D&D 5E Mearl's Book Design Philosophy

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[pkt77242]

It has not been proven that releasing a small number of splats does that at all. 3e and 4e released TONS of splats, and that's not what is being asked for here. Equating lots with a few like you are is inherently flawed.

Nope. They are still putting out splats or expansions just much more slowly. Sword Coast Adventures Guide and now VGtM.

They just aren't putting out what you want and you are complaining about it. Own it. You are upset because they aren't doing what you want, it has nothing to do with what is best for 5E or D&D the brand. You aren't getting what you want and thus you are upset (which is fine, we all feel that way about different things). Yet you keep comparing 5E to New Coke which only makes sense from your viewpoint, step back and look at it from a brand management perspective. It really is a good decision to slow the treadmill down.

*Again, you have every right to be unhappy with their release schedule (since it doesn't fit your wants) but don't confuse that with bad decision making on the part of WoTC, they seem to be getting it right from a business perspective.

 

[Morrus]

I think that both of you are getting caught up on the same thing. 3E (and it's "business plan") was a short term success. Releasing splats increases short term profits but it erodes long-term profits as it quickens the decline of the edition and eventually leads to a new addition (which usually means a time between the 2 editions where profits and revenue dry up and books towards the end of the edition usually sell ).

Pathfinder.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It sounded to me from the article that the success of Volo's Guide will impact how they design future releases. I'm hoping it's successful, and we see the kind of material you're talking about. I don't think it would be viable to do each setting in that format, but one or two, definitely.

Sure. Like, ogres are ogres in most settings, but a paragraph each on ogres in Dragonlance and Eberron would be appropriate, for instance.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[SkidAce]

My position is hardly one person. It's many. The success of splat books from 2e-4e proves that beyond any shadow of doubt.

I could use some more (psionics, alchemy, monsters) splatbooks.

But the success of splat books may have also doomed previous editions, and thus it is not beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Balance is key, not an either/or solution such as internet discussions devolve to.

Some would say what they are doing now IS their balanced solution. I think they are a bit on the conservative side atm.

 

[SkidAce]

Hmm. It appears the community can ceaselessly complain they're not getting what they're used to (splats, MM2, PHB2, etc.) while simultaneously calling BS on Mearls when he says he's doing something different this edition. That is one delicious cake we're eating.

I like cake. And pie...

 

[SkidAce]

...D&D offered splat books in EVERY edition, even 1e had them, though they were so few in number that 1e failed anyway.

Could you elaborate on 1e's failure?

 

[Sacrosanct]

Nope. They are still putting out splats or expansions just much more slowly. Sword Coast Adventures Guide and now VGtM.

They just aren't putting out what you want and you are complaining about it. Own it. You are upset because they aren't doing what you want, it has nothing to do with what is best for 5E or D&D the brand. You aren't getting what you want and thus you are upset (which is fine, we all feel that way about different things). Yet you keep comparing 5E to New Coke which only makes sense from your viewpoint, step back and look at it from a brand management perspective. It really is a good decision to slow the treadmill down.

*Again, you have every right to be unhappy with their release schedule (since it doesn't fit your wants) but don't confuse that with bad decision making on the part of WoTC, they seem to be getting it right from a business perspective.

Yeah, I think it's less about quantity, despite the arguments saying that, and more about content. for example, let's say you have Bob. Bob is a huge Ravenloft fan, but really doesn't care for Planescape. Instead of releasing CoS, WoTC released a Planescape campaign. Bob is upset, so he complains how WoTC's release schedule is inferior because he's not getting what he wants.

However, WoTC DID release CoS. So Bob hasn't bothered to complain because Bob got what he wanted. Jane, on the other hand, is complaining because she likes Planescape and couldn't care less about Ravenloft. So the issue isn't so much general # of products released as is being presented, but more about the product type Bob wants not being released when he wants them.

I think this is backed up by the AL and DMs Guild. We've heard more than one comment about people complaining about the release schedule say, when confronted with all the material in AL and DMs Guild, "AL doesn't count. Neither does DM's Guild." So clearly, it's not about quantity, it's about personal preference of specific product types.

 

[Sacrosanct]

This ALSO a bad analogy. They did not return to Classic at all, since Classic D&D offered splat books in EVERY edition, even 1e had them, though they were so few in number that 1e failed anyway.

Huh? 1e didn't fail. In fact, all 2e was, was a clean up of 1e. Skip Williams even said that the reason they went THAC0 in 2e is so they could make everyone's 1e material still be compatible. That's not exactly what I'd call a failure, when you intentionally keep the next edition compatible with the first.

Also, 1e didn't have so many splat books because they didn't need to. That's what DRAGON magazine was used for. in fact, I'd posit that there have probably been MORE classes in 1e than any other edition, because dozens and dozens of new classes were in DRAGON