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

[Lanliss]

So instead of a slow release schedule why can't some of you just have a slow purchasing schedule?

I am hardly an experienced voice on this topic, it here is my take. For a while now I have been thinking of getting into the Final Fantasy series of games. Never played one, but I know they are heavily story driven, so air want to do it in order. That amounts to so many options to choose from, and it is incredibly intimidating. The same thing would happen with this, I think.

A fair number would get intimidated by the wall of books that shows up when they Google "D&D 5E". According to their friends, this is the easiest edition to learn yet. So simple, and so "New player" friendly. If there were even 30 books for it before I started, I would probably have been put off by it a bit, knowing how many hours of content can come out of a single book. Considering a portion of the market they were targeting is new players like me, I think that would have put a significant dent in their goal.

Lastly, if they paid for hundreds of thousands of copies of a dozen books a year, and most people only bought one or two, while something like a couple thousand made sure to buy every book, that would be a massive money sink. According to some people that is essentially what happened to a previous edition, so I can understand them being more cautious.

 

[Parmandur]

Others have already given solid answers, but for me, I'd prefer a slow release schedule because I'd prefer this edition of D&D to last as long as possible. I would indeed be very particular about what releases I would buy if they released a lot more stuff. And ultimately, I expect that 5E will be the last edition I play...so I want it to last.

I like that the game is gaining new players. To me, I think a big part of that is the basic rules being free, and for a player to play the game they can utilize about 95% of the player related material by buying one book. I think that's a smart approach and better for the hobby over time.

I don't want them to produce tons of material just to satisfy the folks who feel that more must equal better. For those who want that, there's the DMsGuild with a ton of content. Yes yes that's "unofficial" and may lack playtesting...but it's there. If you really want more feats you can get them. If you feel that the DMsGuild has absolutely nothing to offer...then I'm not sure how you justify the request for more content...

Yup, that just about covers it.

 

[hawkeyefan]

I'm afraid there has been no solid answers. The answers that have been given aren't logical. For all those many people who purchase their books online have no excuse for a slow release schedule being good for them because the "wall of books" syndrome won't come into play.

I also don't acknowledge about going into a bookstore and suddenly being paralyzed by the amount of books being present. I'm sure we've all gone int a library and checked out a book which would require you to face walls and walls of books that you need to track down into order to find, if there is a specific book you want, or just simply browse if you aren't sure what you want. I'm sure there was no paralysis involved. If you are new to D&D you will simply research it online and find what you need to get started. This nonsense sounds like an excuse for someone who is addicted to buying books and need some sort of block in place to keep you from buying them.

Do you go shopping at a supermarket? If you do then now do you choose what you want?

I think perhaps you're taking the analogies a bit too literal. Instead of arguing about the semantics of examples, and bringing up the supermarket analogy again, can you instead simply acknowledge that some times and in some ways, too much to choose from may not be a good thing for a particular person?

I mean, people in this thread have literally said that's how it is for them, and you then dismiss it as "illogical" like some messageboard Spock.

That's the equivalent of me saying that your dislike of the release schedule is illogical and doesn't make sense because you can easily and relatively cheaply obtain any setting information from prior editions, and then use the DMG to adapt them to the new 5E system.

So unless you and your group have already played every module for every setting and every edition of D&D, your argument "makes no sense".

I could do that, but I like to think I'm not a total jerk, so instead I'll acknowledge that this is all a matter of opinion and no one is going to "win the argument" and state the readons that I disagree with you.

The slower release allows me to keep keep up with things, doesn't put options in the hands of my players that's I don't know about, is focused more on adventure based material than setting based (honestly, I don't need them to tell me about Faerun a whole lot more...I don't mind it, but I don't need it), the slower release schedule is healthier for the game over time, and finally,, the game seems to be doing really well right now so I think they should keep doing what they are, and implement small changes to their approach over time.

If none of those reasons are at all solid for you, then I would have to assume that you're not actually willing to listen to the opinions of others, and that you are simply arguing for your already drawn conclusion, rather than in obtaining information that will allow you to draw a reasonable conclusion.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Indeed, shocking, I know; but one of the main reasons it is better, is the lack of options.

Im very suspicious of that conclusion.

Fresh ingredients of higher quality makes a difference, and it simply isn't true that there are only 3 options. Every single person I know gets some kind of "secret menu" option. Everyone. Mustard fried. Chopped chilis. Pickles. Double fried fries. More options than I can remember. We love that place.

And yet, we go to Eureka Burger, or the Habit, or local mom and pop places, more often than we go to In n Out. Because in n out is delicious, that can't be denied. I love my #2 mustard fried with chopped chilis and both kinds of onions, vanilla/chocolate shake and double fried fries. It's a staple. But I can get a bacon burger with a fried egg, peppercinis and pepperoni at Leo's down the road, or get it with the lamb they use for the gyros, or a hundred other things. And those places are also packed most of the time.

And I'm all over CA. I'm not just seeing one town. In n out is blowing up all day because it's one of the best inexpensive burgers around, not simply because there is a lack of choice. The lack of choice works exactly because every other place has so many options, and because those few choices are so damn good.

Edit: which is all not to say that the 5e model is bad.

at most I would want 1-2 more smallish books* per year, and a trickle of smaller adventures and adventure building content on Dragon+.
I'd pay ~10$/month for D+ if it had that, browser based and app supported digital tools built in that all sync with each other as a whole system, and a steady trickle of Unearthed Arcana stuff to play test and provide feedback on. But I'm also happy with how things are.

*stuff like Volos, but with info on how those options work in multiple settings, for instance. Like the 3e Races of Stone book, but with info on those races in FR, Eberron, DL and DS, etc. preferably paperback like the 4e essentials books.

 

[Parmandur]

Im very suspicious of that conclusion.

Fresh ingredients of higher quality makes a difference, and it simply isn't true that there are only 3 options. Every single person I know gets some kind of "secret menu" option. Everyone. Mustard fried. Chopped chilis. Pickles. Double fried fries. More options than I can remember. We love that place.

And yet, we go to Eureka Burger, or the Habit, or local mom and pop places, more often than we go to In n Out. Because in n out is delicious, that can't be denied. I love my #2 mustard fried with chopped chilis and both kinds of onions, vanilla/chocolate shake and double fried fries. It's a staple. But I can get a bacon burger with a fried egg, peppercinis and pepperoni at Leo's down the road, or get it with the lamb they use for the gyros, or a hundred other things. And those places are also packed most of the time.

And I'm all over CA. I'm not just seeing one town. In n out is blowing up all day because it's one of the best inexpensive burgers around, not simply because there is a lack of choice. The lack of choice works exactly because every other place has so many options, and because those few choices are so damn good.

Right, I use those options myself, but for the purpose of the analogy (which I find yo be of dubious use), the point is that they are exploding. Constantly, all day, and nobody complains that McDonalds has superior options.

 

[Corpsetaker]

I'm not saying there aren't niche places around and they don't do good, but what makes them different is they started this way. D&D became a thing of options and has now pulled back which is not a good thing.

Amazing how Paizo can do it and Wizards can't.

 

[Corpsetaker]

Right, I use those options myself, but for the purpose of the analogy (which I find yo be of dubious use), the point is that they are exploding. Constantly, all day, and nobody complains that McDonalds has superior options.

It's not about superior options. It's about being able to choose something different. VARIETY.

 

[Lanliss]

Out of curiosity, what is the current staff of Paizo's Pathfinder team? Doesn't WotC have like 10 people working on D&D?

 

[Corpsetaker]

Let's say a pizza place that only sells pepperoni pizza has the best pizza in the world. That's fine and all but sometimes I get sick of pepperoni and I want something else.

 

[Corpsetaker]

Out of curiosity, what is the current staff of Paizo's Pathfinder team? Doesn't WotC have like 10 people working on D&D?

Well they have the ability and the finances to hire more people.