Most of you who care already read the official news as per this New York Times article regarding 5E. After three years, WOTC is finally throwing in the towel and grudgingly admitting their mistake.
I saw the early warning signs of how awful 4E would be while playing Star Wars’ third edition and D&D’s 4E beta. So much was incredibly dumbed down. Then came this nonsense involving powers at will, per encounter or per day. The more I played, the more I wondered, “I think I’ve played this crappy game before.” Eventually I realized I had! D&D Fourth Edition 20 years ago was called Marvel Superheroes since all you did was stage fights and glossed over any roleplaying because plots got in the way of fighting.
The other criticism people have come to share with me is how 4E feels like a table-top version of World of Warcraft. I knew this in 2008, it just took thousands of people and their dollars to finally catch up with such a realization. Now you can play WoW for free until you hit 20th level. Why the hell would anyone ever want to play 4E when this online experience does it faster, better and cheaper? Plus it solves two of the hobby’s biggest problems:
- Keeping track of all the rules so you don’t have to.
- It’s always ready to play when you are unlike a tabletop game with real people who have lives.
The Faustian bargain MMOs ask for in return I can’t agree to…playing with a higher ratio of socially retarded gamers. Tabletop has the interaction element nailed and a great DM can improvise a million times better than any computer algorithm.
If WOTC were smart they would ask for a divorce from Hasbro, become an independent company again and/or cut a check to buy Paizo’s Pathfinder out. Reunite D&D with its true DNA going under a horrible name.