| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Hawkins |
Posted - 10 Dec 2008 : 19:18:33
Comments made by various designers who have left or been laid off from WotC and this comic strip have made me begin to wonder if the 5th Edition of D&D will just be a miniatures game. It does not seem all that far fetched considering that Hasbro is a toy and board game company. On a side note, I actually am looking forward to seeing some CPRGs utilizing 4e, I think it will lend itself well to video games. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Brimstone |
Posted - 14 Feb 2009 : 20:40:40
-I could see that Happening. 
BRIMSTONE |
| coach |
Posted - 14 Feb 2009 : 20:25:11
chances of this happening?
1) around the time 5th edition thoughts enter Hasbro minds, 4e DnD/FR is considered a huge flop
2) Hasbro contemplates action
3) Hasbro keeps FR novel rights (only FR moneymaker?) but sells rights to license FR setting to a 3rd party (or even back to Ed)
4) 3rd party rewinds to 1375DR
5) everyone is happy again |
| Ardashir |
Posted - 12 Feb 2009 : 18:43:45
quote:
Originally posted by sneakypetev
It maybe because I'am old but I miss Dragon and Dungeon magazines.
I miss the ability to pick up a few copies in the game store and just thumb through them to see what was being done. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I just prefer a hardcopy I can hold in my hands to everything being digital. |
| Kiaransalyn |
Posted - 12 Feb 2009 : 13:41:58
quote:
Originally posted by HawkinstheDM
Comments made by various designers who have left or been laid off from WotC and this comic strip have made me begin to wonder if the 5th Edition of D&D will just be a miniatures game.
I thought it was basically a miniatures game now, isn't it? 
I'm sure they're already planning 5th Edition, or at least another X.5 rip-off. |
| Brimstone |
Posted - 11 Feb 2009 : 06:33:06
-More than likely.
BRIMSTONE |
| sneakypetev |
Posted - 16 Jan 2009 : 07:36:57
It maybe because I'am old but I miss Dragon and Dungeon magazines. I had subscriptions to both since the early 90's eventhough I was not actively gaming back then. I miss the excitement I felt when I received my mags in the mail and could'nt wait to put my feet up and start reading. Sorry if I was off topic but this thread made this old guy nostalgic |
| The Sage |
Posted - 15 Jan 2009 : 23:34:24
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
That's a lot of my problem with it. I'm interested in Dragon articles, and in the occasional Dungeon adventure that pertains to the Realms. If I could subscribe to just Dragon, and get single issues -- or even better, single articles -- from Dungeon, then I'd prolly sign up.
Wooly's take mirrors my own.
I was deeply saddened by the demise of the printed version of DRAGON. And initially took some [limited] solace from the notion that the online version would be available for subscription as part of the DDi. But that's largely all I've wanted from the DDi so far. I don't have much need for the other stuff, like the "Rules Compendium" because my games operate on my own rules system that combines elements from many rules sets. So it's another reason why I've been reluctant to sign up. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 15 Jan 2009 : 19:53:29
quote:
Originally posted by ranger_of_the_unicorn_run
What bothers me about DDi is the inflexibility of it. It's all or nothing. Before you could pick and choose whether you wanted to buy a certain supplemental book or whether you wanted to buy that issue of Dragon. Now, if you want any of it, you have to pay for all of it, whether you subscribe for all of it or just a few articles. To me it also feels like they are trying to be exclusive. You have to be "in on" their service in order to get quite a lot of the information. They print information-sparse books and then to get the rest of it, you need to shell out even more money for a service that really isn't working as well as was promised. Even the name implies exclusivity: D&D Insider. I always felt before like I didn't have to join the RPGA to game, or subscibe to Dungeon if I only wanted certain adventures here and there, but now you have to be fully involved in the community or you will be excluded.
That's a lot of my problem with it. I'm interested in Dragon articles, and in the occasional Dungeon adventure that pertains to the Realms. If I could subscribe to just Dragon, and get single issues -- or even better, single articles -- from Dungeon, then I'd prolly sign up. |
| ranger_of_the_unicorn_run |
Posted - 15 Jan 2009 : 19:19:41
What bothers me about DDi is the inflexibility of it. It's all or nothing. Before you could pick and choose whether you wanted to buy a certain supplemental book or whether you wanted to buy that issue of Dragon. Now, if you want any of it, you have to pay for all of it, whether you subscribe for all of it or just a few articles. To me it also feels like they are trying to be exclusive. You have to be "in on" their service in order to get quite a lot of the information. They print information-sparse books and then to get the rest of it, you need to shell out even more money for a service that really isn't working as well as was promised. Even the name implies exclusivity: D&D Insider. I always felt before like I didn't have to join the RPGA to game, or subscibe to Dungeon if I only wanted certain adventures here and there, but now you have to be fully involved in the community or you will be excluded. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 15 Jan 2009 : 17:49:07
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
I had an DDI subscription, in part because I was hoping to see the new Realms articles (heh)...
-That might take a while, so I hear. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 04 Jan 2009 : 20:10:30
I had an DDI subscription, in part because I was hoping to see the new Realms articles (heh), and in part because I'm playing in a 4E game and I liked the idea of being able to look up rules on the Compendium instead of getting every book that came out.
While I didn't mind the Dragon content (I liked some of the articles a lot), and I loved the Compendium, and heck, I even thought the Character Generator, even in its limited form, looked pretty good . . . almost every weekend something would happen and I couldn't log on for hours and hours at a time.
When I would look around the various forums, I could find people with similar but not quite the same problems, and when I contacted customer support, they told me on two separate instances that there were no problems with my account and they had never heard of anything similar.
I decided to cancel my account, and as has been mentioned, it took me forever to find where I needed to go, and how to actually cancel the account.
The content really wasn't bad, especially if you are a fan of 4th edition, but the customer service, reliability, and the ease of actually paying for an account and/or canceling it are all major problems right now. Given how quirky the reliability is, its really sad that this is the medium that is suppose to be providing ongoing support for the campaign settings once the "three and out" books have been published. |
| Zorro |
Posted - 04 Jan 2009 : 19:49:32
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
That auto-renew issue reminds me of problems people had with AOL, back around 2000... I know I had to bail on them around then, and it took me about 10 minutes of searching -- with my workplace's high-speed connection -- before I found the number to call to get them to cancel the service. And mere months later, they got in trouble for continuing to charge people after receiving requests to cancel the service...
Same here...
Zorro |
| Quale |
Posted - 03 Jan 2009 : 20:06:07
can't wait for the 5e |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 02 Jan 2009 : 19:21:00
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Heh. That actually puts me off the idea of subscribing to DDi.
Me too... |
| dwarvenranger |
Posted - 02 Jan 2009 : 03:14:06
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
That auto-renew issue reminds me of problems people had with AOL, back around 2000... I know I had to bail on them around then, and it took me about 10 minutes of searching -- with my workplace's high-speed connection -- before I found the number to call to get them to cancel the service. And mere months later, they got in trouble for continuing to charge people after receiving requests to cancel the service...
Yeah I was one of those people  |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 02 Jan 2009 : 00:12:34
That auto-renew issue reminds me of problems people had with AOL, back around 2000... I know I had to bail on them around then, and it took me about 10 minutes of searching -- with my workplace's high-speed connection -- before I found the number to call to get them to cancel the service. And mere months later, they got in trouble for continuing to charge people after receiving requests to cancel the service... |
| The Sage |
Posted - 01 Jan 2009 : 23:10:42
Heh. That actually puts me off the idea of subscribing to DDi.
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 01 Jan 2009 : 22:58:56
Wow, I'd not head about that other stuff... With that info, it does seem to me to be a lost cause. |
| Shemmy |
Posted - 01 Jan 2009 : 22:40:13
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
Is it just me, or does it seem the electronic initiative is failing?
Without a major and sudden turnaround, yes it will fail. They only have the lowest hanging fruit of the DDI actually released to the public, they're making no promising as to when the other promised applications will be released, and they've fired some major people involved with the project.
Beyond that however are the sheer number of complaints by people about being unable to cancel the auto-renew on accounts, which the system requires you to turn on before subscribing (they just don't offer the option to not have it renew upon the end of the purchased period). You can't just toggle something online to turn it off, you have to go through Customer Service to have them manually turn it off for you. And of course that's a double problem when the system to contact customer service continually crashes or goes into a loop for a large number of people trying to do just that. Very poor programming and very poor support towards the people paying them money for a product seriously behind in development. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 02:37:58
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
I was tooling around the WotC boards today and noticed that there seems to be a LOT of people complaining about DDi on the boards. Is it just me, or does it seem the electronic initiative is failing?
-What do you think? Compare what was promised (at the launch of 4e, none the less) with what is available right now. |
| dwarvenranger |
Posted - 31 Dec 2008 : 01:09:46
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
I was tooling around the WotC boards today and noticed that there seems to be a LOT of people complaining about DDi on the boards. Is it just me, or does it seem the electronic initiative is failing?
I don't know if it's failing, cause I don't have anything to do with DDi. However I know others that do and they're saying the same thing as yourself, Ashe. I could care less one way or the other if DDi makes it or not. However I'd love to see the license for Dragon and Dungeon returned to Paizo  |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 30 Dec 2008 : 23:29:57
I was tooling around the WotC boards today and noticed that there seems to be a LOT of people complaining about DDi on the boards. Is it just me, or does it seem the electronic initiative is failing? |
| dwarvenranger |
Posted - 30 Dec 2008 : 20:54:59
quote:
Originally posted by ranger_of_the_unicorn_run
Not to mention, I don't think access to a few little online articles is worth nearly as much as having those magazines in hand. They don't seem to realize that a large number of people who play D&D are collectors and therefore would rather have something tangible that they can keep and look over again and again.
I'm definitely agreein with ya here. I miss my Dragon and Dungeon mags! |
| ranger_of_the_unicorn_run |
Posted - 29 Dec 2008 : 23:30:25
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
...and I'm back.
I had to take the break because I was really getting some dark rage boiling up and didn't want it around here. I have to agree with you dwarvenranger, I'm running into that problem a lot lately with Realms novels (and Eberron novels, not that you mention it). I finally finished up Shadowrealm over Christmas after postponing it for a while due to the ending. And I've outright avoided other books.
I think it's a shame that I can't bring myself to read good stories written by great authors because I can't stand the subject matter. Normally, this isn't a problem for me.
Anyway to find our way back to topic, new editions are pretty much a given in our current market, it's simply a matter of time. With software versions being updated every 2-4 years and video games (*cough* EA Sports *cough*) having updates annually, RPGs only take longer than the others. This may change as everything becomes more technologically integrated.
I think the way they are trying to "technologically integrate" is a mistake. Making people pay a monthly fee for the material to be available to them online is great for Wizbro, but awful for everyone who subscribes. Having access to the material while you are under subscription, but losing it once you stop subscibing makes it a waste of money IMO. Not to mention, I don't think access to a few little online articles is worth nearly as much as having those magazines in hand. They don't seem to realize that a large number of people who play D&D are collectors and therefore would rather have something tangible that they can keep and look over again and again. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 28 Dec 2008 : 00:18:26
...and I'm back.
I had to take the break because I was really getting some dark rage boiling up and didn't want it around here. I have to agree with you dwarvenranger, I'm running into that problem a lot lately with Realms novels (and Eberron novels, not that you mention it). I finally finished up Shadowrealm over Christmas after postponing it for a while due to the ending. And I've outright avoided other books.
I think it's a shame that I can't bring myself to read good stories written by great authors because I can't stand the subject matter. Normally, this isn't a problem for me.
Anyway to find our way back to topic, new editions are pretty much a given in our current market, it's simply a matter of time. With software versions being updated every 2-4 years and video games (*cough* EA Sports *cough*) having updates annually, RPGs only take longer than the others. This may change as everything becomes more technologically integrated. |
| dwarvenranger |
Posted - 23 Dec 2008 : 16:18:50
Ashe, I can understand the sentiment, I'm having trouble reading the Fractured Sky, because I know what it's leading into. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 23 Dec 2008 : 04:33:44
quote:
Originally posted by Ashe Ravenheart
In closing, Happy Holidays to all and bundle up with someone(s) you love to keep warm (I'm hoping there's going to be a certain Hooded One under my tree on Christmas morning  ).
-I'm not making a cameo appearance at your house, so you can stop asking. |
| ranger_of_the_unicorn_run |
Posted - 23 Dec 2008 : 04:32:47
I have mixed feelings about whether or not I will read Plague of Spells. I have always loved lore about abberations and this would seem to be about aboleths based on the name of the trilogy, but just hearing the title of the book makes me cringe. I feel like I really want to keep up with the newer Realms books, but doing so is just going to make me angry/depressed. |
| Ashe Ravenheart |
Posted - 23 Dec 2008 : 04:20:04
So, I'm going to take a small break from the boards over the holidays. Not because of the holidays themselves, but because I was in the bookstore today and picked up Plague of Spells just to skim through and see what's up.
And I couldn't do it. I couldn't read word one since pure disgust took over. The novel is almost completely set in 1396 DR, and I had a lot of trouble just with that. I knew it would be set during the Spellplague years, it wasn't the surprise factor. It's just more of a feeling that a certain lead designer who was the team lead for the changes to the Realms was also 'tapped' to write a book set during a time that was told to be off limits for all future novels, except for this one trilogy.
I know that we shouldn't point fingers, blame any single person. I also know that, from reading a lot about BC and having enjoyed some of his 3.X design work, he is a very qualified game designer. Personally, I haven't liked nor disliked his fiction, I know others have liked his work, but my personal tastes don't include him. But I can't shake that there's this hubris going on that he's trying to leave his stamp on the Realms and make it the biggest stamp of all.
Anyway, that's my personal opinion, and I'm hoping for a 5th edition that retcons a lot of the changes in the Realms, or at least just go back to 1375 and erase the Spellplague from the 'future'.
In closing, Happy Holidays to all and bundle up with someone(s) you love to keep warm (I'm hoping there's going to be a certain Hooded One under my tree on Christmas morning ). |
| Ikki |
Posted - 22 Dec 2008 : 04:35:39
hmmm.. some of the archwizards events was a bit, iffy, but overall it turned the desert with some beduins(??!!!), arabian 20th paralell desert crops (close to the polar circle .... ) and that awesome gemspell (5 saves, 0-1 perm hp lost, for ~30k in gems iirc), into a something slightly more believable.
Especially after the city landed.
In the meantime netherese ruins recieved more light, and you can always be racing against a opposing shadovar team (or either retaking or even defending). And another pole in the thay vs halruaa on whos the greatest.
Even evereska brought into awareness as something other than a 3-liner, where all non-elves are being killed for even thinking they can come near, being somewhat centrally located as it is.
As for Khelben "silverfire thorn apart" Maeridrym Arunssons death, well it was wellwritten and sent him straight to walhalla and immortality. Halasters death was so badly written its just begging to be ignored. Even Sammaster just went down in a somewhat non-fitting manner. Iryacleia i never cared about, althought i find it hard to belive auril wouldnt allow a resurrection :P
Now, whether the city of hope should be visitable or even findable.. as opposed to am mythral enshrouded thingy noone knows exists.. remains to be determined.
Myth Drannor also has a fate undetermined at this time. Merely an army in plunder amongst ruins for how long? I suppose the return of the 3 towers and the ruling blade may change something.. and the spellblade.. (even if in the hands of a warlock half-orc.. lol)
Now that sets in my view the basis for the restart.
Can paizo do it?
Certainly did well with the papers, once they figured out adding rpga to the magazines wasnt in anyones best intrest, and figured out to have 1 low, 1 med and 1 high in each magazine. Or a high level bigventure... every now and then.
Certainly this would include taking over much of the crew.. and some old ones dropped off over the years.
Overall huge expenses, not just in licence, but in getting a office of sorts to house another 50+ people.. dangerous in the extreme during these uncertain times too. Especially as hasbro is bound to take a pound of flesh even for their failed 4e d&d.. as 3.5 was so profitable. (and percieved big investements as there were no new products for 18 months, just "working" on 4e)
So to get the price set to a logical level, we need to wait 2-3 years and a ever more shrinking market, profit projections. But also fanbase.
Still i suppose that if they can bring d&d back alive, it just may bounce up just like after the death of tsr, when nothing was heard or seen for well over a year. |
