GTS 2009 D&D Seminar - the Rouse discusses D&D

[Nightson]

Scott, have you guys ever considered revising KotS to include more roleplaying focus/advice? I know quite a lot of people end up starting with that adventure and it shapes a lot of people's perceptions about the game.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I don't watch the show, except for those episodes. Sara Girard on my team coordinated that product placement. It was great!

So it was no accident.

yes we are in active negotiations with a new German publishing partner

Glad to hear that, and I think other German players will agree.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

I'm looking forward to hearing about how Delve Night will be re-tooled.

 

[Scott_Rouse]

Absolutely true.

How much of this responsibility, moving forward, falls to Marketing, and how much to R&D? It seems to me you're saying that everything the game needs (from the R&D side) is there already, and folks' perception is wrong?

Or do you anticipate that there will have to be some design/development changes to alter the perception?

I need 4e rules that preserve the old school feel. (Blame Clark. I simply don't know a better way to put it.)

4e has enticements, but it also has obstacles. None of those obstacles are non-negotiable but, because you're competing against your prior editions, the enticements need to be stronger to force a switch.

I think it will be a little of both.

From the R&D/product perspective we need to show people what else is out there. Adventures with more roleplaying or the fun flavor type stuff with familiars are good examples of this.

On the marketing side we can come out and tell this in articles, podcasts (like Penny Arcade "Theatre of the mind") etc.

One area I wish we had done more on with the launch of 4e was conversion. The conversion from 2e to 3e was largely a failure, but it was attempted and it got people to sample the system at a minimum. Even though the the conversion of character etc was wonky it got people to convert none the less. Because we knew it was wonky the last time we didn't attempt it with 3.5 to 4e. By not attempting any sort of 3.5 to 4e conversion we put up an artificial barrier to certain people.

Even if the mechanical conversion will not work due to some of the major changes there is so much that can be carried over. Now that we have a lot more character options I would like to see us do more articles like the assassin piece that give ideas and guidelines on how to add more variety and flavor to your characters, even going as far as to take a 3.x class and try and replicate it in 4e. I would also like to see articles on converting old adventures and using all of the great content from 3.x (or older editions) that can be carried into 4e. Conversion articles to show people that the collection on their shelves still has great value even if they are not playing in an older edition. I know guys like Chris Perkins still rely on their 3.5 books on a daily basis for 4e design and development.

 

[MerricB]

G'day, Scott!

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate your posts in this thread. They've been fascinating to read.

Cheers!

 

[Scott_Rouse]

Do the numbers of people that came to the website from PvP and Will Wheaton's blog compare, or are they relatively insignificant?
(Photos might help the podcasts, as well; the only photo I found was one taken at PAX 2008 by Kiko, linked from Will's blog.)

I am not sure but I suspect the Penny Arcade numbers are greater.

We still love the celeb mentions. When Wil or someone else of his stature mentions us, it drives a pretty good amount of traffic and gets good buzz going.

Yeah, next time we'll get more pics.

 

[Brown Jenkin]

The thing I am wondering about is the continuation of relying on existing players in the marketing side. I remember last year you stated that your marketing plan was to focus on existing players at first then go to phase two which would be going after new players. The current plan seems to be not only continuing to focus on existing players but to pull back on wider market options. At what point do you feel 4th edition needs to at before you focus on recruiting new players again?

 

[Baron Opal]

I don't play 4e because I perceive it as only supporting a "kick in the door, kill things and take their stuff" approach to the game. From your perspective, whether or not 4e supports styles other than that at this moment is irrelevant - my perception is that it does not, and thus I will find something else on which to spend my money.

What needs to be added to the system to fill the lack that you have found?

Not changed, mind you. Added. Assume for the moment that the basic rules engine is carved in stone.

 

[Spatula]

The problem I see with video games and 4e is that AI could not be used to make a fun experience in the way Baldur's Gate did. 3e was a game based on resources and exploration, 4e is more chess like. Could they now create a solo video game that managed to provide a good experience with the 4e toolset? I think they would have to add other elements of resources to engage the player. Perhaps a game like jagged alliance 2 with big tactical maps where one combat could take place would be more suitable. But that would difficultly make a ground for some interesting story or plot development. It would make for a strategy game like jagged alliance, rather than a classic crpg game.

I guess the gold box games aren't "classic" CRPGs then...

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

I'm probably not going to be buying any more 4e books, but I'd be a sucker for a good D&D t-shirt, especially one that had the art from the Character Sheet folder on it. Maybe even a D&D logo hat.

Especially a "wizard" bathrobe. Then every morning I could wake up and put on my robe and wizard hat.