Perhaps you've heard of the grieving process? I'm wondering where everyone is in the grieving process regarding Dragon, Dungeon, 4E, 3E, etc? I've included 7 stages below (the oft-heard 5, plus 2 my Sicilian grandmother taught me).
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
6. Revenge
7. Satisfaction
Examples:
1. "What?!?! I can't believe they canceled Dungeon and Dragon!"
2. "I despise WotC. And I despise anyone who doesn't despise them. They lied and betrayed us! 4E isn't fit for an otyugh"
3. "OK, the DDI sucks, but I may stick with Paizo even if they go 4E. Or maybe they'll do a 3.75? Pathfinder and Kobold Quarterly are filling my RP needs. And even if I disagree with half the people here, we can all be civil, right?"
4. "Gosh, it's quiet around here. To think I've gotten all worked up about a game?!? Maybe I should get a 2nd job instead?"
As for stage 6, the best revenge is success, right? Mammy Graul is dead. Long live Mammy Graul.
Perhaps you've heard of the grieving process? I'm wondering where everyone is in the grieving process regarding Dragon, Dungeon, 4E, 3E, etc? I've included 7 stages below (the oft-heard 5, plus 2 my Sicilian grandmother taught me).
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
6. Revenge
7. SatisfactionI wrote:
I for one was really angered by WOTC decision to dump the magazines. Technology....BAH.As far as grieving process, I wouldn't limit the conversation to just Dragon and Dungeon, for me it has been the whole Dungeon/Dragon/4th edition era. My Dungeon collection is little, Dragon on the other hand, that is different. I have every issue from about #32 or so on up. I also have several older issues...going into the 20's teens, and single digits.
Denial....wasn't one of my steps....I saw 4th edition coming but I did continue my spending habits. I am a collector. I didn't think they would drop the magazines so soon, though I knew eventually it would happen. I was thinking around 2010-2012. Although when it was announced I immediently jumped to step 2.
Anger....absolutely. Part of me still regresses to this stage. I put my foot down and decided that regardless of how great 4th edition was, I was not buying it. I spent more than a wise share of money already and if I was going to play D&D I would use those books. Also there was plenty about 3rd edtion that I didn't care for as is, I naturally excepted this to worsen with 4th edition, but even if it didn't, I still wasn't going there. I then jumped to Depression.
Depression....I quite playing. We are in the middle of Ravenloft and I just quit...period. Now were trying to saddle up the horse again but only in an effort to finish the module. If we continue to play after that it will be 3.5 because as mentioned, I spent to much money already. I also wasn't really enjoying the game all that much. The module was good, but the "fun" was disappearing. I felt very disheartend with the last passing issues of Dragon. When it was over I would look at the empty spot on the shelf and just want to cry.
Acceptance....I've accepted that 4th edition is there, can't change it. I watched like a hawk for new info coming out about 4th but now that's dwindle as well. I don't spend hardly anytime on the WOTC forum or other site now (Dragon & Dungeon). I'm sure I am missing things of interest.
Revenge....Oh yea...excellent opportunity to get back into my first passion....The Legion of Super-heroes. Now I am spending what was my D&D money on collecting Legion comics. I am also creating a Legion RPG. My table is filled with Legion now.
Satisfaction....Yes, Legion is satisfying. I just question if I'll have players in the long run. Either way I love game design and since I'm not making maps, etc. for D&D anymore, now I making a whole new game. And yes it is a satisfying feeling, something D&D wasn't doing for a long time already.
In fact, if it hadn't been my attachment to the World of Greyhawk, I may not have really played a lot of D&D as is. Part of that though was introducing it to the younger member of the family, so they could experience what I had as a kid.
I've already accepted a world where a crappy 4E will exist. The world will keep on turning, and my two DMs will keep running 3.5. So what do I care? As for "revenge," How about just enjoying 3.5 and saying "Hey WotC, kiss your old books!" Because every dollar I spend on an old 3.5 book is a dollar not going to a 4.0 book.
Because every dollar I spend on an old 3.5 book is a dollar not going to a 4.0 book.
Exactly-I just scored like $175.00 value in Forgotten Realms books for like $50.00 bucks at a used book store-each book was like $4.00-$12.00 gotta love that!
Is it considered grieving if I jumped onto the Castles & Crusades game as soon as I read about it? Or if I still pine for a GURPS group?
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I was angry for a short while when they canceled the Dungeon/Dragon license. But know that I've seen what Paizo can do without restrictions I'm actually quite content with the development (regarding Paizo that is). I'd be much happier if WoTC's online magazines had reached the same quality as the old ones but I still hope that this will improve over time.
In the meantime I accepted the coming of 4E and I'm actually in the "Let's wait and see"- camp. Some of the changes they've announced so far I do like a lot. Others, I don't. If WotC succeeds in simplyfying the rules without dumbyfying them, I'll probably change as soon as possible. If I don't like the new system, I wont. Both cases, I'll continue to buy Paizo Products.
In the end, I'm out of the grieving process. WotC does what they think will be successful and given some of the names of their designers I cannot help but to trust them that they actually know what they're doing. This must not be to my likings but if they really succeed in integrating a new generation of gamers into DnD, that would be great.
Is it considered grieving if I jumped onto the Castles & Crusades game as soon as I read about it? Or if I still pine for a GURPS group?
Is it considered grieving if I barely played 3.5 and continue to play Hero¹ blissfully unaware of the entire 4E debacle?
¹Or any other system not D&D.
A mixture of Revenge and Indifferent.
I won't buy any WOTC producy anymore (new ones from the shelves I mean), and I generally don't care anymore about Dumb and Dumber 4.
here were my thoughts.
1. Denial - What? We were told no 4th edition until at least 2010! WotC cant go back on their word. This is a big practical joke.
2. Anger - This stinks! I own tons of D&D material I havent read or used yet. And the game isnt broken! This money grab is ruining everything. WotC were my heroes now I loath them for doing this to ME.
3. Bargaining - Please Paizo. Stay 3.5 and you will be the greatest company in the world. Convert and I will boycot you to.
4. Depression - Sigh. This rots. The new generation of gamers will not play the same game I used to play. As a matter of fact Im sure the younger geration will turn up their noses to pen and paper games and grognards will turn up their nose to this MMORPG on paper. Its so sad to see the death of my hobby.
5. Acceptance - Sigh. D&D will be dead in a few years. At least I still have freinds who contine to play 3.5 with me.
6. Revenge - At least WotC will realize what a horribel mistake they made in about 2 years.
7. Satisfaction - When that happens I'll be able to say I told ya so. (But I will still be depressed that D&D died so Satisfaction isnt really going to happen).
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1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
6. Revenge
7. Satisfaction
The premise behind this model is that the person subjected to the change absolutely has no other option but to submit to it. 4E's edition change leaves to the unsatisfied different options, like sticking to 3.5 or playing another tabletop RPG. Thus, the situation doesn't really fit, even though there are strong similarities.
The premise behind this model is that the person subjected to the change absolutely has no other option but to submit to it.1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
6. Revenge
7. Satisfaction
Not really. The steps can be seen has how someone deals with the fact that this happened.
The acceptance stage doesnt mean you submit to 4th ed. It just means you accepted that it exists and all the consequences it will have on 3.5.