I hear that train a comin'

It's rolling round the bend.
And I ain't seen the sunshine
Since I don't know when.
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison
And time keeps dragging on.
But that train keeps a rollin'
On down to San Antone.

So, for those of you who have been living under a rock or on a desert island with no internet access, WotC is releasing their public playtest of "D&D Next"* tomorrow.  Well, for me it will likely be the day after tomorrow, due to the funny time warp known as the International Date Line. 

And I'm likely going to download it.  When they announced it, I was curious.  I was hoping they would reverse their current direction and bring the game home.  At first, their stated goals were hopeful.  Overly optimistic, certainly, but they gave me hope that the new game might at least be a good compromise game for those that like Old School, New School, and whatever school it is that 4th belongs to.

More recently, it's been pretty obvious that the game is not headed that way.  But I figure I at least need to take a look at what they've got and give my feedback to them, even if my voice is not heard.  If I don't, then I'll be just another grumbling guy when the game is released.  Like someone who doesn't vote, then spends the next 4 years complaining about the president.

Yeah, that's right.  It's our civic duty to go to the polls and vote for more Old School in our D&D.  We aren't likely to win the election, but if we don't make our voices heard then we've got no right to complain about the results after the dust settles.

*They're still calling it this?  Come on!  5E is of course just as bad.  You think they'd have had someone with a bit of marketing sense come up with something better.  I just keep thinking of Pepsi Next when I read that.  And Pepsi Clear, Pepsi Blue, whatever.  Yeah, I'm a Coke drinker when it comes to colas. Currently drinking a Mt. Dew, though.