits me fine because I've got enough material to play with for a long time. The end of 2008 is not that far away and I couldn't use all my 3.5 stuff up by then if I played three times a week.
4th Edition really has come too soon. Too soon in a historical sense of 1st Edition (1978-1989), 2nd Edition (1989-2000), 3.0-3.5 (2000-2003-2008). I prefer ten year cycles to five year ones, but I understand that business wants to make the money. It is still too soon for me to use up the stuff that I, the good customer bought from them, the business.
Why not convert my 3rd Edition stuff this time like I did before with Night Below? Two main reasons. The first is my gaming group doesn't want to switch. I'm not going to buy them all new Player's Handbooks and go through the work of conversion, that is both tedious and an inexact science. The second reason is that I don't feel like 4th Edition is being made for me. I just had a birthday and moved outside of the 18-36 demographic. What is more, I think that WotC is going after the 14-24 demographic. 3rd Edition made all the right nods to 1st Edition nostalgia and I felt it aimed to recapture those who had grown up with the game. Everything I've seen and read about 4th Edition tells me that this is the edition where most of the sacred cows get slaughtered and everything gets shaken up. "It's new, it's kewl, it's definitely not your father's D&D cause it pwns all other editions!" While I'm all for better rules that speed gameplay, I'm not a big fan of throwing away parts and rewriting other parts of the flavor and history of D&D that I've grown up with.
Perhaps I'm wrong in my gut reaction to 4th Edition news. I don't have all the information and that is why I have not railed against 4th Edition. It could be the best thing since 3.5, I just don't know. But I do know that I have plenty of stuff to keep playing D&D the way I like well past the end of 2008. I may eventually make the switch. Perhaps in 2011, but then that would be right on schedule.
What edition of D&D do you currently expect to be playing at the end of 2008?
As I have said before, I have about 14+ years worth of 3.5E campaigns to run through (including Pathfinder 1 & 2) before I would even think of converting.
All 6 of my players do *not* want to convert, and neither do I.
The *only* reason that I would convert is if Paizo started producing Pathfinder as 4E *and* it was near impossible to create 3.5E statblocks *and* the rules were not to obnoxious.
-- david
Papa-DRB
Grognard
Short of 4E being naer *Everything* I want from a system I'll be sticking to 3.5 enlivened with other games, from other publishers till I die. WoTC is going to need to earn my trust all over again after all this.
I think that it will really come down to the quality of the writing and the setting. If you guys make a detailed campaign world, fun adventures, and great story arcs I think you guys will be fine. I started subscribing to Dungeon magazine because the adventures were awesome, the fact that it was D&D 3.5 was secondary.
As a company you will have to go where the money is I know, but I feel it is safe to make pathfinder #3 3.5 edition compatible. To keep quality you have to work with what you know, and if you do not know fourth edition how could you possibly make a good story path for it. I do not even know how many levels you would have to write the adventure path for (30?, 20?, keep it to 15 like the 1st one) and though they are trying to extend the "sweet spot" we really do not know what that means. The sad reality is that a good "rules system" does not necessarily mean a fun "story system" (or vice versa). There is no guarentee that 4th edition can deliver the same type of adventures that 3rd edition could. We are still waiting to see what will happen with Eberron and reeling from the drastic changes they had to make to FR for their points of light rules focus. 4th edition will likely expand to include different types of focuses and settings, but simplifing the rules does limit options in my experience.
Bottom line is work on making fun and challenging adventures using what you know (and love). It is a risk because you will not have the shiny new rules with all their free (for you) WOTC advertising but you guys have been having to walk your own path since the dragon and dungeon license was not renewed and I think you can stand on your own reasonable well. Update when and if you are good and ready. There is always a market for quality stories whatever role playing system or edition.
Finally let me know when you compile all of pathfinder into one book bundle or pdf download. I have all of the AoW and ST dungeon mags (cause that was the only way to get them), but I much prefer my SCAP hard back and am waiting for something similar for pathfinder before I get it.
What edition of D&D do you currently expect to be playing at the end of 2008?
(Note: You may change your vote at any time!)
Gaming will be 3.5 ed. or nothing at all. My gaming group broke up and spread across the globe - from east coast to midwest to southwest to Iraq. I sold my 1st edition, gave away my 2nd edition, my 3.0 is gathering dust, and I'm too tired to invest in a 4th edition. Honestly, my favorite part are the stories, so I'll continue using what I have.
I plan on running Rise of the Runelords in about a month and then get rid of my 3.5 books then if not sooner. I will be switching over to 4.0 as soon as it comes out. The only real reason I play 3.5 is that that is what everyone wants to run.
If my group decides to not play in any 4.0 campaigns, then my stint as a DM will stop right then and there. ROTRL will be my last 3.5 game I will ever run.
I will still play 3.5, however all my characters will be created by using the srd only.
4th Edition has got to show me something.
I really have so much great material (thanks in LARGE part to the awesome guys and gals here @ Paizo) that I want to have my players experience!
At the same time I recognize the need for change and growth. I had to drag my players kicking and screaming into the 3rd edition era, and we only did that about three years ago! They love it now, and see the adventages 3rd edition has over 2nd and 1st.
Will 4th edition be that same kind of revolutionary leap forward? If it is, then I'm in. If it's not, then I may have to have 4th edition take a back seat to the wonderful material that I still haven't gotten around to running for 3rd edition.
Just my two coppers,
-Roth
Edit: With that said, several members of my group have in fact said they will be purchasing the 4th edition core rule books to peruse (myself included). Most likely the future DM's of our group will make the call on what edition their campaign is run in. Who knows, we could be switching back and forth between 3rd and 4th for awhile...
Director of Narrative
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One thing that I think is telling with these posts are the ones where the posters mention their group. I think more often than not only one or two people out of a gaming group are posting here, usually the GM. I know in my case, with the eightish available players, a few read these message boards periodically, but not regularly and two have posted here before, but not in abundance. In some cases, one person is voicing multiple concerns/opinions/purchasing plans.
To represent my current vote:
No one in my group has seen anything they are stoked about in the bits of chum strewn before us about 4e. Never, in any edition change, has our group switched earlier than in the span of 1.5 years (and that was the switch to 2e). So, yes...me and at least eightish Austinite gamers will be playing 3.5 for a while. (A ninth thinks 2e is still a perfectly fine system, which we all disagree with.)
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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In response to Daigle's notion that only one member of a group is typically represented here, I will say with certainty that I speak for my entire gaming group.
I am the GM. I own all of the gaming materials. We play at my house. I'm like the freakin' Fidel Castro of gaming up in here. They can't go anywhere else!
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One thing that I think is telling with these posts are the ones where the posters mention their group. I think more often than not only one or two people out of a gaming group are posting here, usually the GM. I know in my case, with the eightish available players, a few read these message boards periodically, but not regularly and two have posted here before, but not in abundance. In some cases, one person is voicing multiple concerns/opinions/purchasing plans.
To represent my current vote:
No one in my group has seen anything they are stoked about in the bits of chum strewn before us about 4e. Never, in any edition change, has our group switched earlier than in the span of 1.5 years (and that was the switch to 2e). So, yes...me and at least eightish Austinite gamers will be playing 3.5 for a while. (A ninth thinks 2e is still a perfectly fine system, which we all disagree with.)
Yes, good point Daigle. I have discussed this issue at length with my main gaming group over the weekend. None of them are particularly excited about or interested in 4E. As the main DM, I have literally years (probably decades) worth of games I would still like to run using 3.5 rules. We have all agreed we will not be switching from 3.5 for the foreseeable future.
As for my not so regular gaming group, I haven’t really discussed it with them. But as they (as a group) only switched from a 1E / 2E hybrid to 3.5 about two years ago (with much reluctance from some quarters), I do not think they will be moving to 4E anytime soon.
Their going to have to really screw things up majorly for me not to be running 4th edition. I like 3.5 more then any D&D system before - a lot more but its still has a nice chunk of 'bugs' IMO.
For me 4th Ed. does not have to be a phenomenally dramatic improvement - its just got to be notably better. If they manage that and can put out products that don't introduce more contradictions then they fix then its all good by me.
Most of the ideas their talking about in the new system resonate with me. Less dead space in the classes seems like a good thing from where I'm sitting. Redoing the monsters in order to make them more unique and interesting is a laudable goal. More streamlined play definitely gets my vote of approval. An emphasis on creating mechanics that not only work but can resolve things in a fairly timely manner really sounds good - 3.5 mechanics often worked at the price of taking loads of time to resolve, dispel magic being a good example.
I'm basically onboard with the idea of rethinking many of the sacred cows of D&D. In my experience 3.5 is most prone to failing as a system when something was taken from 2nd edition and brought into 3rd edition without critically considering the consequences. Examples include the Ogre Magi and the Beholder, creatures that often don't quite work under 3.5. The way the attack rolls interacts with the armour being another example, BAB basically seems to be a 2nd edition concept while armour was substantially revamped and they don't work optimally compared to each other.
I like their idea of an extended sweet spot - though I'm somewhat confused about where and why they seem to think a sweet spot exists in the present system. I can find issues with the way the game plays at all levels of play. I'm hoping that this will be smoothed out.
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Definiately 3.5!
4E? 4What? The Un4tunate Edition!!!
Well, I think I'll buy the core books, but just to be able to further write stuff for whoever...
I would love to see Pathfinder following 3.5 at least in 2008. I love Paizo's stuff, and will definiately stick to my PF-subscription, even if it's only for the story content, if it will go 4E...
I guess I'll be playing both 35e and 4e by then. My current SCAP group will have finished by then, and my plan is to play Savage Tide with them after that. I guess Savage Tide will not be readily adaptable to 4e, probably more for fluff reasons than for actual rules, so I'm foreseeing I will be playing that with 35e. I also have an Age of Worms campaign, which will probably not be finished by 2008, so that will be 3.5 too. The RotR camptain I started recently might be finished by then, so I can't really say what comes after that (probably Curse of the Crimson Throne though...).
If 4e is any good and I like it, I'll probably find a way to play that too, but I can't really say how or when. I have a positive expectation towards 4e, even though some proposed changes strike me as strange - but so did cyclic initiative when 3e was announced, and still it was a strok of genius.
I will certainly continue with 3.5, actually 3.x, heavily modified with my own houserules.
Considering that my players already have serious trouble adapting to 3rd edition after more than 2 years (coming from AD&D 2nd ed), i don't want to confuse them more.
Anyway, the system i currently use is running fine and smooth, so i don't need to change it.
I don't need more rules, classes or monsters, i have enough for years of gaming.
What i look for nowadays is more fluff than crunch. But good fluff is rare.
This being said, i will check the 4th edition products, from previews and in stores.
And if it's worth it, i will probably buy them.
Well, I wasn't able to vote in the poll, but I will say that my group of nine people plan on playing 3.0 (not 3.5, but 3.0) for the forseeable future. I think 2009 or 2010 might see us switching to GURPS, but I can pretty well assure you that I will not be buying any D&D 4e books. About the only way I will end up with some is through a gift.
Thanks. I knew I was being stupid. It took me a day to admit this.I'm not seeing where to vote. I have the poll results at the top of the page, but can't see where to actually vote.On the left hand column, below the links.
It's ok Daigle, it took me 3 days of twiddling my thumbs hoping someone would ask your question. So, THANKS!
And thanks to Rambling Scribe for pointing out what should have been a little obvious.
Guess that's what I get for not being on the boards for 2 months. Short term memory loss.
Oh, and I'll more than likely be playing 2ed by the end of 2008, and beyond, unless someone decides to run a 3.x ed for us at some point. I like it, I'm comfortable with it, I know the rules well enough & I hate change.
Sounds like the poll numbers are a bit skewed, what w/ Daigle's fine point about GM's posting, but representing their larger group. But I'm sure Paizo will take this into account when they crunch the numbers...
I'd like to dream that there are enough core Paizo fans here on the boards to give them an accurate representation as to whether it's safe for them to consider not going w/ 4th ed. Not that I'm dead against 4th ed. But I want Paizo to succeed, no matter which route they take.