Red Box: Some Constructive Criticism

[Kzach]

Just how much IS the Red Box? So far I can't find any prices online or off.

 

[AngryMojo]

just how much is the red box? So far i can't find any prices online or off.

$20 msrp

 

[Odhanan]

WotC is all about making money. As is every other game company.

Then it should be obvious that making a fully contained, if condensed and simplified, game, is the way to go. Why is it that we became so enamoured with D&D with the Mentzer box, or B/X? It's because this was a full game, because we played and played and played, and were only left wanting for EVEN more.

The notion that a bait-and-switch product makes more bucks than a fully rounded, satisfying product is a strange notion indeed. Using the marketing they used, with the cover they chose for the box, they could sell a great number of boxes regardless of their content. But to hook the player, you need to showcase the endless replayability and possibilities offered by a role playing game. A starter product that does not include complete rules, if even limited to a few levels, has much less of a chance to achieve this.

If bait-and-switch products sell just as much as a full product on the short term it is the full product that will generate more revenue on the mid-long term. And that is why fundamentally, bait-and-switch products are bad for a company that truly wants its brand to grow.

 

[gjnave]

It is for sale on Amazon.com for pre-order at $13. However you cant type in "Red Box", but have to type something like "Essentials". I only found it because i googled "d&d red box amazon". Even them the amazon title is not red box.

At any rate, this means that if you preorder the new comprehensive dungeon tiles along with this you can get free shipping.

 

[nnms]

I'm not convinced that things we might like to see in the red box not being there makes it a "bait and switch." Yes, they screwed up how the red box transitions past level 2, they didn't provide enough items and a few bits and bobs are missing.

But it is a complete game. I've played it. It's not anything other than what they said it would be. It's just not everything it could have been.

 

[ExploderWizard]

But it is a complete game. I've played it. It's not anything other than what they said it would be. It's just not everything it could have been.

It fails at being complete because you have to read through the same story again to create a character and there isn't enough info presented to really even fully build a level 1 character and keep leveling it with the forthcoming rules without a rebuild.

With the old Moldvay boxed set we created dozens of characters (and even got to equip them ) and played through a whole bunch of adventures with a single 64 page softcover book. Now, with 30 years more game design experience the inheritors of this legacy of awesome can't even duplicate, much less surpass that effort.

It's really sad.

 

[ExploderWizard]

OK really annoying Double post. Page won't update.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Double post

 

[Scribble]

It fails at being complete because you have to read through the same story again to create a character and there isn't enough info presented to really even fully build a level 1 character and keep leveling it with the forthcoming rules without a rebuild.

With the old Moldvay boxed set we created dozens of characters (and even got to equip them ) and played through a whole bunch of adventures with a single 64 page softcover book. Now, with 30 years more game design experience the inheritors of this legacy of awesome can't even duplicate, much less surpass that effort.

It's really sad.

Basic was also.. Really basic. There's a lot more room in a box when you just have to detail what being an elf means, as opposed to being an elf and being another class on top.

There's a lot more to the game then there was back then.

If you can figure out how to get all of that into a box, and keep it at a good price, let them know your plan. (Don't forget to include real figures and costs, cause anyone can BS a bunch of ideas.)

Do that- and maybe they'll hire you. You'll be a hero- All the world will speak your name as the guy who brought back the good old days.

 

[FabioMilitoPagliara]

they could make a nice pdf with rules of character creation for 4 races and 4 classes from 1st trough 3rd level

a mini free Player Handbook as a gift for their faithful redboxer