Here comes 5e.

[Matthew]

I posted in one of the threads to give a shout out to WotC for reprinting the original books.

Yeah, that's worthwhile.

Defending AD&D/save or die/etc... isn't worth it, however.

AD&D needs no defending. None of the 3e/4e diehards would have those editions if AD&D didn't capitalize TSR to the point where it survived as long as it did, despite rampant mismanagement.

All newer versions of the game (and many other TRPGs, CRPGs, MMOs, and hunks of pop culture) stand in AD&D's shadow, whether the newbs realize it or not.

Exactly, so. For those interested, here is the Giant in the Playground thread: WotC Reprinting AD&D!

[Benoist]

The enthusiasm of relatively young, 20-something gamers in that thread is a really cool thing to see. I loved this comment:

I followed that OSRIC link and gave it a go.

I have to say, it was a helluva lot more fun than any 3rd or 4e games I have been in lately. It is weird, because I can't pinpoint what it was that made it seem so fun. It was magical

Cool.

[Matthew]

Yeah, the upsurge of interest in AD&D over there in the last year or two has been very gratifying!

[AxeMental]

I posted in one of the threads to give a shout out to WotC for reprinting the original books.

Yeah, that's worthwhile.

Defending AD&D/save or die/etc... isn't worth it, however.

AD&D needs no defending. None of the 3e/4e diehards would have those editions if AD&D didn't capitalize TSR to the point where it survived as long as it did, despite rampant mismanagement.

All newer versions of the game (and many other TRPGs, CRPGs, MMOs, and hunks of pop culture) stand in AD&D's shadow, whether the newbs realize it or not.

Bingo.

And I have no doubt a majority of new players would love 1E AD&D if it was properly marketed by someone who believed in the game. WOTC sits on a gold mine, but because it doesn't fit their sales model keep the 1000 pound gorilla locked away. Remember, 1E never died, it was dropped. Someone at TSR figured you couldn't push two games at the same time.

[francisca]

If anybody has a twitter account, you can follow @Rolling20s and @criticalhits, as they tweeting from a Q&A session with mearls and cook right now.

[WSmith]

Thanks!

[WSmith]

Does anyone know what these "three pillars" are that keeps being referenced?

[blackprinceofmuncie]

Does anyone know what these "three pillars" are that keeps being referenced?

From what I can tell, they have divided character options into 3 areas that your character can be good at, like physical ability/mental ability/social ability or fighting/social interaction/exploration (those are just guesses, I have no idea how they have divided up the "pillars") and you get to spend resources at character creation to decide where your character's strengths and weaknesses lie.

The more I read, the less the core of the game is sounding like AD&D at all. In fact, the whole thing sounds like a huge departure from every previous edition.

I do like the sound of this though...

Monte: wants lower level threats to remain relevant at all levels. Orcs start scary, become easier, but never are irrelevant.
Monte: instead of increasing attack bonuses, give higher level characters more interesting things to do.Jeremy: One of the reasons behind this is to provide good world-building tools for DMs. An entire realm of orcs is always a threat.

[JRT]

The more I read, the less the core of the game is sounding like AD&D at all. In fact, the whole thing sounds like a huge departure from every previous edition.

I doubted it would be a throwback to AD&D. I suspect it will be similar but different. I think like the 3e revisions, it will be similar but different, sharing a lot of the DNA. 3e was very successful, if reports from Ryan and Gygax were correct, it virtually matched the 1e sales. I suspect a lot of fans wanted something new but similar. The big problem with 4e I think is that they changed so much there's not much "different yet familiar" thoughts on it, just "different".

The company does seem to be figuring out what they did wrong with 4e though, and with both the advanced D&D reprint and this possible original FR book coming out, I have a feeling there will be more people interested in 5e than there were in 4e.

[Falconer]

My reaction to hearing this stuff is extremely negative. Despite the hype, it appears the designers just can’t contain their hubris. They have to reinvent the wheel. That got them nowhere with 4e, and it will get them nowhere with 5e. NO MORE NEW EDITIONS!

[Benoist]

Hm. I don't know if I like the sound of that.

[thedungeondelver]

"Give more interesting things to do"?

Man what the hell, isn't that up to the player? Besides, look at how 1e handles higher-level classes...Clerics can turn, and indeed destroy stuff at higher levels. Paladins can rebuke things. Give one a holy sword and they're pretty much nigh-invincible. High level thieves can read languages, the list goes on and on.

Color me disappoint.

Still, Imma wait and see. If you can turn that bullshit off, that's fine.

[WSmith]

Besides, look at how 1e handles higher-level classes...Clerics can turn, and indeed destroy stuff at higher levels. Paladins can rebuke things. Give one a holy sword and they're pretty much nigh-invincible. High level thieves can read languages, the list goes on and on.

I am wondering if this is the kind of thing they mean.

[bbarsh]

My reaction to hearing this stuff is extremely negative. Despite the hype, it appears the designers just can’t contain their hubris. They have to reinvent the wheel. That got them nowhere with 4e, and it will get them nowhere with 5e. NO MORE NEW EDITIONS!

Can you say job security. I am sure there is some ego involved. I can't say I am too surprised. Human nature, as it were, or is. 5e will come out and we will see plenty of "look at me, look at me, I made D&D great again!" Then we sit back and choke back our "pissedoffedness" and pull out THE Players Handbood and roll on...

[WSmith]

This little tidbit does not give me warm fuzzies at all.

https://twitter.com/#!/Wizards_DnD/stat ... 86/photo/1

A warlord sounds like a title one should earn, not be some kind of leader as a class at first level.