Mercurius
Legend
So let's say that DDI becomes not only the focal product of D&D, but where the majority of new material is published. What then would be published as paper products? What we we actually see in book form? I see a few possibilities:
*New core rulebooks. These could be rolled out every 3-5 years as "cross-sections" of the ever evolving game. Or they could be more frequent but as micro-changes - simply new printings. Everything is compatible, everything part of a continuum - and everything referring back to DDI as the primary, and most up-to-date, source document - but you can choose whether or not to buy the latest printing or version. This might include table reference books like Rules Compendium. If they were to keep to the core three and maybe one or two others, this would average 1-2 a year, maybe less.
*Setting and theme stuff. This sort of thing doesn't translate as well to the Compendium, Character Builder, etc. This is the type of thing you want to sit down and read. Maybe one a quarter.
*Box sets. These could be mega-adventures, campaign settings, stuff with a lot of tokens or other gimmicks. Maybe one a quarter.
*Compilations and Annuals. There would still be room for "best ofs" not unlike the Dragon and Dungeon Annuals but more specific: compilations of, say, magic items or feats even monsters might fit into this category. These might be few and far between and maybe only one or two yearly.
What would not be printed are typical splats (Power books), maybe some of the monster books, treasure books, etc.
So under my speculations, we'd be seeing roughly one new book or box set a month - a mixture of core rulebook reprintings/revisions, setting/theme books, box sets, and annuals/compilations.
What do you think? Does this make sense?
*New core rulebooks. These could be rolled out every 3-5 years as "cross-sections" of the ever evolving game. Or they could be more frequent but as micro-changes - simply new printings. Everything is compatible, everything part of a continuum - and everything referring back to DDI as the primary, and most up-to-date, source document - but you can choose whether or not to buy the latest printing or version. This might include table reference books like Rules Compendium. If they were to keep to the core three and maybe one or two others, this would average 1-2 a year, maybe less.
*Setting and theme stuff. This sort of thing doesn't translate as well to the Compendium, Character Builder, etc. This is the type of thing you want to sit down and read. Maybe one a quarter.
*Box sets. These could be mega-adventures, campaign settings, stuff with a lot of tokens or other gimmicks. Maybe one a quarter.
*Compilations and Annuals. There would still be room for "best ofs" not unlike the Dragon and Dungeon Annuals but more specific: compilations of, say, magic items or feats even monsters might fit into this category. These might be few and far between and maybe only one or two yearly.
What would not be printed are typical splats (Power books), maybe some of the monster books, treasure books, etc.
So under my speculations, we'd be seeing roughly one new book or box set a month - a mixture of core rulebook reprintings/revisions, setting/theme books, box sets, and annuals/compilations.
What do you think? Does this make sense?