My interest is casual -- rubbernecky, you might say. It's more like, "Oh, hey, lookit the new D&D, eh?"

I'm kinda finding my niche with FRPG.

All I'm interested in is whether it is OGL or a replacement license of some kind. If they fuck over the OGL producers trying to squeeze too hard they'll do themselves a fair whack of damage.

On one hand, I wouldn't be massively surprised if Wizards was more restrictive about licencing with 4th Edition.

On the other hand, with the OGL already out there, I don't see how they can stop people making material based on 3.X rules... and I don't see how they can stop people making 3.X-derived material that doesn't look a lot like 4th Edition stuff.

Even though I go to the old Basic D&D for my dungeon delving needs, I have to admit that I am intrigued by the mention of integrating the Internet into this new edition.  It makes sense, certainly, to make the barriers to playing as low as possible, even if one of the barriers (the inconvenience of scheduling a face-to-face meeting) is also one of the core elements that makes tabletop RPGs distinct from its computer gaming cousins.

As someone with rapidly shrinking free time I am attracted to any means that makes it easier to game with my friends, but at the same time I wonder if this move to be more like MMORPGs is really a good thing?

For that matter, maybe this impending development is what prompted Ryan Dancy's odd rantings...



TGA

It's the first step on the long road to integrating the computer as a tool in TTRPGs. Instead of calling them Pen & Paper, we're going to be calling the Tablet & Stylus RPG's in 10 years' time.

If they are smart, that is...

I have my rules preferences, but they don't matter. I do hope it's OGL of some kind because this time around I'm ready to publish stuff. But even if it's not, it doesn't matter how much I like or hate the changes, I'll play it because it's D&D. Hence the thread title.

Quote from: The Good AssyrianEven though I go to the old Basic D&D for my dungeon delving needs, I have to admit that I am intrigued by the mention of integrating the Internet into this new edition.  It makes sense, certainly, to make the barriers to playing as low as possible, even if one of the barriers (the inconvenience of scheduling a face-to-face meeting) is also one of the core elements that makes tabletop RPGs distinct from its computer gaming cousins.

THIS, I think, is the real advancement -- changing the social aspects of the game as played by people.

I am looking forward to 4e. I hope it will be good game with lots of fun.

Quote from: James J SkachIt's the first step on the long road to integrating the computer as a tool in TTRPGs. Instead of calling them Pen & Paper, we're going to be calling the Tablet & Stylus RPG's in 10 years' time.

If they are smart, that is...

I agree with your assessment.  I also suspect that this is what was *really* behind Ryan Dancy's odd meltdown.  The timing of the two is probably not coincidental.  Perhaps Dancy, who almost certainly knew that this was coming and Wizards' strategy behind it, is railing against the move towards making TTRPGs more like MMORPGs.

Now as a business decision, I think that Wizards had very little choice, but I do wonder whether this move to become more like MMORPGs is a good one for the "hobby" (if that is tightly defined as people sitting around a table and having fun).  

I have mixed feelings on this one.  On one hand I think that reducing the barriers to gaming is a good thing, as I do precious little of it in my current circumstances, but on the other hand I wonder if the real magic of the game is the actual sitting around the table with friends.  I suspect that it is, and that making this less personal (if more convenient) will diminish that magic.


TGA

Thanks for the reminder, mhensley. Pundit, you can send $45 to calithena at gmail dot com to make it up to me. :haw:

I'd sure love to playtest this thing...probably they've been doing it internally at Wizards, but if any of you Famous Wizards Game Designers who cluster anxiously about therpgsite dissecting all our opinions wants to give me something to do, I'll do it. D&D forever!

The streamlining stuff mentioned on TMP is probably meaning 'in the SAGA direction', but it might mean 'feint in the SAGA direction but really provide lots of computer tools which might or might not help people do things more efficiently'. I think a streamlining of skills (really, that's the main thing that bugs me about 3e) would benefit my DM and prep style personally, but the main benefit of such a change in the end would be getting to watch J Arcane stew for the next 3 years (until 4.5/5.0).

Only problem is, now there's no reason to buy anything until next year, and I've got misgivings now about starting my new campaign with 3.5.

TBH, I think all of this internet stuff could be useful even for old-style face-to-face games. Think about having all of your player's character sheets available to you online, updatable in-game so that when they go home they can boot up their computers, look up how much experience they had, and level up between sessions... think about having your adventure notes online, so you can run the game anywhere there's an internet connection without having to lug around a binder full of notes... think about having a computer display of a combat sequence to help with positioning and measuring, with terrain features all put in. It'd be worth a try, that's for sure.

Quote from: CalithenaOnly problem is, now there's no reason to buy anything until next year, and I've got misgivings now about starting my new campaign with 3.5.

Thats no reason not to play. You cant always convert/reboot to 4.0 later. (Or heck, wait till 4.5 comes out and they have all the bugs worked out. )

Quote from: Calithena... Only problem is, now there's no reason to buy anything until next year, and I've got misgivings now about starting my new campaign with 3.5.

Well, you could run a decent campaign until next May (when the 4e PHB will be released).  My best campaigns tend to last about a year or so.

OTOH, you could spend the time before 4e running a game that you genuinely like.

Quote from: The Good AssyrianI also suspect that this is what was *really* behind Ryan Dancy's odd meltdown.  The timing of the two is probably not coincidental.  Perhaps Dancy, who almost certainly knew that this was coming and Wizards' strategy behind it, is railing against the move towards making TTRPGs more like MMORPGs.

I was thinking the same thing this morning.  The timing can't be coincidental.

Quote from: One Horse TownIt's a 4d - Venture. Clever bastards. I think it's their talked about digital initiative. An interactive d&d ORPG? (i left out massive multiplayer). Sign up to Gleemax, get a group together and play online at any time you want with whoever you want. Dunno about the technicalities of that though.

Whether that intiative is a new d&d edition, dunno. If it's a pen & paper new edition, i can't wait to see pundit splutter.

What a fool i am. When going through my e-mails this morning i came across one from a game company i was going to do some d20 freelancing for. The guy was just on his way to Gencon and said we'd have to discuss it when he got back and it would depend on d&d 4th edition and when wizards would release it. He knew something was up dammit and i ignored it as a brush-off. The e-mail is a week old...