D&D 5E Light release schedule: More harm than good?

[chriton227]

Four, five, or even six books a year would be a good balance.

With the current schedule, they will have released the PHB, MM, DMG, HotDQ, RoT, and the Elemental Evil adventure in the first year. By my count that is 6 books (7 if you count the Starter Set) in the first 12 months. At this point we don't know what the next 12 months will hold for their release schedule, but from what I can tell so far they are delivering exactly what you are complaining that they aren't delivering. The fact that they haven't announced products isn't proof that there aren't products in the pipeline, and people that try to make that leap of logic come across as tilting at windmills.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

just for ha ha's I built my own perfect release schedule for the next 2 years...


March'15- adventure
*already announced*
May'15- Themed supliment something between the psionic's hand book and the 4e fey wild book
*lets say "Heroes of the Hoards" player stats for hobgoblin, orc, kobold, and goblin some new sub classes and feats maybe a spell or 2
August '15- campaign setting
*I want darksun or Birthright, would probably get FR*
September'15- adventure
November '15- Generic supliment something like complete warrior or the fighter handbook or marshal power

March'16- adventure
May'16- Themed supliment something between the psionic's hand book and the 4e fey wild book
August '16- campaign setting
September'16- adventure
November '16- Generic supliment something like complete warrior or the fighter handbook or marshal power

 

[dream66_]

I want 5E to have a long, popular, and profitable life span. IMO by keeping the books to a minimum, it will foster an enviroment that allows this to happen. Less books at once, more quality when they do come, and a longer life span due to spreading out the release schedule over a longer period of time.

3.x lasted 8 years, 4e close to 5. Just how long do you expect 5e to last? Times change, interests change, things change, 5 years is a long time.

 

[Nine Hands]

I believe that evergreen core rules with the occasional expansion is the best we could get, but some standalone modules wouldn't hurt either. I'm not a huge fan of this "big campaign" model that seems to be exactly the point where WotC wants to do the same as Paizo.

If you aren't looking for big campaigns, check out Adventure's League for Expeditions. They are free and very low key adventures. I'm sure as they get higher in level it will get into higher stakes but the all the adventure's I've run or played have been excellent.

 

[Staffan]

Hard data huh?

When was the last time Wizards actually found a happy medium with their release schedule? Their track record proves they don't really have a clue to be honest.

In a way, it seems to me that Wizards' biggest problem is the lack of moderation.

2e books with player stuff sold well and was well-received? LET'S MAKE 3E ALL ABOUT PLAYER OPTIONS!!!

People liked the complex mechanics in Tome of Battle, and are complaining about the lore overload in FR? LET'S MAKE 4E ALL ABOUT KEWL POWAHS AND LET'S WRECK THE REALMS!!!

People thought there were too many books in previous editions? LET'S RELEASE ALMOST NOTHING FOR 5E!!!

Basically, there are options beside "60+ products per year" (like in the 90s) and "2-4 books per year" (which it kind of seems like they're on track for now, admittedly with very limited info). Like I said in another thread, I think something like 4 big releases (160+ pages - two mega-adventures, one setting-related book, and one rules companion), 4 moderate (96-128 pages - maybe one monster book and three smaller setting-related books), and 4 small (32-64 pages, mainly adventures) would be good from a customer perspective. It sure sounds like they don't have the resources for that kind of schedule anymore, though.

 

[painted_klown]

3.x lasted 8 years, 4e close to 5. Just how long do you expect 5e to last? Times change, interests change, things change, 5 years is a long time.

I have no expectations, it will last as long as it can. I would like that time frame to be as long as possible though. How long that will be, I cannot predict.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I don't represent the majority so just because I stick around doesn't mean a hoard of others will.

So you're warning WotC about what everyone other than you is going to do? Well, that's very big of you... passing on all this information about people you've never met and whose reaction you have no knowledge of. How could WotC possibly not take that seriously?!?

 

[Sailor Moon]

I have no expectations, it will last as long as it can. I would like that time frame to be as long as possible though. How long that will be, I cannot predict.

So how does a tiny release schedule equal a long and lasting RPG?

 

[Sailor Moon]

So you're warning WotC about what everyone other than you is going to do? Well, that's very big of you... passing on all this information about people you've never met and whose reaction you have no knowledge of. How could WotC possibly not take that seriously?!?

What exactly are you trying to say here because you aren't making any sense?

 

[painted_klown]

So how does a tiny release schedule equal a long and lasting RPG?

To quote myself:

As a new player, a huge factor in me choosing 5E over Pathfinder (to DM) was the non-intimidating stack of books available. Please remember veterans, that a person who hasn't really been exposed to D&D doesn't realize that there are three core books, and that everything else is "extra" (for lack of a better word). Not knowing this leads to confusion, and a tendancy to not want to "buy in" because the books are expeinsive, and they aren't sure where to start.

I too love the slower pace, and thought perhaps I was alone in that thought.

I want 5E to have a long, popular, and profitable life span. IMO by keeping the books to a minimum, it will foster an enviroment that allows this to happen. Less books at once, more quality when they do come, and a longer life span due to spreading out the release schedule over a longer period of time.


All of this is IMO and YMMV, of coure.

My reasons are the same as I posted here. They haven't changed, and I don't take bait to start a flame war. Nor do I feel I need to justify an opinion that was clearly stated as an opinion. I never said these were facts backed up by data from the successful RPG company that I ran.

The same question could be asked of you. How does a having a tiny release schedule equal to a short life span for the game?

The reality is that ANY answer given by either party would be guessing, speculation, and prove absolutely nothing.


EDIT: Reading this, it comes off a bit confrontational. It isn't meant to be. I am only trying to state what my opinion is, and that neither of us have a way to know what will be best for 5E's life span. Either way we both seem to want the same thing, and neither of us have any control over the release schedule, so there is no need to argue about it. It will be what WOTC determines is best.