"buy more into it" assumes I'll buy the first three books...so no, not interested in yet another version of D&D. Can't really fathom why anyone cares anymore what Wizards of the Coast produces when there are so many other options including the army of D&D clones.

Quote from: Necrozius;805394I was thinking the same thing, except making all spells Ritual-only and that anyone with Arcane skill proficiency can attempt to cast them from spellbooks, scrolls etc...

Just ditch the magic system and use Call of Cthulhu's instead. Seems like it'd be a snap to port over. Use HP for POW and all good to go.

Quote from: Matt;806502"buy more into it" assumes I'll buy the first three books...so no, not interested in yet another version of D&D. Can't really fathom why anyone cares anymore what Wizards of the Coast produces when there are so many other options including the army of D&D clones.

I don't know why anyone would ever watch a new movie or read a new book since there are so many other options out there.

in other words, because people enjoy it

Quote from: Matt;806502"buy more into it" assumes I'll buy the first three books...so no, not interested in yet another version of D&D. Can't really fathom why anyone cares anymore what Wizards of the Coast produces when there are so many other options including the army of D&D clones.

Because I think it's better than any of the clones. Yes, my own included.

Quote from: RPGPundit;805305I will not be getting anything that takes the format of a "splatbook".  I pray they don't fall back into that bullshit.  The plan is adventures and maybe settings, in terms of what WoTC ought to release now.

Can WoTC actually resist the urge to making massive rules-bloat?  I don't know, but having made the three core books all Optional is a huge step in the right direction, if they can keep to that, because it means splatbooks, even if they do exist, can be ignored.

Does it really matter if they DO release loads of splat books?
I for one probably wouldn't buy them and happily continue just using the the PHB and DMG class options.
But some probably WOULD like to get splat books and lots of them.

How would it negatively affect you if lots of splatbooks were released?
The only possible thing that could happen is I suppose is follow up material for Scenarios etc requiring the splatbooks, but that could be adapted/changed.

How about inexpensive scenario material, like the old TSR/JG modules, or Dungeon Crawl Classics? A lot of stuff doesn't really warrant the expense of hardbound volumes, but could add up to plenty if people are buying something every few weeks.

A periodical more or less like The Dragon (even if only digital) might have wide appeal.

I'm pretty damn thrilled by 5e so some purchases are definitely in the cards.

Rules-wise, I'm looking forward to a MM or two, an equipment/magic items guide, and a GM screen, unless they're crazy enough not to sell one. I would also be interested a book on domain management. If they decide to publish more player's handbooks, they'll get a pass, I'm not interested in anything that would threaten to bloat what is an already nice set-up for players.

As far as campaign materials go, I'm always interested in the Manual of the Planes, and Deities and Demigods. Settings-wise, I might bite for Spelljammer and Planescape, but I'd rather save up for Zak S's Realms of Chaos tribute he's been threatening to do for a while now.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;806529I don't know why anyone would ever watch a new movie or read a new book since there are so many other options out there.

in other words, because people enjoy it

Right, because the 5th edition is "new." kinda like that Robocop that came out recently.

Quote from: Matt;806502"buy more into it" assumes I'll buy the first three books...so no, not interested in yet another version of D&D. Can't really fathom why anyone cares anymore what Wizards of the Coast produces when there are so many other options including the army of D&D clones.

Next, on Mutual of Omaha's "Wild Kingdom", Marlin Perkins tracks the wild Coke/Pepsi troll.

Quote from: Matt;807019Right, because the 5th edition is "new." kinda like that Robocop that came out recently.

Might want to pull that stick out of your ass

Quote from: RPGPundit;805305I will not be getting anything that takes the format of a "splatbook".  I pray they don't fall back into that bullshit.  The plan is adventures and maybe settings, in terms of what WoTC ought to release now.

Can WoTC actually resist the urge to making massive rules-bloat?  I don't know, but having made the three core books all Optional is a huge step in the right direction, if they can keep to that, because it means splatbooks, even if they do exist, can be ignored.

Name one damn splatbook WotC or any other company has ever produced that is so important that a group playing said game cannot ignore it.  

The whole whinyness against splatbooks is hogwash.  If you do not like them and do not want to use them....don't.

Quote from: Old One Eye;807041Name one damn splatbook WotC or any other company has ever produced that is so important that a group playing said game cannot ignore it.  

The whole whinyness against splatbooks is hogwash.  If you do not like them and do not want to use them....don't.

The difficulty is that the group will likely have split opinions about each splatbook; those players who bought a particular book presumably want to use it, while others don't because it undercuts or weakens the parts of the game that they like or consider important. The DM can make a final ruling but still alienates one of those two sides with whatever ruling.

Quote from: rawma;807048The difficulty is that the group will likely have split opinions about each splatbook; those players who bought a particular book presumably want to use it, while others don't because it undercuts or weakens the parts of the game that they like or consider important. The DM can make a final ruling but still alienates one of those two sides with whatever ruling.

Failing to see how that is any different than a DM saying that PCs can only be humans and no magic users because that is how her world works.

Quote from: Matt;806502"buy more into it" assumes I'll buy the first three books...so no, not interested in yet another version of D&D. Can't really fathom why anyone cares anymore what Wizards of the Coast produces when there are so many other options including the army of D&D clones.

   While overly acerbic and dismissive, you do have a point. 5E seems like it's quite good at being D&D for D&D's sake, but does it have much to offer beyond that? It's not the 'what we've all been doing for years' of 2E, the 'bring the game up to date' of 3E, or the 'bold new direction' of 4E.

   I'm not saying it's a bad game--I haven't purchased the books or played it, so I'm relying on impressions from Basic and secondhand reports--but its primary purpose appears to be as an entry point for new players and a solid baseline or lingua franca for the 'core D&D experience'. For many, that's enough. It seems primarily focused for those who love D&D for its own sake, which appears to encompass many of the posters here. For those of us who are more on the fringe of the game (Ravenloft was pretty much the only thing keeping me in D&D's orbit through most of the 2E and 3E era, and one of the things that convinced me to give 4E a second look), it doesn't seem to have anything to hook us.

Quote from: Old One Eye;807041Name one damn splatbook WotC or any other company has ever produced that is so important that a group playing said game cannot ignore it.  

The whole whinyness against splatbooks is hogwash.  If you do not like them and do not want to use them....don't.

Have you actually ever played D&D 3.X with a real group..? It is astonishing what sort of crap people consider required for a game.