painted_klown
First Post
Perhaps this will be an unpopular thought ITT, but I LOVE 5E. What's wrong with the game simply continuing on as it is?
I have a feeling that if 6E were to come around and be vastly different than all previous editions, then it would cause another "splintering of players" much like 4E & Pathfinder.
5E is the first edition of D&D that I have ever played, and when compared to PF, I find the rules relatively easy to follow and understand. I am not sure that going any more basic than the current basic rules will attract a slew of new players. I think that those who do not play either want to play D&D (and they don't understand it), or they don't want to play (and they don't understand it). IMO, revamping the game into something else entirely, will not change that.
As someone who wanted to play D&D long before I ever did, I felt the #1 "barrier" (by far) was not knowing where to start & what books I needed.
With the seemingly endless slew of books available for D&D, and non-players not being aware that there are several different editions (and essentially several different games all called D&D), it becomes VERY confusing quickly when you head to a game shop without a clue...even when the desire is there.
The key to making 5E the "evergreen edition" is simply educating the general public on where to start, and then educating on what the "other books" are for. I sincerely feel that WotC have done a great thing with 5E. Making the basic rules as a free PDF that is legally available on their website was key IMO. It gives players a great place to start AND it's free. It's there to whet the appetite as well as get people gaming and interested in the brand. Once people have a true understanding of how the books "interact" with one another, and that there are indeed several versions of D&D, it's easier to get them excited to play, and (of course) purchase more books to have more options, or an adventure, or whatever they are looking to add to their game.
While I do feel that WotC have made HUGE strides in the right direction, I feel their website is a jumbled mess that is nearly useless. Even this very forum has threads dedicated to placing links to point us in the right direction to find certain things. This should never be necessary IMO. Why make it so difficult to navigate the one website that pretty much anyone would think to to go when trying to learn about D&D?
My ideas to fix it?
Make the "landing/home page" a "Welcome to d&d 5th edition" type page. On this page, begin explaining to new visitors that D&D has been through several editions in the past, and that 5E is the latest and greatest. Then explain that only 5E books and materials are needed to play. Clearly state that anything NOT 5E is essentially a different game, with different rules. State all of this with the least amount of wording necessary. Make is clear that "D&D is 5E".
The home page for the TTRPG must also be free of the other D&D branded stuff such as boardgames (can be confused for as box set), video games (I thought D&D was a PnP game?), or ANY other D&D merch that is NOT the PnP TTRPG. Do not confuse already confused consumers.
Next, there should be one link and one link only on the home page. That link could be labeled "what do I need to know". When you click on said link, it will explain what the 3 core books are, and how they relate to each other. Then explain what adventure paths/modules are, and how they relate to the 3 core books. They can also put in a plug for the starter box. On this page, you can include links to the free PDFs as well as a link for the starter box. Explain their relationships to each other, and why you may want to start with either of them.
The rest of the website should be easy to navigate for more advanced consumers, or the now educated beginner.
I'll let the "Wizards" handle it from there...LOL!
IMO, YMMV, Etc.
I have a feeling that if 6E were to come around and be vastly different than all previous editions, then it would cause another "splintering of players" much like 4E & Pathfinder.
5E is the first edition of D&D that I have ever played, and when compared to PF, I find the rules relatively easy to follow and understand. I am not sure that going any more basic than the current basic rules will attract a slew of new players. I think that those who do not play either want to play D&D (and they don't understand it), or they don't want to play (and they don't understand it). IMO, revamping the game into something else entirely, will not change that.
As someone who wanted to play D&D long before I ever did, I felt the #1 "barrier" (by far) was not knowing where to start & what books I needed.
With the seemingly endless slew of books available for D&D, and non-players not being aware that there are several different editions (and essentially several different games all called D&D), it becomes VERY confusing quickly when you head to a game shop without a clue...even when the desire is there.
The key to making 5E the "evergreen edition" is simply educating the general public on where to start, and then educating on what the "other books" are for. I sincerely feel that WotC have done a great thing with 5E. Making the basic rules as a free PDF that is legally available on their website was key IMO. It gives players a great place to start AND it's free. It's there to whet the appetite as well as get people gaming and interested in the brand. Once people have a true understanding of how the books "interact" with one another, and that there are indeed several versions of D&D, it's easier to get them excited to play, and (of course) purchase more books to have more options, or an adventure, or whatever they are looking to add to their game.
While I do feel that WotC have made HUGE strides in the right direction, I feel their website is a jumbled mess that is nearly useless. Even this very forum has threads dedicated to placing links to point us in the right direction to find certain things. This should never be necessary IMO. Why make it so difficult to navigate the one website that pretty much anyone would think to to go when trying to learn about D&D?
My ideas to fix it?
Make the "landing/home page" a "Welcome to d&d 5th edition" type page. On this page, begin explaining to new visitors that D&D has been through several editions in the past, and that 5E is the latest and greatest. Then explain that only 5E books and materials are needed to play. Clearly state that anything NOT 5E is essentially a different game, with different rules. State all of this with the least amount of wording necessary. Make is clear that "D&D is 5E".
The home page for the TTRPG must also be free of the other D&D branded stuff such as boardgames (can be confused for as box set), video games (I thought D&D was a PnP game?), or ANY other D&D merch that is NOT the PnP TTRPG. Do not confuse already confused consumers.
Next, there should be one link and one link only on the home page. That link could be labeled "what do I need to know". When you click on said link, it will explain what the 3 core books are, and how they relate to each other. Then explain what adventure paths/modules are, and how they relate to the 3 core books. They can also put in a plug for the starter box. On this page, you can include links to the free PDFs as well as a link for the starter box. Explain their relationships to each other, and why you may want to start with either of them.
The rest of the website should be easy to navigate for more advanced consumers, or the now educated beginner.
I'll let the "Wizards" handle it from there...LOL!
IMO, YMMV, Etc.