The New D&D Next Official Site

Morrus · Feb 17, 2012

WotC has launched its new official home for D&D Next.

The new page features all the latest and greatest on D&D Next including articles from Wizards, discussions about the future of the game, and seminar transcripts from the recent D&D Experience event. It will also soon house features like Live Chats, a calendar of upcoming events and, once playtesting begins, materials will be available for download through this page. (Please note that this new site does not signify the start of playtesting – we will, of course, let you know once that begins!)

In addition, the main D&D site has been redesigned.

OpsKT · Feb 17, 2012

Am I the only one that thinks it might be in poor taste to still advertise Essentials as the what to buy if you're new to D&D when a new version is coming in a year?

ScottMcG · Feb 17, 2012

OpsKT said:
Am I the only one that thinks it might be in poor taste to still advertise Essentials as the what to buy if you're new to D&D when a new version is coming in a year?

It's not in poor taste. It's still the proper recommendation for what to buy if you're new to D&D. I don't think telling someone who is interested in the hobby that they shouldn't bother enjoying the hobby because something might be out in the next year or two is the right thing to do at all.

I'll never understand the idea that D&D materials somehow obsolesce in the mere anticipation of something that doesn't yet exist.

OpsKT · Feb 17, 2012

Fair enough, let me explain in more detail.

WotC knows what happened when they changed from v3.0 to v3.5. There was a small uproar. People thought it was an attempt to get more money, rather than address game issues (it was probably a bit of both).

A similar thing happened with the v3.5 to 4e change. That fractured the base and led to Pathfinder.

We saw similar rumblings again when Essentials came out.

If they want this to be the edition to unite players, they might want to at least make it clear that you are buying a soon to be legacy edition. I got no problem with trying to sell the last books, but be honest. It's just good PR.

Morrus · Feb 17, 2012

OpsKT said:
If they want this to be the edition to unite players, they might want to at least make it clear that you are buying a soon to be legacy edition. I got no problem with trying to sell the last books, but be honest. It's just good PR.

How more clear do they need to be about the upcoming new edition? They're hardly keeping it a secret. Are you saying they've managed to somehow keep you unaware of it?

OpsKT · Feb 18, 2012

Morrus said:
How more clear do they need to be about the upcoming new edition? They're hardly keeping it a secret. Are you saying they've managed to somehow keep you unaware of it?

We are aware because we are all gamers here. We follow this stuff. People that are not gamers but have just heard of this game might not catch that Essentials is a year away from being obsolete at that website. If you follow the 'Learn to Play' link because you just took an interest, you might not realize that a new edition is around the corner.

Think of it this way. If we could call for a theoretical show of hands here about the recent changes to the rules for NCAA sports, I'm guessing less than 1/2 (or even less than 1/4) would know about that. I only know it happened because I am a student, but I don't know WHAT happened.

The potential new gamers are in that state. They are aware that D&D (basketball) exists, and that it has rules (regulations), but they might not know about the current rules (NCAA guidelines) or that the edition is about to change (recently changed).

I'm just saying that a 'Hey, were are in the middle of making a new exciting edition for you to play next year. Buy what interests you, but save some for the new hotness!' might not be a bad marketing and PR move, in light of the stuff that happened AMONG GAMERS with each edition change. People don't like to feel like they wasted their money on old stuff.

Morrus · Feb 18, 2012

OpsKT said:
We are aware because we are all gamers here. We follow this stuff. People that are not gamers but have just heard of this game might not catch that Essentials is a year away from being obsolete at that website. If you follow the 'Learn to Play' link because you just took an interest, you might not realize that a new edition is around the corner.

Think of it this way. If we could call for a theoretical show of hands here about the recent changes to the rules for NCAA sports, I'm guessing less than 1/2 (or even less than 1/4) would know about that. I only know it happened because I am a student, but I don't know WHAT .

Fair enough. I admit I don't know what an NCAA might or might not be.

I do see your point. I just went to the main page and clicked on the big "what to buy" button, pretending I was new to D&D. You're right in that it tells you to buy the current 4E stuff and doesn't mention 5E. So, yeah, a new gamer might end up buying those books with no idea hat 5E is round the corner.

I'm not sure that matters though. While I agree that a certain percentage of the audience requires that they have the latest stuff, I'd be interested to see how that translates to general consumer habits. In no other area of my life - my PC, my car, my phone, computer games, comics, my TV, my clothes, etc. - does that pattern remotely resemble my buying habits. It would be interesting to see if RPGs are notably different in at regard on a large scale (there will always be people, of course).

For me, at least personally, that wouldn't be an issue. YMMV of course.

Dragonblade · Feb 18, 2012

[MENTION=1]Morrus[/MENTION], the NCAA is the governing body that regulates college athletics in the US. College sports, particularly American football (not that other kind of football most of us Americans have little interest in

) is HUGE, commanding TV broadcast money that rivals or dwarfs some professional sports leagues.

The NCAA controls everything from how the game is played on the field, to how some tournaments are set up, to what student athletes are and are not allowed to do. They aren't allowed to make money off endorsements, for example. They punish schools and athletes that break the rules.

I am a big college football fan, so I tend to keep an eye on the NCAA and its recent rulings. But the casual fan probably doesn't really know what all the recent changes and such are.

And since we are on the topic, Go Oregon Ducks!

Morrus · Feb 18, 2012

Dragonblade said:
Morrus, the NCAA is the governing body that regulates college athletics in the US. College sports, particularly American football (not that other kind of football most of us Americans have little interest in ) is HUGE, commanding TV broadcast money that rivals or dwarfs some professional sports leagues.

The NCAA controls everything from how the game is played on the field, to how some tournaments are set up, to what student athletes are and are not allowed to do. They aren't allowed to make money off endorsements, for example. They punish schools and athletes that break the rules.

I am a big college football fan, so I tend to keep an eye on the NCAA and its recent rulings. But the casual fan probably doesn't really know what all the recent changes and such are.

And since we are on the topic, Go Oregon Ducks!