D&D 5E Settings played in D&D: cause or effect?

[Uchawi]

For Dark Sun to succeed, even if they just release old material, is to develop a psionic class.

 

[Maxperson]

But how much investment should WotC put in to Dark Sun, if they're pushing it in the hope that it might eventually sell well? It's just more efficient for them to continue to push FR.

Companies fail when they don't change. That's why you have new editions. People desire change and it would be foolish for WotC not to give it to them. How much should they invest in the attempt? That's a good question and I'm not really an expert on that. The attempt should be made, though.

Unless there's a point where FR is effectively "mined out", at which point having other popular settings would be a definite boon. But there's no real evidence that that's the case - or, at least, no more than there is for Eberron or Dark Sun.

Eberron was a fantastic hit. It was also the only real alternative given to FR in 3e. I personally didn't like it, but many, many others did.

 

[delericho]

Companies fail when they don't change.

Companies also fail if they diversify too far and split their fanbase. With TSR being a prime example.

Eberron was a fantastic hit. It was also the only real alternative given to FR in 3e. I personally didn't like it, but many, many others did.

It was a fantastic hit but it didn't supplant FR as the most popular setting. And now it appears to have dropped down to the setting of choice of 2% of the customer base. Which sucks, because I'm one of them and I'd like an update.

But there's no evidence that a new Eberron book would sell better than another FR book. Nor a Dark Sun book, or Greyhawk, or Ravenloft, or... And, yeah, maybe that's a self-fulfilling prophecy, but a self-fulfilling prophecy is still better than an unfulfilled one.

 

[Maxperson]

Companies also fail if they diversify too far and split their fanbase. With TSR being a prime example.

I agree. I think 3-4 major settings an edition is good. TSR and the something like 17 settings it put out was absurd. They should make a campaign setting book, a monster supplement and a few adventures for each and gauge reaction. They can add to those that become popular.

It was a fantastic hit but it didn't supplant FR as the most popular setting. And now it appears to have dropped down to the setting of choice of 2% of the customer base. Which sucks, because I'm one of them and I'd like an update.

First, it's irrelevant if it doesn't supplant FR as the most poplar. A huge hit as a huge hit. Second, just because it dropped down during 4e doesn't mean that people don't like the setting. It could very easily be a reflection of that edition.

But there's no evidence that a new Eberron book would sell better than another FR book. Nor a Dark Sun book, or Greyhawk, or Ravenloft, or... And, yeah, maybe that's a self-fulfilling prophecy, but a self-fulfilling prophecy is still better than an unfulfilled one.

I disagree. Fulfill one that makes the company a profit and allows people a choice of campaign settings.

 

[Corpsetaker]

But there's no evidence that a new Eberron book would sell better than another FR book. Nor a Dark Sun book, or Greyhawk, or Ravenloft, or... And, yeah, maybe that's a self-fulfilling prophecy, but a self-fulfilling prophecy is still better than an unfulfilled one.

In order to get this evidence you have to take a chance. It seems like there are a lot of people who really like the 5th edition rules. What settings sold the best in the past has really no relevance now.

There has never been another 5th edition D&D out there so there is no way to know what will succeed or not until you try.

But, if you are going to put out another setting then you really have to support the setting. The reviews for SCL are an indication that people want settings to be more supported than just a thin and scabby book.

 

[Mirtek]

Dark Sun introduces something that the Forgotten Realms does not so it shouldn't be an either or decision.

Desert&Psionics? FR has plenty of both

 

[Mirtek]

Again, it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.

vor simply denial that the majority just gas a different taste in settings and ließ FR the most?

They have pushed FR down the throats of every D&D play in a major way since 3e.

And like the Sundering this must have rippled backward in time and made FR most popular in 2e too.

However, they did not do so with Darksun or the other well liked campaign settings of 1e and 2e.

well liked is relative

Of course the first time that they re-introduce the older settings they won't do as well. They've conditioned players to like and buy FR. That doesn't mean, though, that over time a new setting like Darksun won't grow in popularity to the point where even if it doesn't match FR, will still sell well.

yeaj, just like New Coke, they just need to push us hard enough für DS or Eberron

Like how icecream parlors are overflowing with the most exotic tastes and yet vanilla, strawberry and chocolate are still outselling all of then combined today just as they did 10 years ago and 20 years ago

 

[Maxperson]

vor simply denial that the majority just gas a different taste in settings and ließ FR the most?
And like the Sundering this must have rippled backward in time and made FR most popular in 2e too.

well liked is relative
yeaj, just like New Coke, they just need to push us hard enough für DS or Eberron

Like how icecream parlors are overflowing with the most exotic tastes and yet vanilla, strawberry and chocolate are still outselling all of then combined today just as they did 10 years ago and 20 years ago

Mirtek, "most popular" is irrelevant. If people like multiple campaign settings, multiple campaign settings will do well. Why are you against other people enjoying the game in the setting they like? Why do they have to play in the FR just because you like it best? It's not as if the FR will not get support if WotC gives us a few more settings.

I love the FR and I have run it since 1e. I didn't really like Eberron, and I didn't care for 4e that much, so FR has been the only setting for me since 2e. I'd like to see one of the other popular 2e settings come back so I have a choice on what to run my games in.

 

[fjw70]

You have a choose now. Much of the old setting stuff is usable in 5e. Yes redoing them for 5e would make things easier but don't pretend you don't have a choice.

 

[Bluenose]

Yep. It would be interesting to see how sales of the Neverwinter book compared with those of the Dark Sun setting books.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if the FR book outsold all three DS books put together.

There was a story came out of one convention - I can't vouch for the truth of it - that one distributor said the Neverwinter book had sales in 'three figures'.