Looking Like Idiots thanks to 4e

RPGPundit · January 03, 2007, 10:07:12 AM

A number of people, some more famous some less, and some very famous designers with resentments towards Wizards, have already made fools of themselves with their prediction that 2006 was going to be the year of 4th Edition.

Well, 2006 has come and gone, and no sign of 4e on the horizon. Does anyone want to volunteer to be roundly laughed at and mocked with claims about 2007? Chris Pramas is already a volunteer!

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Mcrow · January 03, 2007, 10:16:34 AM

One of our local stores here liquidated their entire stock of third-party d20 stuff based on rumors of 4e. They had 8 big boxes of stuff and i walked of with Conan,Starship Troopers, Babylon 5, and 2 supplements for each and it cost me around $75.

I have to admit though, that i was expecting 4e to be announced @ Gencon 2006.

UmaSama · January 03, 2007, 01:02:23 PM

4th edition won't be announced, because that would cause a drop on the prices as well the sales of 3rd edition supplements.
Though some people (myself included) could benefit from the drop on the prices to aquire some nice books.

James J Skach · January 03, 2007, 01:03:48 PM

Anyone want to put money on 3.75?

jrients · January 03, 2007, 01:05:56 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditDoes anyone want to volunteer to be roundly laughed at and mocked with claims about 2007? Chris Pramas is already a volunteer!

In another thread I posited and Mearls agreed that when an industry figure talks about 4E it isn't mere foolishness, it's enemy action.

But why am I explaining this to you? You're the paranoiac fighting the invisible war against these people.

Levi Kornelsen · January 03, 2007, 01:06:07 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditWell, 2006 has come and gone, and no sign of 4e on the horizon. Does anyone want to volunteer to be roundly laughed at and mocked with claims about 2007?

I said in (I think) '05 that we'd likely see it announced late this year, but not actually put into print.

I'm not sure how smart that was, but I'll stick to it.

Consonant Dude · January 03, 2007, 02:51:38 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditWell, 2006 has come and gone, and no sign of 4e on the horizon. Does anyone want to volunteer to be roundly laughed at and mocked with claims about 2007? Chris Pramas is already a volunteer!

RPGPundit

Well, I'd say it will be announced at GenCon '08 at the latest. Seeing as a one-year pre-launch campaign is very likely.

I'd prefer if it was announced during GenCon '07 myself. I enjoy 3rd edition but it's time for a massive upgrade, IMO.

RPGPundit · January 03, 2007, 03:16:32 PM

Quote from: James J SkachAnyone want to put money on 3.75?

Wizards Of The Coast has publicly stated that there won't be any more "3.x" editions, the next edition, whenever it comes, would be 4th.

Of course, that doesn't mean they can't eventually change their mind about that, it just means that the official word is no.

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RPGPundit · January 03, 2007, 03:17:21 PM

Quote from: jrientsIn another thread I posited and Mearls agreed that when an industry figure talks about 4E it isn't mere foolishness, it's enemy action.

But why am I explaining this to you? You're the paranoiac fighting the invisible war against these people.

Oh I know. Its just also remarkably ineffective "enemy action" after the first couple of times. Because now they all look like a gang of moronic chicken littles.

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blakkie · January 03, 2007, 03:21:52 PM

Quote from: McrowOne of our local stores here liquidated their entire stock of third-party d20 stuff based on rumors of 4e. They had 8 big boxes of stuff and i walked of with Conan,Starship Troopers, Babylon 5, and 2 supplements for each and it cost me around $75.

Was maybe that the reason they were giving and using the rumour to move out some stagnent inventory? That seems like a pretty rash and reactionary impulse, unless it just had focused their attention on their stocking levels?

Consonant Dude · January 03, 2007, 03:23:02 PM

Who are we talking about here? Who predicted a new edition of D&D in 2006 and in what context?

Was it a "it could be announced in 2006"? A "The books will definitly be released in 2006"? Anything in between?

And I'm not talking about random mouthbreathers... I'd be interested to read about industry folks.

Mcrow · January 03, 2007, 03:25:45 PM

Quote from: blakkieWas maybe that the reason they were giving and using the rumour to move out some stagnent inventory? That seems like a pretty rash and reactionary impulse, unless it just had focused their attention on their stocking levels?

When I talked to owner he said that 4ed was going to be announced in feb and said he wanted to get rid of all his none WotC d20 stuff before the announcement. He figures that once 4ed is really coming he would be stuck with all of the 3.x stuff and couldn't sell it.

blakkie · January 03, 2007, 04:13:26 PM

Quote from: McrowWhen I talked to owner he said that 4ed was going to be announced in feb and said he wanted to get rid of all his none WotC d20 stuff before the announcement. He figures that once 4ed is really coming he would be stuck with all of the 3.x stuff and couldn't sell it.

He's likely betting that WotC will manage to announce 4e in such a way that there isn't panic on the streets. I don't give them or the public that much credit. I'd expect an initial run on 3e stuff, although I suppose anything he didn't clear out within a month or two might move slower.

3.5/3e is still fairly well thought of by many of it's current players, certainly enough that it'll have a lots of wins over fear of the unknown. WotC hasn't done [yet] what TSR did, drag the name through the marketing mud.

dsivis · January 03, 2007, 05:16:24 PM

I'm mostly happy with 3.5 and can house-rule the annoying stuff. I think WotC will keep the current edition going as long as possible, evidenced by some of their somewhat-overlapping book topics (Complete Arcane & Complete Mage, anyone?)

4E will come when sales seriously peter out and White Wolf or somebody else tries to make a grab at a higher market share.

Pete · January 03, 2007, 06:32:36 PM

Quote from: RPGPunditWizards Of The Coast has publicly stated that there won't be any more "3.x" editions, the next edition, whenever it comes, would be 4th.

Of course, that doesn't mean they can't eventually change their mind about that, it just means that the official word is no.

RPGPundit

Though I would not be surprised -- and would even welcome -- a "3.5 Revised" core set with the errata and the new stat blocks. Man I love those things!