LilithsThrall said:
What -exactly- about the two cases is similar enough to make -what- point?
Remember that the entire core Conan game system is in one book, whereas the entire WotC game system requires PHBs, MMs, and DMGs (I use the plural there because WotC has said that they plan to release a new PHB, MM, and DMG -every year- in 4e). So, while Conan released Conan, AE, and 2nd ed in five years, WotC released two PHBs, two DMGs, and two MMs in 8 years (actually -far- more than that when you add in PHB 2, DMG 2, etc.)
You just said my point. The Conan core is one Book we have seen 3 times. D&D's core is 3 books we've seen twice and will see a third this year. For 1 company this is fine, the other makes them "money grubbing weasels". I simply think it's fine for both.
@Sutek
My post may seem unfairly snide to you personally, as it was your post I responded to. Sorry, did not mean to single you out. It was merely a snide shot at all the rants about Mmorpg-clones, dumbing down, care-bear, PC, shoddy WotC, snide comments the thread had degenerated to. 4th edition may turn out to suck, but until its actually out this is all paranoid, ill-informed gibberish.
All WotC is doing is releasing a product. 3.5 works as you say, but it takes a lot of prep time and combat works a little to slowly. Some classes are badly balenced. If they can fix these problems, as they aim to, then I want that product.
4th edition hurts no-one. 3.5 can still be played. Companies can still use the 3.5 OGL for Conan, Spycraft, True20 etc. 4th edition gives more choice, not less and it is completely up to you weither you switch or not. I could understand the hostility if the change killed of Conan or forced it to update to 4th edition, but it doesn't. The OGL is still there, Conan and other OGL products still legal.