D&D 5E Why I Think D&DN is In Trouble

[DMZ2112]

Hrmmm... and My Little Pony in the background...

Yes, I can see it. My Paladin will have Pinkie Pie as a special mount.

Everyone's going to take this the wrong way, but when people say things like this I go weak in the knees.

Not because I'm a brony -- I've never seen an episode of Friendship is Whatever in my life. But because DUNGEONS & DRAGONS TOYS. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CARTOONS. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS CHRISTMAS COMMERCIALS.

::falls down::

::twitches::

...Is that you, Duke? Optimus? I'm comin' home...

 

[Dausuul]

http://www.hasbro.com/kre-o/en_US/shop/browse.cfm/KRE-O/Wizards-of-the-Coast/_/N-1rZofZ8eZgt/Ne-2l

It took me a bit to figure out what they were doing, but essentially they're using the D&D brand to produce their "Castle" line of Kre-Os. The branding is very light, except for the Drizzt set. Lots of "Knights" and "Fortresses," no mention of fighters, clerics, or even wizards, although the collectible individual minifigures include what appear to be a number of different D&D races and classes.

Also, one of the standalone minifigure sets is apparently a female orc warrior? That's kind of awesome.

Dang, I can't give you XP either.

Anyway, it doesn't look like you're expected to use these sets in your D&D games, though you probably could swap them in for minis if you felt so inclined. Rather, it's a cross-branding thing. KRE-O's get to use the D&D brand to boost their visibility. D&D gets an opportunity to put its brand in front of a new generation of potential gamers.

What it does prove, if we needed proof, is that Hasbro is serious about D&D. This isn't a "mothball edition," it's part of a larger effort to resurrect the broad appeal of the brand beyond the tabletop gaming community. I shall be interested to see what they do with the movie rights if they get them. D&D has a uniformly awful history when it comes to movie adaptations, but the cartoon was a hit by all accounts, and of course there's a wealth of book adaptations to draw upon. (Most of the books are bad, too, but some are quite good... Sturgeon's Law and all that.)

 

[DMZ2112]

Holy crap! D&D Kre-O just made the Kre-O front page! They must have launched today!*

http://www.hasbro.com/kre-o/en_us/

If it's not up, wait a second. It alternates between CityVille and D&D.

Dang, I can't give you XP either.

No one ever seems to be able to, and yet I am still only 4th level! Morrus! Release the inhibitors and permit my GLORIOUS APOTHEOSIS!

Anyway, it doesn't look like you're expected to use these sets in your D&D games, though you probably could swap them in for minis if you felt so inclined. Rather, it's a cross-branding thing. KRE-O's get to use the D&D brand to boost their visibility. D&D gets an opportunity to put its brand in front of a new generation of potential gamers.

Agreed, but note the cards in the sets. They don't appear in other Kre-O sets. Hmm...

What it does prove, if we needed proof, is that Hasbro is serious about D&D.

I don't know if it /proves/ this, but it is definitely what I choose to believe.

*Still can't buy them, even on the Hasbro online shop. They must be mid-rollout.

 

[Dausuul]

I don't know if it /proves/ this, but it is definitely what I choose to believe.

Well, okay, maybe "prove" was a bit strong, but "strongly indicates" at least. They wouldn't be doing cross-branding and wrangling over movie rights for a brand they were planning to deep-six. (Nor, for that matter, would they be launching a new edition complete with lengthy, expensive public playtest.)

 

[Halivar]

...Is that you, Duke? Optimus? I'm comin' home...

You got the touch... you got the powaaaaah... YEAH!

 

[DMZ2112]

Well, okay, maybe "prove" was a bit strong, but "strongly indicates" at least. They wouldn't be doing cross-branding and wrangling over movie rights for a brand they were planning to deep-six. (Nor, for that matter, would they be launching a new edition complete with lengthy, expensive public playtest.)

Yeah, the Kre-Os and the movie are promising, but you're right -- it's the playtest that I keep coming back to -- D&D has barely published anything this year or last. If they were barely keeping their heads above water with a full publication schedule, what must their coffers look like now? And yet, /someone/ is funding this process. Where is that money coming from?

This could be good. This could be very, very good.

 

[Halivar]

Yeah, the Kre-Os and the movie are promising, but you're right -- it's the playtest that I keep coming back to -- D&D has barely published anything this year or last.

This, together with DnDClassics, it really feels like a franchise reboot, which is what D&D needs, frankly. Where 4E failed to bring new blood into the hobby, maybe this multimedia assault to the sense will. Make sure every kid sees D&D everywhere.

 

[DMZ2112]

Yesss! Fifth level! You guys are awesome!

Zardnaar, I have hijacked your thread and am unrepentant!

Dungeons & Dragons Next lives! IT LIIIVES!

 

[Dausuul]

Yeah, the Kre-Os and the movie are promising, but you're right -- it's the playtest that I keep coming back to -- D&D has barely published anything this year or last. If they were barely keeping their heads above water with a full publication schedule, what must their coffers look like now? And yet, /someone/ is funding this process. Where is that money coming from?

Well, let's remember that Wizards isn't dependent on D&D for their profits. Their cardboard crack empire is vastly more profitable than D&D ever dreamed of being, even during the golden age of the '80s. It was M:tG that funded the purchase of TSR in the first place, and it's likely funding 5E development as well.

Hasbro still had to sign off on that decision, though.

 

[Halivar]

Well, let's remember that Wizards isn't dependent on D&D for their profits. Their cardboard crack empire is vastly more profitable than D&D ever dreamed of being

More than the RPG, for sure. But Magic doesn't have the cross-branding opportunity D&D does.