D&D 5E Xanathar's Guide to Everything -- new mechanical expansion/UA book! -- November 10 with a limited-edition cover by Hydro74

[Azzy]

Thanks guys. What are the odds we get the new ranger in this book or Tomb of Annilation? I can see them giving us just beast and hunter conclaves in Tomb and moving deep stalker with other subclasses to Xanthers. I just really want to explore a lost jungle island with the new ranger in adventurers league.

In my opinion? I'd say pretty darn good. Keep in mind, though, I'm no insider.

 

[Azzy]

Almost three pages on wotc business and realms hate. So. Damn. Tedious.

I know. I think I might reverse my position of hating the Realms and become a fan just to spite all the anti-Realm whining. I mean, serious, people!

 

[Mistwell]

Then they wouldn't have anything at all for DMs or nothing at all for players, they don't release any more books then 1 per year outside of APs, they can't, they don't have the staff, it's why SCAG and some of the APs we're outsourced.

It's why we can't have a full fledged FRCG, if they did they wouldn't be able to produce anything else outside of the required APs in that year. It's also why you won't see Eberron, Darksun, and so on.

It's also why we don't get FR novels anymore, no staff.

This is an edition on life support from an early point, it purpose is just to barely keep the IP alive so it can be pimped out for movie deals, and other licencing deals.

First, this is one of the sillier posts I've seen all week. An edition on life support? It's outselling all the prior editions since AD&D. It's ranking in top books (all books, not RPG books) for sales on Amazon. It's the most talked about RPG on the internet by massive margins. It's well outselling all other RPGs in retail stores. It's the first edition to ever make the FCC-regulated quarterly reports of Hasbro for having a meaningful impact on their profits. I mean, by any measure, we're looking at a very highly successful version of D&D.

They don't want to have more books selling. That was their stated intent up front, they explained why, it was a strategy they selected which they predicted would result in more sales per individual product due to all marketing being focused in one direction for longer periods of time, and that strategy is very clearly paying off.

If they wanted to release more books with their current staff they could just outsource more. Novels used to be routinely outsourced. They don't NEED staff for those - but they held back on them anyway. Because they don't fit their strategy.

That narrative you're peddling fell apart almost 3 years ago. There is literally no evidence left to support it.

 

[happyhermit]

Let's see;
Weekly multi-hour official live-play show (DCA).
Professionally produced podcast.
If anything overproduced AI convention shows.
AI series last year.
Very well produced 12hr livestream x2 (showed this to some non-D&D fans that know about this type of stuff and they were amazed by the cameras, lighting, even seeing makeup being done in the background)
Several other shows of varying production values (Force Grey was high).
Well reviewed, received, and selling products.


=/= Shoestring or life support type situation in any way to anyone not predetermined to see that. It is relatively new and different, it isn't what everyone wants, but it's not that.

 

[Zardnaar]

IN the book business larger pint runs= lower costs ergo more profit.

The average D&D player might be willing to spend $50-$100 per year on a book.

If you make 12 books a year they might buy 1 or 2.

If you only make 1-2 per year+AP they spend about the same but each book sells a lot more than the 12/year model.

Adventures also rive core book sales, they found this out in 1E AKA the biggest selling D&D ever and forgot it during 2E/3E/4E. Paizo discovered this. Get people playing your product.

 

[vecna00]

I can't possibly source it at the moment, but I recall Mike Mearls talking about an early survey asking how many books players and DMs typically bought in a year. He was speaking anecdotally about buying multiple books every month and thought most people did the same. The survey results showed something much different: just a few each year. So, they took that idea and are running with it.

I honestly can't remember if he said this on a podcast or a convention panel.

 

[CapnZapp]

It's no longer the D&D RPG. It's the Forgotten Realms RPG.

RIP, D&D.

Don't be ridiculous. If 50% are homebrewers, 25% use the Realms, and the rest are split over a dozen other D&D settings, then the light FR focus is the only focus that makes sense.

Assuming half the homebrewers can and will reskin official stuff for their own use, then the FR focus is the only one that stands a chance of capturing even half the market.

 

[CapnZapp]

Did you...just complain about words in a book?

Yes. What about it?

Just rambling on with no mechanics and game design and balance and playtest is easy and cheap.

Far too much of 5e supplements is just words, as opposed to crunch.

So yes, I just complained about words. But not in a book - in a game supplement. There's a difference.

 

[Shasarak]

Hmm, what is a relief? That the Xanathar is enamored with his pet goldfish? Or that there are alternative covers?

Wait, Xanathar has a goldfish?

 

[gyor]

First, this is one of the sillier posts I've seen all week. An edition on life support? It's outselling all the prior editions since AD&D. It's ranking in top books (all books, not RPG books) for sales on Amazon. It's the most talked about RPG on the internet by massive margins. It's well outselling all other RPGs in retail stores. It's the first edition to ever make the FCC-regulated quarterly reports of Hasbro for having a meaningful impact on their profits. I mean, by any measure, we're looking at a very highly successful version of D&D.

They don't want to have more books selling. That was their stated intent up front, they explained why, it was a strategy they selected which they predicted would result in more sales per individual product due to all marketing being focused in one direction for longer periods of time, and that strategy is very clearly paying off.

If they wanted to release more books with their current staff they could just outsource more. Novels used to be routinely outsourced. They don't NEED staff for those - but they held back on them anyway. Because they don't fit their strategy.

That narrative you're peddling fell apart almost 3 years ago. There is literally no evidence left to support it.

Again I never suggested that this edition wasn't selling well, when I said life support I was referring to the minimal books being produced, not to 5e being unpopular. In my opinion if they can't even be bothered to produce something basic like a FRCG then it shows how little Hasbro and WotC actually care about 5e.

And I love the realms, I'm not realms hater.