So just how many hands does WotC have, and do any of them know what even one of the others is doing? I mean, not to say anything bad about making the new, updated-for-4th D&D Minis rulebook free online – that’s lovely and thoughtful. What’s odd is that they’d release minis rules that have been adjusted for 4e compatibility and not even seem aware of how the 4e rules are still secret, available only for 5 large and an NDA, and madly speculated-about. Naturally, the minis rules are probably not a rosetta stone of 4e insights; they’re only going to create confusion, and WotC must know this. Hell, is that their goal at this point? Jeez.
Well I can’t speak for the minis but there is also some very minor tidbits in the new Inn-Fighting dice game as well, specifically on the cards depicting the new character classes such as the Warlock. Now, in my opinion, not worth spending $15 on but, if you gotta gotta gotta just soak up every bit of the 4th edition shrugfest possible, there is some stuff in there.
So, if they’re updating D&D Miniature for 4e, has anybody heard if they’re going to update Star Wars Miniatures, too. I’d be really interested in knowing more about that.
The minis rules have always been a watered down version of the real RPG rules, and nothing has changed on this front. There is really no way to come close to playing the latter using (solely) the former. The early release of the minis rules was a gesture to the player community, done in hopes of alleviating any frustration at having years (and thousands of dollars, in some case) of stat cards become obsolete. The figures themselves are still good, of course.
How does releasing the minis rules at this time “create confusion”? I would say it’s just the opposite, giving us a taste of what’s to come. It seems you guys always seem to claim either conspiracy or incompetence when it comes to WotC. You remind me of those people that modify the acronym of a company you don’t like with a dollar sign, like T$R or M$. There are a lot of good people there are are trying to make the best rpg out there even better, and do so while appeasing their corporate overlords and the extensive fan base that they have helped to increase since taking ownership of the brand. No small feat, you must grant.
Flame away…
I’m having computer troubles, otherwise I would’ve weighed in on this earlier.
I see no problem with releasing the 4e miniatures rules update – it only gives hints toward the combat rules in 4e, nothing else, so definitely not a rosetta stone – and Jim’s right: this was a gesture to the D&D Minis community, which was promised back when 4e was first announced. The Miniatures rules shouldn’t be advertised as a preview of 4e, really, merely a taste. But the fact that D&D fans are getting so little real preview information out of supposed preview products (the Wizards Presents… books) is frustrating, to say the least, so when WotC even breathes the words “preview” or “Fourth Edition” now, there are expectations of seeing something more revealing.
I see no conspiracy, just poor preview planning. If the game wasn’t going to be solid enough in time to do the preview products well, the preview books should’ve been delayed or cancelled. The frustration over inadequate previews is coloring my view of current WotC releases. I won’t blindly throw cash after a vague hint that may be incorrect once the game arrives. If we seem to be perceiving incompetance, this is why.
I agree the figures are still good (and have only gotten better over the years), and they are a taste, not a conspiracy. But when previews are promised, someone’s got to step up and do one correctly, or fans will get frustrated and confused.
I’d love to know what y’all think of Black Industries latest decision, having just sold out of their new 40K RPG book, to declare that they are not going to make any more supplements (except 3) to focus on novels.
Is it really that surprising? TSR had the same situation with Dragonlance. They sold FAR more novels than game supplements. Why keep on pumping money into a game line that makes more money off the intellectual property than the game system itself?
I can understand an RPG company being surprised by a successful novel line, and switching focus.
I don’t understand a novel company having a wildly successful RPG line, and then dropping it. It means the “make an RPG” decision was flawed from the start, i guess.