Well, with all of the stuff they are cancelling, it seems either a new edition is in the works (which even they should realize would have their fans ready to lynch them) or they are licensing D&D the RPG to another company (I hope). Those are the only two reasons I can think for all the cancellations.
Ok, now i'm REALLY CONFUSED. AKA, do any of you think you know what WotC is doing?
- Thread starter Aberzanzorax
- Start date
Dungeoneer
First Post
Really? Those are the only possible reasons?
steeldragons
Steeliest of the dragons
I'l preface by saying, I make it a point not to follow what WotC does/isn't doing and generally do not bother to post to these sorts of threads simply because I do not follow "the industry" as such. I just know what/how I like to play.
That said, based off of the changes as supplied by the OP, I'm going to fall back on my knowledge in the print industry and observation/knowledge of existing market trends...just my personal observation/beliefs, I have no concrete proff of any of this in relation to WotC decision-making.
1) WotC is following the trend in print publishing (across the board) that the print medium is on the way out and Online publishing/content is the way for businesses to "make a profit."
Print, in general, is a "losing money" proposition these days. Almost universally, for any industry. I hate it. But that seems to be the trend.
People simply don't want to pay for hard copy when they can just "click" for whatever they want...and making online content "paid subscriptions" is significantly cheaper for the customer as well as the company.
2) There seems to be a trend returning to the use of boardgames. This is, in my estimation, the result of the fact that we're (the original D&D gamer audience as well as non-gamer population) all older. And many (if not most) have kids. The use of boardgames for non-computer "family time/activity" is definitely taking an upswing from what I can tell.
Producing a board game that would appeal to anyone in lieu of books "for gamers" is, almost certainly, a more prudent investment.
Again, not what I'D like to have available, personally, but I do not constitute "the market" as a whole.
Just my two coppers.
--Steel Dragons
That said, based off of the changes as supplied by the OP, I'm going to fall back on my knowledge in the print industry and observation/knowledge of existing market trends...just my personal observation/beliefs, I have no concrete proff of any of this in relation to WotC decision-making.
1) WotC is following the trend in print publishing (across the board) that the print medium is on the way out and Online publishing/content is the way for businesses to "make a profit."
Print, in general, is a "losing money" proposition these days. Almost universally, for any industry. I hate it. But that seems to be the trend.
People simply don't want to pay for hard copy when they can just "click" for whatever they want...and making online content "paid subscriptions" is significantly cheaper for the customer as well as the company.
2) There seems to be a trend returning to the use of boardgames. This is, in my estimation, the result of the fact that we're (the original D&D gamer audience as well as non-gamer population) all older. And many (if not most) have kids. The use of boardgames for non-computer "family time/activity" is definitely taking an upswing from what I can tell.
Producing a board game that would appeal to anyone in lieu of books "for gamers" is, almost certainly, a more prudent investment.
Again, not what I'D like to have available, personally, but I do not constitute "the market" as a whole.
Just my two coppers.
--Steel Dragons
Really? Those are the only possible reasons?
Maybe not the only ones, but the main ones I can think of to warrant all the recent shake ups at WotC.
scruffygrognard
Adventurer
I initially loved 3rd edition, but came to be annoyed with it after 8+ years of number crunching, and never had any interest in 4th edition.
That said and out of the way, I hope that WotC moves their handling of D&D to a boardgame format (much like Castle Ravenloft or Descent). The base rules would be covered in the initial D&D boardgame, with expansions offering new rules, minis, and dungeon tiles.
The D&D brand could then be licensed out for video games, movies, tactical wargames (for large-scale combat) and roleplaying games.
That said and out of the way, I hope that WotC moves their handling of D&D to a boardgame format (much like Castle Ravenloft or Descent). The base rules would be covered in the initial D&D boardgame, with expansions offering new rules, minis, and dungeon tiles.
The D&D brand could then be licensed out for video games, movies, tactical wargames (for large-scale combat) and roleplaying games.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I'm seeing lots of "worst possible" and "only possible" type rhetorical constructions.
Need I remind you all that absolutes aren't? Hyperbole is one of our key signs of edition warring, and we are not apt to put up with much of it. We know you all have opinions, both positive and negative - but if you don't keep them in perspective then the discussion will whirl out of control.
So, really, keep it down, please. Thanks.
ShinHakkaider
Adventurer
Castle Ravenloft was my only WOTC purchase last year since the release of 4th Edition. I've always said that 4th Ed would make a great mini's skirmish game and/or boardgame (THIS IS NOT A SLAM AGAINST 4E) and with Castle Ravenloft I think I was right. My 8 year old LOVES that game and was begging me to play quite a bit for a while there. I'm sure after the shine wears off of the stuff he got for Xmas he'll be asking me to play again.
Funny enough I dont see 4E going away anytime soon despite all of the changes. Remember D&D limped along for a long time near the end of 2nd Edition and people were still playing.
One of the things I *regularly* see and pass up to WotC in my reports is the calls by DDI subscribers to "let us playtest the stuff before you release it. Make being a D&D Insider mean something!"
The Monk playtest (last year I think) and the Assassin playtest this year resulted in WotC getting, if I read the tea-leaves properly) scads and scads of feedback testing. And isn't that something that "everyone" says WotC needs to do?
If this is true, and I want to emphasize that I have not heard *any* rumblings on future plans, it would be an interesting change to DDI that would, IMO, bump up its value immensely, and make it very, very attractive to a much wider audience.
Vyvyan Basterd
Adventurer
MME would be an awesome title for a new monthly Dragon article!
CleverNickName
Limit Break Dancing (He/They)
And plenty of people are still very happy with 3.5E, even though that edition has been out of print for years. People need to relax...discontinued or not, 4E isn't going anywhere. People who love 4E will continue to play it.
I don't know what to make of the new changes. I thought that the Essentials line was the harbinger of a 5th Edition, but the rest of these changes don't really jibe with that. It feels more like a restructuring, like they are testing out a new business model. I imagine a board meeting where someone stands up, puts their thumbs and index fingers on a polished tabletop, leans forward, and starts talking in clichés. "It is time to sail this ship in a new direction..."
But nobody is talking. I think it is the silence from WotC that is making us nervous, more than anything else.
