D&D 5th Edition Announced

[Jamfalcon]

So, WotC has announced a new edition of D&D today (They aren't outright calling it 5th edition yet, but I assume they will). Apparently the concept is to try to mix the parts of previous systems people liked and leave it more open for different game types than 4e did. They say they plan on incorporating a lot more feedback on what people do and don't like, and to that end they're going to have public playtest sometime this year. As someone who's group collectively skipped 4e (we'd just gotten into the game a year earlier) we've been thinking of trying out a new system, so this is coming at a pretty good time. Assuming its good, that is
The official announcement
The Escapit's Writeup on it which has some more details.

[RedNightmare]

I am completely torn. On one hand, I have a huge collection of books that I feel will become obsolete if I step over. Yet, I don't know if I want to be a purist and stay with what I know. Let's just say I now know how the 3.5 fanboys felt.

[JackSlack]

Wat.

Man, that's crazy.

[Lyinginbedmon]

Pretty much what happens when you combine the good parts of 3.5 with 4E is Pathfinder, but here's hoping we end up with either 3.5 or Pathfinder and not something <= 4E.

[tbug]

This feels too soon to me, but at least it's substantially longer than we had between 3.0 and 3.5.

[JackSlack]

It's too soon, and who are they hoping to get? People who loved the direction 4th edition went in don't want out. Those who were less impressed jumped to Pathfinder and are happy there.

No, this smacks of declining sales numbers and desperation.

[Metcarfre]

I thought their sales figures were fairly strong, though, so ...

[Geoff_B]

Is this the edition where D&D plays itself?

[JackSlack]

@Metcarfre: It's a pure guess. I'd bet they're strong in overall numbers, but there's been a decline. It is pure speculation, I admit, though. But again, why? Who are they courting? My best guess is the Pathfinder market, because of late Pathfinder's been outselling D&D.

Quote:

Not the least of these issues is the fact that Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder RPG, built on the Open Gaming License (OGL) of D&D 3.5, is now the number-one selling RPG for the past two quarters.

Also, the open development thing comes right on the heels of White Wolf doing it with Vampire 20th Anniversary Edition, who probably stole it from someone else I don't know about.

[The Jester]

Without having read either article (because I'm tired and can't be bothered right now) it sounds like the AD&D to 4E. I hope it turns into something really cool and complex.

[JackSlack]

More evidence.

The company does not release sales figures, but analysts and gaming experts agree that sales of the game, and all tabletop role-playing ones, have been dwindling for years. Ryan Scott Dancey, chief executive of the game company Goblinworks and a former vice president at Wizards of the Coast, said the overall market peaked between 1999 and 2003 and has been in steady decline since 2005. “My instincts are it’s slower than ever,” he said.

Source.

My gut instinct, which is that of a cynic, says that this is futile and that the tabletop RPG is a zombie at this point, slowly realising it's been dead for nearly a decade. Also? 2005 was the last good year? Guess what came out in 2004. Not a coincidence.

[Duckay]

Also? 2005 was the last good year? Guess what came out in 2004. Not a coincidence.

You can be extraordinarily cynical when you want to be.

I don't know if you're wrong, but personally, I know I don't tabletop game for the same reasons as I play(ed) WoW.

[the amativeness]

Wait. Why is this news? We already know what the next incarnation of D&D is going to be.

It's this ball.

[JackSlack]

Also, the open development thing comes right on the heels of White Wolf doing it with Vampire 20th Anniversary Edition, who probably stole it from someone else I don't know about.

Ha! Jer informs me that the other group is, of course, Paizo and Pathfinder. Shoulda guessed.