Corpsetaker
First Post
This is a bit of a reflection of the thread that Morrus started in where I would like to focus more on if Wizards is going to be using these surveys to drive their production plan then they need to look at at the whole picture instead of these self fulfilling prophecies.
Let's break a few things down.
1: Percentage of a percentage - The stats Chris Perkins used is comprised of people who actually took the survey a few years ago. Now what this leads to is a percentage of a percentage which can give you something totally different when using something more accurate.
2: Asking the right questions - Now in my own place of work, I have experience with this. Survey questions are done strategically. They are never just "what do you want?" or "what can we do to make your experience better?" They need to stop asking leading questions.
3: Update the surveys - Put out a new survey asking the right questions around other campaign settings.
4: Introduce other settings to new players - Well there is supposedly tons of new players so why not pitch to them the idea that there are other campaign settings out there and see what they say?
5: Converting the old stuff - I would say a lot of people don't convert the old stuff because it takes to long or they just don't feel like doing it. I know they point people to Drivethru but for various reasons it's not always ideal.
6: Time - This goes along with the conversion part because a lot of us work or go to school so we don't have the time to convert and make up everything.
7: Wizards needs to define their interpretation of "homebrew" - I have a Dragonlance game that takes place pre-war of the lance so that could classify as "homebrew". Same goes with any other campaign setting used. This can cover a broad range.
8: Stop pushing the corporate agenda - Let's step back a moment and use Chris Perkins' figures in this exercise. They show that the majority of people homebrew. So why are still trying to focus on story, story, story, set in the Forgotten Realms when what people really want are more setting neutral tools and options to use in their homebrew?
9: Rules that people like - This is a big one for me. I have seen some people talk about 4th edition FR, Eberron and Dark Sun and out of all three FR sold the best. Well it could be the fact that 4th edition wasn't a widely popular ruleset so if you don't like the rules why would you buy content for it? If you introduce a popular ruleset, which they have here, then you would see people buying more material for it.
10: Just be honest - I know this is the toughest one of all but just be honest. If your goal is to maximize profits buy lowering your overhead just to keep table top D&D afloat to make way for more non table top stuff then just say it. If I know that it's not about what's best for the game and really what's best for your pockets then I will know and can move on to something else.
These are just my opinions of course. I would like to believe different but there are just too many similarities and red flags going up for me to believe any different.
Let's break a few things down.
1: Percentage of a percentage - The stats Chris Perkins used is comprised of people who actually took the survey a few years ago. Now what this leads to is a percentage of a percentage which can give you something totally different when using something more accurate.
2: Asking the right questions - Now in my own place of work, I have experience with this. Survey questions are done strategically. They are never just "what do you want?" or "what can we do to make your experience better?" They need to stop asking leading questions.
3: Update the surveys - Put out a new survey asking the right questions around other campaign settings.
4: Introduce other settings to new players - Well there is supposedly tons of new players so why not pitch to them the idea that there are other campaign settings out there and see what they say?
5: Converting the old stuff - I would say a lot of people don't convert the old stuff because it takes to long or they just don't feel like doing it. I know they point people to Drivethru but for various reasons it's not always ideal.
6: Time - This goes along with the conversion part because a lot of us work or go to school so we don't have the time to convert and make up everything.
7: Wizards needs to define their interpretation of "homebrew" - I have a Dragonlance game that takes place pre-war of the lance so that could classify as "homebrew". Same goes with any other campaign setting used. This can cover a broad range.
8: Stop pushing the corporate agenda - Let's step back a moment and use Chris Perkins' figures in this exercise. They show that the majority of people homebrew. So why are still trying to focus on story, story, story, set in the Forgotten Realms when what people really want are more setting neutral tools and options to use in their homebrew?
9: Rules that people like - This is a big one for me. I have seen some people talk about 4th edition FR, Eberron and Dark Sun and out of all three FR sold the best. Well it could be the fact that 4th edition wasn't a widely popular ruleset so if you don't like the rules why would you buy content for it? If you introduce a popular ruleset, which they have here, then you would see people buying more material for it.
10: Just be honest - I know this is the toughest one of all but just be honest. If your goal is to maximize profits buy lowering your overhead just to keep table top D&D afloat to make way for more non table top stuff then just say it. If I know that it's not about what's best for the game and really what's best for your pockets then I will know and can move on to something else.
These are just my opinions of course. I would like to believe different but there are just too many similarities and red flags going up for me to believe any different.
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