D&D 5E Pre-Order DLC comes to D&D with D&D Beyond and Xanathar's Guide to Everything pre-order

[Morrus]

This is what turns me off to 5e. The material is SCARCE from WotC. 3rd Party there's a ton, sure, but I'm not looking for 3PP.

You’re the architect of your own misfortune, and capable of remedying it.

 

[Jester David]

I don't know about that logo, but Kingdoms of Kalamar had the Dungeons & Dragons name right on the front cover just like WotC's own books.

That's a super weird exception.

If memory serves (take with half a shaker of salt) WotC republished Dragon Magazine digitally early in the 2000s, but included the Knights of the Round Dinner Table comics. But didn't compensate the artist or work out a deal for republishing. And part of the legal comprise was Kenzerco was able to use the official branding for their 3rd Party books.
Which is what happens when you have a gaming company run by a lawyer "specializing in Trademark and IP law".

 

[Divad Drofnud]

16 new racial feats huh? Within a day of the book coming out it's going to be plastered all over the internet for free. There are plenty of AD&D 5 character sheet makers out there, so no big loss, and the D&D Beyond doesn't do much for the older gamers who know everything that's come out. I was given the Basic and Expert set by Gygax himself and I've been through every iteration since.

Maybe, since WotC ISN'T a video game maker, they should use more seductive means like offering a bag of special dice you can't get anywhere else. But, of course, that's not as cheap as paper, so good luck ever seeing anything like that. WotC wants MONEY, not happy customers. 4th ed. proved that. lol

 

[Mercule]

What does "this'll be the only third party publisher with content in the system." mean? Are you saying that Curse will be the only supplier of 3rd party content in D&D Beyond? Has it been published anywhere that they will not offer content from other parties at some point?

Actually, the question should be "Has it been published anywhere that they will offer content from other parties at some point?"

I'm not absolutely sure of that answer, but it's -- at best -- something like "we'd like to, but need to figure out the details." Considering their technical backlog, right now, I don't see that resolution coming for quite some time. Regardless, at this moment there is no other third party content on the service and (to my knowledge) there is nothing of the like in the foreseeable future.

 

[Shasarak]

But to get it as soon as it is available, you need to pay in advance. Otherwise its first available and then you pay for it...

So you pay in advance and then you get it verses you pay and then you get it?

 

[Coreyartus]

This is confusing me, so are these new mechanics and expanded material official or not?

This is what turns me off to 5e. The material is SCARCE from WotC. 3rd Party there's a ton, sure, but I'm not looking for 3PP. I am strictly official material and miss the days of new material every month.

This is why I enjoy Pathfinder more. Lots of options.

Yeah, this is a different game paradigm now, and I think we all have to understand that. The days of "official content" being released in a deluge are gone. The owners of the brand don't want that anymore. They actually want 3PP to fill in the gap. They actually want homebrew content to dominate the marketplace. Time and time again they've signaled that's how they think the game is going to thrive. The idea of "official" equaling "legitimate" is gone. Now, the burden is upon you as a consumer to determine for yourself what you want to authorize for your own situational context. While the OGL was a method of codifying the capacity to use branding, today's 5E seems to have moved beyond the need to legitimize a product by connecting it to the brand by removing that capacity altogether. They've essentially undermined the whole "official as legitimate" paradigm by re-imagining how supporting material is created and in some ways authorizing/approving channels through which it is distributed (i.e. DMsGuild, licensing, etc.) and simply outright allowing blatant trade dress elements to be used without contesting it (i.e. Homebrewery).

I think it's a different marketplace now. And it redefines how we perceive and acquire usable quality, how it's distributed, who can make it, and why we have those deep-set definitions in the first place.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

So you pay in advance and then you get it verses you pay and then you get it?

That is how preordering works.

 

[Satyrn]

Actually, the question should be "Has it been published anywhere that they will offer content from other parties at some point?"

I'm not absolutely sure of that answer, but it's -- at best -- something like "we'd like to, but need to figure out the details." Considering their technical backlog, right now, I don't see that resolution coming for quite some time. Regardless, at this moment there is no other third party content on the service and (to my knowledge) there is nothing of the like in the foreseeable future.

I'm guessing it will happen at some point. Like you say, they're still working on the technical stuff. As that settles down, they're bound to look to expand their available content - and other companies are probably already considering (at least somewhat) offering their content through it once the dust settles down and DDB looks to be successful.

 

[Shasarak]

That is how preordering works.

Ah, so you pay in advance and hope that one day it is available and then when it is available you get it.

 

[Vampyr3]

So, were paying for Homebrew stuff now eh?