The 4th edition FoS manifesto

[Joël of the FoS]

Dear members of the Fraternity,

You may have heard it in the Paridon Newsbill: the Wizards of the Coast will be launching a 4th edition of the D&D system during the Spring and Summer of 2008 (core rules). Our spies whisper to us of the many conversations and debates about this news, and some of them report a lot of anxiety over this sudden change. We felt we needed to affirm our light-in-the-darkness position by proposing in which direction we'll be going with this change.

The latest incarnation of the Ravenloft system is currently in the 3.0/3.5 edition. Unless mistaken, and we would be glad if proven wrong on this, if Ravenloft is updated to 4th edition by WotC, it will be more than a few years from now.

So what do we do? Panic? We thought of that but we still have the traitor van Rijn to watch out for, so a run in the dark could quickly become more dangerous than running covered in honey and bells in the Paridon sewers.

Switch to 4th edition as soon as it is out? Nope, since we would cut ourselves off from the great Ravenloft sourcebooks of 3.0/3.5.

Stay bravely in 3.5? Nope also. How can this site attract new players if we remain entrenched in a dead edition?

Do you see where we are going? Good (because we don’t).

Seriously, here’s what we are planning at the FoS for this D&D edition change:

1. When 4th edition arrives, we will release a conversion guide on the major mechanics of the Ravenloft setting (Fear/Horror/Madness saves, and similar things from the Ravenloft Campaign Setting book).

2. Afterward, if there is no announcement of upcoming Ravenloft releases by WotC, we will launch a 4th edition conversion program. (We haven’t really discussed this much ourselves, so don’t ask for details yet.) We are thinking of first converting the stats in the WW and FoS Gazetteer sourcebooks to the 4th edition, while preserving the fluff of those books. This is a huge program, Azalin would say, and we’ll probably need the eyes and pencils of the best 4E-knowledgeable fans around here, if we want it to be completed before 5th edition. We'll work out more details of this plan when 4th edition is out.

3. For future netbooks mainly written by the FoS (ex. the FoS Gaz), we will provide stats in both D&D systems: 3.5 and 4th. Give us some time to absorb 4e, and then we'll start doing both.

4. Last but not least, as you know, the QtR netbooks consist primarily of fan-submitted material. Be assured that we will continue accepting submissions made in any D&D edition (except perhaps the first one made in 1973, please). Writer who provide 4th edition stats in their work (either alone or with stats for an older edition) will be well thought of.

Please react to this announcement,

Joël, for the FoS

[Pamela]

*discretely claps gloved hands*

[NeoTiamat]

Excellent, excellent!

[BigBadQDaddy]

Definitely the best and most logical solution. The last thing we as members need to do is alienate ourselves after being alienated by publishers.
I think at least this solution will squash some of the fear out the transition. Above all, I believe people are terrified of losing the good thing everyone has built here.
Regardless of whether 4th edition is great or not, whether it caters to Ravenloft or not, it is a comfort to know the FoS will remain.

[NeoTiamat]

Yep, we're worse then roaches, just can't get rid of us.

[Guardian of Twilight]

*glances off at possible storm clouds on the horizon*

I'm sure that we can handle the new version just fine. You have my best wishes on the conversion, should it come to that. Thanks for letting us know, Joël.

[HuManBing]

I scanned the manifesto very closely and there was nothing about shooting capitalists. I suggest that this oversight be corrected, otherwise this manifesto's authenticity may be called into question by other organizations that have manifestos.

It's a bit like having an Axis of Evil, but allowing FOUR nations to join. Everybody knows an axis can only have three. Eh? Eh?

[LordGodefroi]

Well if TPTB here at FoS are game for the extra work this is going to entail, why should I stand in the way of a solution that's going to make everyone happy ?

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

sounds like the right way to go to me... bravo...

[maraudar]

Sounds great.. Its so nice to see a reasoned approach to this vs the screaming panicked approach on other sites..


Maraudar

[Jakob]

I agree with Maraudar. AND with the Esteemed Brothers, of course.

[alhoon]

I think the Players guide to Ravenloft is extrememly rules light, so it won't be a problem. I believe you chose the best solution.

[Dion of the Fraternity]

think the Players guide to Ravenloft is extrememly rules light, so it won't be a problem

Few feats here, few items there, probably a couple of vestiges, two or three prestige classes...no stats. Yeah, I guess so.

[order99]

Speak not for me-I never left 2nd ed....



Okay, I may have segued into Gurps RL, Amazing Engine RL, Warhammer FRPG RL, various Homebrew RL's and even a Boot Hill 3rd ed. RL....

Er, okay, nevermind-i'm in.

[Joël of the FoS]

Here's an excerpt from a WotC interview by Christopher Perkins, Wizards of the Coast's Story Manager, D&D RPGs and Miniatures.

http://forums.gleemax.com/leaving.php?d ... 068p4.html

GameSpy: What settings are slated for 4th Edition support? Specifically, will there be 4th Edition sourcebooks for Eberron, Forgotten Realms? Are you planning on bringing back any older settings such as Planescape or Ravenloft and are there any new settings in the works?

Christopher Perkins: We will continue to support the Forgotten Realms and Eberron campaign settings both in game product and with novel lines. The Forgotten Realms campaign setting will be the first one updated for 4th Edition in print, with a new campaign guide releasing in August 2008. Other classic campaign settings may be revisited in print product as demand warrants, but not as full-blown product lines. Most of the support for these less-popular campaign settings will occur on D&D Insider, in the form of articles, wikipedias, and the like.

---

I think we are now setted as to the fate of the RL setting in 4e, no?

Which means this site will remain the only/main source of RL info in 4e!

Joël