D&D 5E So what exactly is Wizards working on?

[Sailor Moon]

If you leave, don't forget to move your bookmarks.



Do you have access to WotC's data and surveys regarding this? They spent years compiling and analyzing data and determined from that to make 5E a slower release schedule.

Unless you have some evidence, your repeated complaint "I know better than they do!" is nothing more than your opinion.

We'll obviously their data is crap if Mearls thinks heavy release killed 3rd and 4th edition.

I don't need the data, I can read the BS from here.

 

[Sailor Moon]

I find it funny how all the things you think WotC did wrong just happen to coincide with all the things you don't like. It's almost like if you can't get what you want, then it's their fault and they're screwing up.

Let's try a different tack here. Tell me something that WotC did that you liked but which you also think was wrong. If you can answer that... maybe we can start coming to some sort of accord.

And?

How about respond to me when you are ready to make some sense?

 

[Ilbranteloth]

Please show me this massive uproar about the guide being cancelled.

You can't not put out another product because you are afraid you will lose sales on the first one. That's not the way RPG's work. Wizards has had raw data for years and they still couldn't get it right.

I would bet you almost anything that they could be actually stuck for ideas.

Well here's one: http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?2261-Has-ADVENTURER-S-HANDBOOK-Been-Cancelled#.VQDh9vnF98E

And among the praise/criticism of the content there is still commentary about it being cancelled/reduced from a hard cover book to a free online supplement:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?2418-ELEMENTAL-EVIL-Player-s-Companion-FREE!#.VQDipvnF98E

Others can be found online.

But my whole point was simply that there could be other reasons why we haven't heard of other future releases and that the current schedule isn't necessarily the permanent schedule. I don't have any idea what WotC has planned other than what they announce. I don't work there, and I don't have specific insider information. Regardless, if I did I couldn't share it anyway.

Being involved in a different hobby business I wade through the same types of online complaints/criticisms, as well as emails on a daily basis. And without exception the posters have absolutely no idea about what's actually going on with our company, most of which I'm not at liberty to post. The business end of things can get very complicated for a great many reasons, and these types of companies are often run by participants and fans of the hobby itself. It frustrates me to see the tone of many posts and the way they target the very people responsible for providing the products you want. I'm not saying your post is one of them, just pointing out that there are usually a whole lot more than just one or two possible reasons why a company might not provide more information, or choose a particular release schedule, or what have you.

As far as whether Wizards 'gets it right' or not. In my view, they still exist as a company, and they are still releasing material that people are excited about and purchasing. I'm not sure how much more 'right' you get in business. Do they please everybody 100%? Of course not.

But if I'm working at that company, doing what I love and getting paid for it, and I get to come to work tomorrow because what we did yesterday is making the company money and they want me to continue to do more of what I like to do. Woo hoo for me!

Ilbranteloth

 

[Jester David]

Cancelling half a dozen products is a whole different thing here.

1, 6, or 20, the response for cancelling a book would be much the same.

I'd *love* for WotC to be more open and explain why a book was pulled, but it wouldn't change things. The book would still be cancelled. And I'm sure the D&D team would like to tell us as well.

 

[DaveMage]

I think we need to remember that this new, slower schedule is unprecedented for WotC. As mearls has indicated, they are still trying to figure out the best mix of product vs. profitability in this new reality. Once they figure it out, product releases are likely to be more consistent.

Still, it's very weird not to see a new product for D&D every month. Other than between editions, that hasn't ever happened in D&D history (except, of course, when there was a "problem with the printer").

 

[HobbitFan]

If its as simple as Wizards experiementing with a new support model, then why aren't they talking to the community to help puzzle that out?
Seems like there has to be more to it than that....

 

[Queer Venger]

I was there. There was a tent with some cosplayers. The foodtrucks ... I don't think that was just a WotC thing. In fact, GenCon was a huge letdown for me in terms of it being the launch of 5E. WotC felt barely present. They didn't even have anything set up in the vendor hall.

*Some* cosplayers?!? Dude, they had a freakin Legolas spinning and displays of all the artifacts and weapons from Tyranny of Dragons, posters, the Crown of Tiamat (I got 2 and sold one on ebay for $25!!!) the tents were jam packed, it took me half an hour just to get in! Not sure what your definition of fun is but I had a blast. As for the vendor hall? What would they sell if they had a booth? 3.5, 4e products? Why would they, they are publishing 5e now and at the time only the PHB and the Starter box set were out. Why set up a booth to sell 2 things?!?! Anyway, sorry you didnt rock the Kazbah with the rest of us, if you are going this year we should meet up, you do recognize my avatar pic ;-)

 

[neobolts]

Getting back to the original topic, what is WotC releasing next? Clearly PotA isn't the last book ever. So what is next? I think they might announce a setting book. And another module of course.

 

[Jester David]

We'll obviously their data is crap if Mearls thinks heavy release killed 3rd and 4th edition.

I don't need the data, I can read the BS from here.

So... basically, you're arguing from a position of faith.
You believe in your heart of hearts that 3e and 4e failed for other reasons. And even the people who have seen the data and sales figures, and could have been looking at the numbers when they said heavy released were negative, will never dissuade you?

 

[I'm A Banana]

We'll obviously their data is crap if Mearls thinks heavy release killed 3rd and 4th edition.

I don't need the data, I can read the BS from here.

What happens when you question this assumption? What if (humor me) the data is correct and a heavy release schedule really did - despite all the BS you can smell - doom 3e and 4e to brief edition cycles? What happens if that is true? What would that say about what you're reading? What would that say about WotC's actions?

And perhaps critically -- what is more likely to be incorrect? Your own views of what is "obviously" true? Or WotC's carefully-gathered professional data?