I know I don't post here often, but I've become a tad concerned about the hyped attitude that is revolving around 4E. Maybe I don't have a right to comment, considering that all I do is troll through the boards looking for what I need for my games. The Paizo boards have always, to me, seemed to be a fairly sane and polite boards. This opinion is being hung, drawn and quartered over the last few weeks as the panic over 4E worsens.
Just to explain where I'm coming from; I'm a player of D&D (not a noob, started in 2nd edition, but that doesn't make me an expert either), I don't really like 4E (but then I said that about 3E as well) and I work as a manager in a business.
I think there are a couple of things that people are forgetting;
1. WoTC would be happy to see both anti and pro posting about their product
I know this sounds like a strange comment, as they have been delete posts. But this 'war' (for lack of a better word) is helping to spread news about their product in a way it's never been done before and very successfully it seems. Think about it this way - would there be so much talk about Brittany Spears if she wasn't such a public mess. Heck, she hadn't even made an album in years, but her public behaviour even though it was talked about negatively, has allowed her to stay in the spot light. Even while people are spouting off how passionately they are against 4E - they're talking about it which is more then we can say about a fair chunk of other games. And todays 'I wouldn't touch that with a 20ft pole people' are tomorrows 'maybe I should try it out just to prove I'm right! people' . I know I did that.
2. If WoTC started banning companies they would be making less money
This statement pretty much explains itself. Not only would there be less companies paying to have the right to publish D&D stuff (and most likely be paying them in wads of cash), there would be less people being recruited into D&D. Plus, if they started throwing around banning companies - I think Paizo could be trusted enough to be straight up about it.
3. D&D is being treated like a product by a large company
D&D is no longer owned by smallish businesses that will treat it like a favourite pet. It is owned by a huge corporation that would treat any of it's other products like this - secrecy etc included. You wouldn't see them giving out information to the dedicated Potatoes Head collectors either. In their opinion they are protecting their product - not deliberately annoying the D&D community.
I think that is about it. Feel free to comment, but please keep in mind that I am in this post neither pro or anti 4E, just pointing out that if people really want to harm 4E - don't talk about it. The more this 'war' is propagated the better their sales will be.
1. WoTC would be happy to see both anti and pro posting about their product
Definite agreement. Reviews of movies are measured in inches or lines of space and not how good or how bad the reviewer thought. The more space it takes up, the more exposure it gets.
There is a flip side to this as well. When negative ads for politicians begin, they have a positive effect on the target, but as they continue, public opinion of that politician sags. When controvercy started for 4E, it was very good. It generated interest, it got people talking. IMO, we've long past the point where it helps them. That's why I think recent polls on both ENWorld and Paizo show that about only 20-30% are still interested in 4E.2. If WoTC started banning companies they would be making less money
While acknowleding that it is distince possibility, I do not currently believe the basics of the conspiracy that goes, "4E is just a stepping stone for a paid licence only or a non-licencable 5E." I will admit, the pieces do fit. Getting rid of much of the back compatability, delaying the new licence/rules, Having a full year where previous edition product will be minimum but the best option for some companies. If they were all deliberate (and I don't believe that every single piece of it is deliberate), then you have a recipe for less 3rd party support. Only the dedicated or those with licencing capital will be producing product for 4E this time next year.
3. D&D is being treated like a product by a large company
This is a good summation for one of the core problems with some in the community (myself included). Besides Wizards, every RPG company is a small company. Period. The community is small so access to the top minds is great. Now it feels like that smallness is being pulled back, starting with a licence.
Apropos of nothing (but the subject line), the last person I heard utter "I am a leaf in the wind" got a Reaver stake through his chest. RIP Wash.
Just sayin'.
lol
2. If WoTC started banning companies they would be making less moneyWhile acknowleding that it is distince possibility, I do not currently believe the basics of the conspiracy that goes, "4E is just a stepping stone for a paid licence only or a non-licencable 5E." I will admit, the pieces do fit. Getting rid of much of the back compatability, delaying the new licence/rules, Having a full year where previous edition product will be minimum but the best option for some companies. If they were all deliberate (and I don't believe that every single piece of it is deliberate), then you have a recipe for less 3rd party support. Only the dedicated or those with licencing capital will be producing product for 4E this time next year.
Even if WoTC doesn't go with paid licensing, it's still gaining possible customers through them buying D&D related products. For example a dedicated Vampire Requiem player may pick up at his game store a copy of Shackled City and think it was an awesome game product, and to play it he decides to by the Core set to go with it. Paizo wins, WoTC wins. If they start to become all draconian about who can and can't publish, they'll be losing out on all those customers - and I think that both Hasbro and WoTC are much smarter in their business practices then that.
When I feel the need to see that Game Designers are listening to me - I just come to Paizo now : )
Apropos of nothing (but the subject line), the last person I heard utter "I am a leaf in the wind" got a Reaver stake through his chest. RIP Wash.Just sayin'.
Wash Lives. No seriously, I've seen the tshirt that proves it...
: )
When I feel the need to see that Game Designers are listening to me - I just come to Paizo now : )
Ohhh they listen here. That I can assure you.
And truth be told, I don't want to see WotC or 4E go down in flames. It would be bad for the industry as a whole. I'm certainly not thrilled about 4E and hope that 5E is the return to D&D as we know it. But I am willing to settle for Pathfinder Chronicles RPG that becomes the true heir to 3.5, in the same way that hackmaster became the true heir to 2E.
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When I feel the need to see that Game Designers are listening to me - I just come to Paizo now : )Ohhh they listen here. That I can assure you.
And truth be told, I don't want to see WotC or 4E go down in flames. It would be bad for the industry as a whole. I'm certainly not thrilled about 4E and hope that 5E is the return to D&D as we know it. But I am willing to settle for Pathfinder Chronicles RPG that becomes the true heir to 3.5, in the same way that hackmaster became the true heir to 2E.
Let's just hope 5e comes quickly then. But yes, I am very hopeful of the Pathfinder RPG.