WotC Hasbro CEO Chris Cox, "I would say that the underlying thesis of our D&D business is all about digital,”

[Zardnaar]

I disagree, 1e was a cash grab trying to lock Arneson out of the revenue. Irrespective of the merits of the game it was also a bad business decision in my opinion as it fragmented the market and created brand confusion.

Think you misread me I'm saying 1E was a cash grab and I basically agree with what you said.

The other 2 cash grab editions are 3.5 and 4E imho.

Just to be clear.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Think you misread me I'm saying 1E was a cash grab and I basically agree with what you said.

The other 2 cash grab editions are 3.5 and 4E imho.

Just to be clear.

Fair enough, I do not think that 4e started out as a cash grab. I think that 3.5 ran out of steam quicker than they anticipated and 4e started out as genuine attempt to try something different. It was to be part of a strong pivot to digital. The latter failed because they did not have the managerial experience to bring in large digital productions.

 

[Zardnaar]

Fair enough, I do not think that 4e started out as a cash grab. I think that 3.5 ran out of steam quicker than they anticipated and 4e started out as genuine attempt to try something different. It was to be part of a strong pivot to digital. The latter failed because they did not have the managerial experience to bring in large digital productions.

They rushed it out the door half baked and chased that MMO money.

3.5 was also rushed out the door but they just tweaked 3.0 vs new game built from scratch.

 

[Hussar]

They rushed it out the door half baked and chased that MMO money.

3.5 was also rushed out the door but they just tweaked 3.0 vs new game built from scratch.

Every edition was a “cash grab”. 2e only existed because 1e’s sales had cratered. 3e was a result of tsr going bankrupt.

DndOne is the first time in dnd’s history that we’re getting a new set of core books that isn’t because the company either makes a new edition or goes bankrupt.

It’s funny how “cash grab” and “editions I don’t like” are almost always synonymous.

 

[mamba]

They rushed it out the door half baked and chased that MMO money.

3.5 was also rushed out the door but they just tweaked 3.0 vs new game built from scratch.

so 2024 is the next half baked and rushed out the door cash grab?

 

[Oofta]

so 2024 is the next half baked and rushed out the door cash grab?

Obviously. It's something they're just slapping together with no consideration of what the people playing the game actually want. Sure there's been a massive survey and abundant feedback, but they haven't called me up personally to ask me what I personally want!

Oh and something, something, OGL.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

so 2024 is the next half baked and rushed out the door cash grab?

See post above that one.

 

[Oofta]

So back to "WOTC must be perfect! Never making a mistake, never producing a product I don't personally care for!"

Good grief. Some exec(s) who didn't know what they were doing made a bone headed move last year. Then it was never actually implemented because they listened to feedback. The monsters! They produced a product some people didn't like! Lazy bastards! They hosted a conference for people that support their product, flying people in on the company dime and it didn't go flawlessly! Incompetence! They want to make money off of video games because they make far more money than movies or series! How dare they support an amazingly popular video game! Don't even get me started on the totally optional tools they're making that I don't ever need to purchase but a lot of people find useful!

I find it puzzling that one of the big complaints (still) is the OGL crap and that we don't know who thought it was a good idea. It was a stupid idea, but what would we do if we knew exactly who was behind it? Stalk them as they walk down the street crying "Shame on you"? Demand they be fired because they didn't realize the reaction they would get? People saying that have never made a mistake? I agree, this one was a doozy, but it was also squashed.

I'm not a huge fan of big corporations and the focus on short term profits. But I don't expect a company to never make mistakes, I don't expect every product to be one I'm going to purchase. WOTC actually listens to feedback and changes. A lot of companies give lip service to customer service and listening to their customers, for the most part WOTC seems to do so most of the time.

But are they really solely focused on short term profits? The surveys that led up to 5E were the most extensive ever made for a TTRPG. They let 5E be without a new release for nearly a decade, quite the switch from the previous 2.5 editions. Anybody else remember the book-a-month club they had for a while? Pepperidge Farms does and I do as well. Now they're doing a tune-up, an anniversary edition to fix some of the inevitable mistakes and patch things up a bit. As part of that they're doing another massive survey.

I don't "trust" WOTC any more than any other large company. They exist to make a profit. But this is a hobby, something that I could continue to play for the rest of my life without paying them another dime if I wanted. If the 2024 edition has stuff I want, I'll buy it. If not, I'll ignore it.

But excuse me for my overly long rant. Now I have to go and play some Baldur's Gate 3, one of the most personally enjoyable games I've played for a long time and well worth the cost considering the number of hours of entertainment I'm going to get out of it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Every edition was a “cash grab”. 2e only existed because 1e’s sales had cratered. 3e was a result of tsr going bankrupt.

DndOne is the first time in dnd’s history that we’re getting a new set of core books that isn’t because the company either makes a new edition or goes bankrupt.

It’s funny how “cash grab” and “editions I don’t like” are almost always synonymous.

At this point, those of us who don't like WotC's work should just stop buying their stuff. Play 5e with other people's books, or with what you already have, or a different game. Lots of choices out there.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

So back to "WOTC must be perfect! Never making a mistake, never producing a product I don't personally care for!"

Good grief. Some exec(s) who didn't know what they were doing made a bone headed move last year. Then it was never actually implemented because they listened to feedback. The monsters! They produced a product some people didn't like! Lazy bastards! They hosted a conference for people that support their product, flying people in on the company dime and it didn't go flawlessly! Incompetence! They want to make money off of video games because they make far more money than movies or series! How dare they support an amazingly popular video game! Don't even get me started on the totally optional tools they're making that I don't ever need to purchase but a lot of people find useful!

I find it puzzling that one of the big complaints (still) is the OGL crap and that we don't know who thought it was a good idea. It was a stupid idea, but what would we do if we knew exactly who was behind it? Stalk them as they walk down the street crying "Shame on you"? Demand they be fired because they didn't realize the reaction they would get? People saying that have never made a mistake? I agree, this one was a doozy, but it was also squashed.

I'm not a huge fan of big corporations and the focus on short term profits. But I don't expect a company to never make mistakes, I don't expect every product to be one I'm going to purchase. WOTC actually listens to feedback and changes. A lot of companies give lip service to customer service and listening to their customers, for the most part WOTC seems to do so most of the time.

But are they really solely focused on short term profits? The surveys that led up to 5E were the most extensive ever made for a TTRPG. They let 5E be without a new release for nearly a decade, quite the switch from the previous 2.5 editions. Anybody else remember the book-a-month club they had for a while? Pepperidge Farms does and I do as well. Now they're doing a tune-up, an anniversary edition to fix some of the inevitable mistakes and patch things up a bit. As part of that they're doing another massive survey.

I don't "trust" WOTC any more than any other large company. They exist to make a profit. But this is a hobby, something that I could continue to play for the rest of my life without paying them another dime if I wanted. If the 2024 edition has stuff I want, I'll buy it. If not, I'll ignore it.

But excuse me for my overly long rant. Now I have to go and play some Baldur's Gate 3, one of the most personally enjoyable games I've played for a long time and well worth the cost considering the number of hours of entertainment I'm going to get out of it.

I'd like to hug you now.