shadow
First Post
Okay, another 4e thread. I know this is getting old. However, this is not another "sky is falling" or "4e to be released next month" thread. I am not predicting when 4e is going to be released (although, I wouldn't put it beyond WotC to be planning 4e.) What this thread is about is the fact that when 4e is released it will be a great seller. Although there will be many complaints, in the end everyone will buy 4e and switch over. Ultimately, 3.5 will die and be completely forgotten.
I know that people complain about new editions. The whole 4e controversy is used as either a scare tactic or as complaint against WotC. People are swearing left and right that they will abandon D&D when 4e is released, or that they will boycott WotC. However, WotC knows that this isn't true; rather the majority of people, save some die-hard grognards, will make the switch. WotC bases their marketing decisions on research rather than the complaints on message boards. It seems that the marketing research indicates that gamers are crazy about the latest products.
It has been my observation that gamers in general will always go out and buy the latest major release and edition. It seems like gamers have a lot of disposible income to spend on gaming books. Also, I noticed many gamers wanting to be "up to date" with the latest edition and rules. Therefore many gamers aren't worried about having to buy a new edition every few years.
Look at the controversy surrounding 3.5e. Before 3.5 was released, there were many complaints on a lot of message boards. People complained that WotC was an evil money grubbing corporation. (For a short time 3.5e was known as 3.$ to many detractors.) People threatened to leave D&D once the revised rules came out. However, ultimately, most gamers made the switch, and 3.5e sold even better than the 3.0 rule books.
Specifically I have observed the following:
1. My FLGS no longer gives money or trade for 3e books. As one of the store keepers said, "No one plays 3e anymore, everything is 3.5e."
2. Another FLGS said that they didn't initially plan to stock that many 3.5e books. However, after a number of complaints from partons wanting to be "up to date" with the "latest rules", they ended up ordering a huge shipment of books, and 3.5e became their biggest seller.
3. One of the workers at my FLGS swears by 3.5e, saying that he couldn't believe how "broken" and "unbalanced" 3.0e was (despite the fact that he was a big 3.0 fan originally). He is under the impression that the latest rules are always the best.
4. Most gamers that I know have made the switch to 3.5e. Almost all of the said gamers went out and brought the books as soon as they came out. Sure, I don't know every gaming group in the nation, but I was surprised at the sheer number of gamers who immediately switched editions (sometimes in mid-campaign).
So, based on my observations regarding 3.5e, I have no doubt that 4e will be widely recieved and be a great seller when it's released.
I know that people complain about new editions. The whole 4e controversy is used as either a scare tactic or as complaint against WotC. People are swearing left and right that they will abandon D&D when 4e is released, or that they will boycott WotC. However, WotC knows that this isn't true; rather the majority of people, save some die-hard grognards, will make the switch. WotC bases their marketing decisions on research rather than the complaints on message boards. It seems that the marketing research indicates that gamers are crazy about the latest products.
It has been my observation that gamers in general will always go out and buy the latest major release and edition. It seems like gamers have a lot of disposible income to spend on gaming books. Also, I noticed many gamers wanting to be "up to date" with the latest edition and rules. Therefore many gamers aren't worried about having to buy a new edition every few years.
Look at the controversy surrounding 3.5e. Before 3.5 was released, there were many complaints on a lot of message boards. People complained that WotC was an evil money grubbing corporation. (For a short time 3.5e was known as 3.$ to many detractors.) People threatened to leave D&D once the revised rules came out. However, ultimately, most gamers made the switch, and 3.5e sold even better than the 3.0 rule books.
Specifically I have observed the following:
1. My FLGS no longer gives money or trade for 3e books. As one of the store keepers said, "No one plays 3e anymore, everything is 3.5e."
2. Another FLGS said that they didn't initially plan to stock that many 3.5e books. However, after a number of complaints from partons wanting to be "up to date" with the "latest rules", they ended up ordering a huge shipment of books, and 3.5e became their biggest seller.
3. One of the workers at my FLGS swears by 3.5e, saying that he couldn't believe how "broken" and "unbalanced" 3.0e was (despite the fact that he was a big 3.0 fan originally). He is under the impression that the latest rules are always the best.
4. Most gamers that I know have made the switch to 3.5e. Almost all of the said gamers went out and brought the books as soon as they came out. Sure, I don't know every gaming group in the nation, but I was surprised at the sheer number of gamers who immediately switched editions (sometimes in mid-campaign).
So, based on my observations regarding 3.5e, I have no doubt that 4e will be widely recieved and be a great seller when it's released.
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