"New Edition" gaming culture, what do you think of it? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[sunnyside]

When I first got into RPGs the general feeling (and that espoused by some of the game store people selling them) was that here was a thing where you could buy it and you'd be using it indefinitly. Unlike, say, a video game where you play it and then it's time to buy the next in the series.

D&D had a second edition out and maybe some others. But usually that was viewed as upgrading from the neonatal garage production quality of the origional rules (i.e. stuff that looked like the white box).

However now in everything from RPGs to Wargames new editions is just part of the business model. While you could of course play old rules indefinitly in maybe an average between the various systems of five years there will be a new edition and your pile of books is going to need replacing.

I'm not sure what to think of that. On one hand in theory the new editions should be "better". And also new editions coming out seems to charge the game community. I believe there was a role playing surge that came along with D&D 3rd edition at least and their promotion blitz. But on the other it kinda sucks having a pile of books nearly invalidated.

I know it's made me rather more finiky since I look at books as temporary investments. I've also found myself evaluating things based on how old the current edition is. Especially crunch type books. I'll almost always get a crunch book released in the first year or two of a new edition, but I become more reluctant as it gets closer to when I now expect a new edition to drop and invalidate them.

[Reg06]

Excellent point nezumi. I can very well see that social interactions are dynamic like combat, I've just see too many players/DM's say "I seduce/intimidate/coerce/diplomacize him/her/it" "okay, let's see your roll" that I hate seeing players not using their roleplaying skills (on the flipside, my two regular groups have been good enough that when we did roll dice for social interactions it was just icing on the cake and I never really viewed it as needed in those situations, because it always was just an addition to an already good, or bad, speech).
An the utility spells, I can see your point. As much as I have loved utility spells in the past, I don't miss them. Doing away with a good portion of them means the Wizard isn't the go to guy for everything (seriously, the Fighter's player probably enjoys being the one who lifts the portcullis instead of watching the Mage Hand do it, the Ranger probably enjoys hunting instead of chowing down on some magic berries etc...). But I do think there are enough utility powers (and all classes have utility powers now), pretty much all of which are good (and at least applicable outside of combat. Keep in mind the power system rules are built around the combat system, so it may at first seem like they are all combat specific) to satisfy players. And like I have said (and boy I hope I'm not wrong), this is just the first book. Give WotC time to expand on the basic kill things and loot things ruleset.