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

[Sacrosanct]

Those aren't the numbers I'm afraid.

Two things.

1: Read the whole article. There are actually #'s quoted about how they impact a customer's choice (specifically just one example was consumers were 6 times more likely to purchase an item when only given 6 choices rather than 24, but there's a lot more data there that is referenced as well that supports this)
2: (and more importantly), way to miss the entire point. That article completely affirms the claim that was made. Not having specific D&D numbers in that specific article in no way invalidates the point he/she was making earlier.

 

[Manchu]

That article completely affirms the claim that was made.

I don't think so. Nothing in the article touches on products within a single line.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I don't think so. Nothing in the article touches on products within a single line.

did you even read it? Or the TED talks that it references? I don't think you did, otherwise you'd see how it totally reaffirms the claim that was made.

 

[Trickster Spirit]

There are many other RPGs out there but I don't know that makes them alternatives to 5E. It occupies a nice middle of the road position between Pathfinder and OSR. It is easy to get started on a moment's notice but there is still a good amount of crunch under the hood. Frankly, I wish WotC had come up with 5E back in 2000, or even 2008, when they were still interested in producing a RPG. In 2015, they have a great system but they aren't willing to do much of anything with it.

I'd agree with that sentiment, but I honestly do think that if they'd released 5E in 2000 or 2008 instead, that we'd still have seen a new edition come out ~4-8 years later. The diminishing returns from that kind of output would have driven them to a new version sooner or later. It took two WotC editions for them to learn the lessons that resulted in 5E being the way it is today, and those two editions also taught them about how much they can reasonably expect to make in the tabletop games market.

Paizo's the only big player in the industry putting out books on a monthly basis and Wizards is taking a "been there, done that" approach and trying something new. I love Paizo and wish them nothing but success in the future, but don't think that their current business model is sustainable. They'll either need to wean themselves off of RPG books as the product that keep the lights on (i.e. by diversifying out to card games, miniatures, board games, an MMO, etc.), or they'll need a second edition to "reboot" sales. Not sure how either of those outcomes will turn out.

I doubt they will ever create another Paizo.

The rise of Pathfinder was the product of a perfect storm and there's nothing to indicate yet that Wizards will release 5E under the OGL. There is the possibility that a would-be Paizo could re-release 5E under the original OGL in the same manner Frog God has put out their unauthorized 5E content, but all Wizards would have to do is insert a non-compete clause in the magazine contract forbidding said third-party publisher from releasing such a game for a couple of years.

 

[Sailor Moon]

Two things.

1: Read the whole article. There are actually #'s quoted about how they impact a customer's choice
2: (and more importantly), way to miss the entire point. That article completely affirms the claim that was made. Not having specific D&D numbers in that specific article in no way invalidates the point he/she was making earlier.

I didn't miss the point and I read the article.

It can be taken with a grain of salt cause if it were such a problem the shops and places like Walmart would cut back on their stock and choice selection.

You have chosen one of those kinds of articles that don't really apply to most people out there and then try and pass it off as some kind of proof. You are also forgetting that D&D is a niche hobby and most people just do not care about it. Most people that play D&D know what they want and aren't afraid to stand there and look through the various books.

That whole theory is situational and niche at best.

 

[Sailor Moon]

did you even read it? Or the TED talks that it references? I don't think you did, otherwise you'd see how it totally reaffirms the claim that was made.

It confirms that a small number of people on the whole planet are bothered by too much choice.

Confirms nothing with regards to D&D.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I didn't miss the point and I read the article.

Then why would you say there were no numbers there when there were. Right there in black and white? That makes me think you didn't in fact read it.

It can be taken with a grain of salt cause if it were such a problem the shops and places like Walmart would cut back on their stock and choice selection.

You have chosen one of those kinds of articles that don't really apply to most people out there and then try and pass it off as some kind of proof. You are also forgetting that D&D is a niche hobby and most people just do not care about it. Most people that play D&D know what they want and aren't afraid to stand there and look through the various books.

That whole theory is situational and niche at best.

So your position is that gamers (or D&D players specifically) are a unique breed of consumer that none of the other provable trends that are there with every other consumer of every other item in every other product apply?

Yeah, sorry. I don't buy it. No pun intended. The proof is there. If you choose to ignore proof to adhere to your preconceived biases, that's on you. But you're gonna have to come a lot stronger than "I don't think so" in order for me to believe you over the actual proof and industry professionals.

 

[Manchu]

LOL so it's either I agree with you or I didn't read it?

No.

The article talks about choices between things like jams or magazines in a grocery store, where (a) you choose one or the other and (b) the choice is considered independently of any specific previous choice. With D&D, we are talking about products that expand the value of products the customer has already purchased. Also, it is unlikely that a box chain will have everything available anyhow. Go to Barnes and Noble, for example, and you will only find a few Pathfinder books. Go to your LGS or an online retailer, and that really opens up. Which is to say, there are different kinds of retail channels for different kinds of customers.

 

[Sailor Moon]

So your position is that gamers (or D&D players specifically) are a unique breed of consumer that none of the other provable trends that are there with every other consumer of every other item in every other product apply?

Yeah, sorry. I don't buy it. No pun intended. The proof is there. If you choose to ignore proof to adhere to your preconceived biases, that's on you. But you're gonna have to come a lot stronger than "I don't think so" in order for me to believe you over the actual proof and industry professionals.

LOL!

I have already told you what this proves and it's not proven to be the majority of gamers. Pathfinder is more proof than this.

 

[Fildrigar]

I guess it might be if I was posting about Pathfinder rather than WotC's neglect of 5E. Thanks for the helpful attitude, however.

I think I will go buy some Pathfinder stuff now.

Is that not posting about Pathfinder?