D&D 5E I think the era of 4th edition Dungeons and Dragons had it right. (not talking about the rules).

[darjr]

Many folks I know who are long term DND players or old hats, are sticking with 5e or returning to it. Some even are looking into the variants of 5e that are out there. There are those facing burnout because the demand for mor DM time is kinda high around here.

 

[PMárk]

I suspect that is because 5e's system is designed to appeal to the broadest spectrum of fans, so many old-timers are returning, because it feels more like what they loved.

Also it is easy to homebrew for 5e, so those who doesn't have any interest in the old settings don't have problems here, however, they might have problems with the lack of setting neutral content.

The usual answer is "there are 3rd prty products", but look at it this way: every book I buy from a 3rd party is money not spent on WotC books. So with the intent of not cannibalizing their own sales, they let other companies eat up their sales while using the rulesystem they've created.

Again, i'm not saying they should do big crunch and setting books twice a year. Just some steady trickle of content to maintain long-term interest.

 

[Caliburn101]

I hated 4th edition.

However, even from this perspective I can agree that on balance that their business model was better than the current one from a player's point of view.

 

[Parmandur]

I bought one book in 4E, and never considered getting a subscription.

I have bought more than one book in 5E, and am having a hard time keeping up with the speed of release. They are doing fine, and are getting much more of my money.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I love the arguments about how "This is 2016 in a world of social media! WoTC hasn't done ANYTHING to market their game well in this era!".

So I'd ask, "What tabletop RPGs have done well? And what are their sales compared to D&Ds? Well, there you go. Maybe your assumptions aren't correct, and maybe there's a reason why you're just an armchair marketer and not a professional."

Personally, between youtube, twitch streams (Acquisitions Inc in a theater anyone?), and having at least one app, it tells me they are more than aware of social media.

 

[knast]

Just put together a new character for our 4th campaign with 4e using the character builder and the old handbooks/guides. I must say that the builder has been a solid pillar for our group. Just browsing character options, making new builds and getting to know how to calculate all the different scores is just easier with the builder.

I would like something like that for 5e. And I would gladly pay for it.

 

[darjr]

There are things like that for 5e.

 

[Corpsetaker]

I bought one book in 4E, and never considered getting a subscription.

I have bought more than one book in 5E, and am having a hard time keeping up with the speed of release. They are doing fine, and are getting much more of my money.

LOL!!!

I'm sorry but I find this is like trying to swallow a basketball so it's obvious I find it hard to swallow. What about the less than on two hands of products can't you keep up with? Now play speed has nothing to do with it.

I am highly curious how you can actually post a comment like this.

 

[Mistwell]

LOL!!!

I'm sorry but I find this is like trying to swallow a basketball so it's obvious I find it hard to swallow. What about the less than on two hands of products can't you keep up with? Now play speed has nothing to do with it.

I am highly curious how you can actually post a comment like this.

I've also, at this point, bought more 5e material than I bought 4e material. Though I played 4e actively for the entire time it was out. However, part of the reason for this is I buy third party products for 5e...and there were not nearly as many third party products for 4e. I did buy more miniatures for 4e, but they were not specifically 4e miniatures they were just miniatures.

I am also having a slightly hard time keeping up with everything coming out for 5e. Because so much of it is optional rules (a lot of the DMG) or story related, and those things require a lot more thought to digest than "Rules option #644 which adds a vaguely slightly new change to an existing class concept some other class concept already had."

 

[Corpsetaker]

I've also, at this point, bought more 5e material than I bought 4e material. Though I played 4e actively for the entire time it was out. However, part of the reason for this is I buy third party products for 5e...and there were not nearly as many third party products for 4e. I did buy more miniatures for 4e, but they were not specifically 4e miniatures they were just miniatures.

I am also having a slightly hard time keeping up with everything coming out for 5e. Because so much of it is optional rules (a lot of the DMG) or story related, and those things require a lot more thought to digest than "Rules option #644 which adds a vaguely slightly new change to an existing class concept some other class concept already had."

What exactly are you having a hard time keeping up with? This is probably the edition that has the "least" content and yet you claim you can't keep up. There isn't much there to keep up with. That's like saying you can't keep up with a turtle.

UA and DMsGuild don't count because they are barely, if at all playtested and not official.