4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons

As probably anyone who would read this section of my site knows, the 4th edition of D&D has been announced for a May 2008 release. Third edition came out in 2000, and lasted 8 years, with one revision in that time. Second edition came out in 1989, and lasted 11 years, with several “alterations” in that time. First edition came out in 1977-79 (Player’s Handbook in ’77, Dungeon Master’s Guide in ’79), and lasted 10-12 years, with one “addition” in that time. [The original D&D game came out in 1974. See the side bar.]

It’s a sad thing that there’s some intra-edition hate on some D&D message boards. Unfortunately, this announcement means there’s going to be more in the future, as D&D3 players join some AD&D and BD&D players to bitch and moan about a new edition. But you know, the world grows and evolves, and if D&D is going to continue growing with the world, it must evolve, too. It always has, and that’s the only reason it is still the top table-top RPG.

A 14 year old in the 70s [original D&D] is very different from a 14 year old in the 80s [first edition] is very different from a 14 year old in the 90s [second edition] is very different from a 14 year old of the 00s [third edition], is very different than a 14 year old of the 10s will be [fourth edition].

Plus:
A 14 year old of the 80s is very different than a 34 year old of the 00s, and a 34 year old of the 70s is very different than a 14 year old of the 90s.

D&D of the 70s and 80s could not thrive in the environment of the 00s. There’s much more competition, not just from other table-top RPGs, but also from the many other gaming options — computer games especially. D&D of the 70s and 80s did not have to compete with 100 channels of TV, multi-player online computer games, and movies on demand. The world is evolving, so D&D (any hobby) has to evolve with the world or it will get left behind by the new generations; left to be played only by the old guard.

Plus, game mechanics evolve as well. Designers learn that players want to play a race and class instead of just a race as class. Classes can have different hit dice, weapons can do different damage, etc. They learn that no one really uses certain rules, and they make up new rules; the bad rules can be officially dropped, the new rules officially added to match how people want to and actually play.

D&D must evolve to keep up with who the players are, how they play the game, and how the game mechanics can be written to allow them to play as they want to play the game.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com