MetamorphosisSigma wrote:
My prediction is that by the end of 2011, Hasbro will have WotC eliminate their RPG staff and mothball the D&D brand indefinitely. Wish I could say I think that's a bad thing.

It is possible.  The money pop from people buying the first Essentials set will give them a small charge.  It will take a year for the financial dust to settle.

ExTSR wrote:
Maybe you were spoiled by the Rules Compendium of the late '80s.

btw, why does your thread title rhyme with 'genitals'
(typo, or Girdle of Freudian Slip?)

Well spotted.

Who can tell with a Freudian Slip. Perhaps an unsubtle hint that Wotc is screwing over its customers.

Phentari wrote:


I *do* play with the original un-errata'd Players Handbook--the one that came out in 1978.

(As a side note, does anyone else notice that their first edition hardcovers are in better shape than their second, third, or fourth edition books?  MAN, they made those things to last.)

The Second Edition PHB wears extremely bad compared to the First Edition book.

Not to get too far off topic but Hackmaster just recently released a "Basic Set" of their own.  I wonder how that's doing, since it seem to be aimed at the same audience as WOTC is going for with this "4th Ed Basic" or whatever it is.

I've always been curious about Hackmaster and have considered buying it a few times, but just never pulled the trigger.  I might pick up this book though just to check it out.

I know HM uses the 1st Ed ruleset, wonder if that basic set is anything like D&D Basic.

JasonZavoda wrote:I have no idea about the basic set, but as I understand it the basic set and Hackmaster 5th edition are rules developed by Kenzerco when they lost or let go the AD&D license.

It is a D&D like game similar in spirit to Castles & Crusade. While C&C implements a simplifier d20 that feel like AD&D, Hackmaster in contrast takes the ideas behind the D&D system and push in a direction more like GURPS, Rolemaster, or Runequest. In that it is a more complex game with more option both combat and character.

It is a skill based system that uses classes to package skills and abilities. Combat is based off of the roundless Aces & Eight System. Each tick represents a second and each action including spells and attacks take so many ticks.

Think of D&D without any rounds and beyond your initial initiative roll the next time you get to act is determined by your weapon speed or the number of segments it take to cast a spell.

Spell casting is subtlety different with magic-users using spell points and cleric getting only one spell per level. Skills play a big part in the game and any class can buy any skill but they cost differently per class.

Overall it is a fun RPG and old school in attitude and expectations. But as somebody who already has a complex RPG that works well (GURPS) it doesn't hold that much appeal to me.

ashmire13 wrote:http://www.play.com/Gadgets/Gadgets/4-/ ... oduct.html

Available for a fair price in the UK too, for those that may want it. Half tempted..

There will be an Italian edition released this October (no surprise here   ). I'll wait for the English language copy to pass my judgement  

darkseraphim wrote:
They're so out of touch that I'd really rather see the game die than continue as a humiliated zombie, resurrected from the slaughter of the classic editions.

Hopefully when that time comes there will be someone who loves the game and is a Grand Master Roleplayer (as described by Gary Gygax in Role-Playing Mastery), that will be willing to redeem this fallen King of RPG's.

I have always felt that RPG companies should be privately owned, by people who absolutely love the games they create.

nevadaknight wrote:
Hopefully when that time comes there will be someone who loves the game and is a Grand Master Roleplayer (as described by Gary Gygax in Role-Playing Mastery), that will be willing to redeem this fallen King of RPG's.

I have always felt that RPG companies should be privately owned, by people who absolutely love the games they create.

I agree. D&D ain't Monopoly or Risk.
There are practical concerns, like large print runs, etc
But sometimes you want a corner pub, not an Appleby's  
Imagine: a rich "Grand Master" buys D&D from WOTC,
and releases 5E in 2014, forty years later