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

[Reynard]

You have nicely laid out my case for me there. GenCon rolls around and WotC has practically nothing ready to sell and makes no announcements. And this is the 5E launch GenCon. Pretty much reflects that D&D is an afterthought as far as WotC is concerned.

I went to GenCon for the first time since the 3E launch specifically to bask in the glow of 5E's launch. It was extremely disappointing. There were no non-AL games of 5E and the WotC play space was about 1/3 the size of Paizo's. 5E is a great game and to me the perfect compliment to Pathfinder's high crunch. I just want them to support it like D&D has always been supported.

 

[Manchu]

Sounds like we have very similar experiences, Reynard. While I enjoyed the AL games I played, they were pretty boring in themselves and only saved by the cool people DMing and playing them.

 

[neobolts]

saved by the cool people DMing and playing them

This describes how I feel about a substantial portion of the TSR era products.

 

[Reynard]

This describes how I feel about a substantial portion of the TSR era products.

It's pretty much been true all the time hasn't it? Also, it's corollary: a great module can be ruined by terrible people.

 

[SkidAce]

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....

Because we would likely polarize into strident harpy like opposing camps motivated by self-interest instead of business practicality?

 

[SkidAce]

While that's true, it is worth noting that the 4e release schedule slowed down significantly after the release of Essentials. Which, coincidentally, was about the same time Mearls got the Big Job.

dun...dun...DUN!

 

[SkidAce]

While it does happen, it's not as widespread as you think. This has already been explained away in other threads with examples as to why it's not a majority issue.

You have loads of products that do this and nobody gets scared away. Look at legos, various toys, card games, novels etc....

D&D is a niche hobby so most people that play it know what they are looking for. You aren't going to have the general masses just walking into gameshops and coming across D&D and figuring they will give it a go.

Ever try getting started with Warhammer? Ever walk into a Games Workshop store? A whole shop dedicated to the stuff?

Customers aren't scared by products.

This does seem to be a valid point.

 

[neobolts]

It's pretty much been true all the time hasn't it? Also, it's corollary: a great module can be ruined by terrible people.

Reynand is laying down some wisdom.
2e, Pathfinder, and 4e all have their crap modules.
I can't think of any 3.x WotC modules that were outright stinkers off the top of my head, but I'm sure they are out there. Our group mainly did homebrew back then. The 3.x module stuff is mostly fond memories of Sunless Citadel and Red Hand of Doom.

 

[Manchu]

It's pretty much been true all the time hasn't it?

I don't think that cynicism is warranted. There may only have been a few truly excellent published adventures over the years but that does not mean everything else was blah. The AL adventures on offer at GenCon, however, were totally blah. Furthermore, there have been a good number of truly great accessories over the years -- nothing like that in 5E so far. In fact, there really haven't been any 5E accessories, printed or announced (barring the fairly insipid PotA players guide PDF), which is closer to my original point. I really expected WotC to at least announced something for 5E at GenCon ... And here we are, eight months later, in pretty much the same boat.

 

[Reynard]

I don't think that cynicism is warranted. There may only have been a few truly excellent published adventures over the years but that does not mean everything else was blah. The AL adventures on offer at GenCon, however, were totally blah. Furthermore, there have been a good number of truly great accessories over the years -- nothing like that in 5E so far. In fact, there really haven't been any 5E accessories, printed or announced (barring the fairly insipid PotA players guide PDF), which is closer to my original point. I really expected WotC to at least announced something for 5E at GenCon ... And here we are, eight months later, in pretty much the same boat.

I just meant that it is not a thing constrained to any particular company or era. There have always been subpar adventures (and other materials) that good people have made great experiences.