D&D (2024) 6E When?

[darjr]

But WotC didn’t do it. They didn’t identify that need. A third party did. WotC filled that need by opening up the IP for third parties on the DMsGuild. So your problems solved.

 

[Parmandur]

I would call that a new treatment or take, not a conversion.

Ghosts of Saltmarsh has the text of the original modules, modified to have 5E relevant information in the text. That's a conversion?

 

[Hussar]

/snip
It doesn't help their cause that the only things they've released with any consistency are giant, expensive hardback adventures. What they ought to be doing is developing 32-page adventures that are generic, setting-wise, but with a sidebar identifying where to locate in Greyhawk, FR, and Mystara. Do one every 4-6 months.

This, frankly, baffles me.

Look at those "giant, expensive hardback adventures". The WORST selling of them is still selling better than most other RPG products. Out of the Abyss is a 4 year old module. It's STILL sitting at about 8000 on Amazon in all books. That's the place those 32 page modules hold after a month. If they're lucky. To put it in perspective, Pathfinder 2 core rule book is sitting at about 2500 in all books. It hasn't been out three MONTHS yet, let alone 4 years.

Why in their right mind would WotC do what you propose when what they are doing is, by leaps and bounds, far more successful than anything done before?

Or, to put it another way, why do they need to "help their cause"? Their cause seems to be pretty darn helped.

 

[darjr]

But! WotC ALSO provided for those that want small adventures. DMsGuild has lots of them, many really good ones. Many written by the same folks that write for WotC.
Really I’m kinda drowning in a land of plenty.

 

[3catcircus]

Ghosts of Saltmarsh has the text of the original modules, modified to have 5E relevant information in the text. That's a conversion?

But it isn't a straight conversion - they've added several additional adventures.

 

[Zardnaar]

This, frankly, baffles me.

Look at those "giant, expensive hardback adventures". The WORST selling of them is still selling better than most other RPG products. Out of the Abyss is a 4 year old module. It's STILL sitting at about 8000 on Amazon in all books. That's the place those 32 page modules hold after a month. If they're lucky. To put it in perspective, Pathfinder 2 core rule book is sitting at about 2500 in all books. It hasn't been out three MONTHS yet, let alone 4 years.

Why in their right mind would WotC do what you propose when what they are doing is, by leaps and bounds, far more successful than anything done before?

Or, to put it another way, why do they need to "help their cause"? Their cause seems to be pretty darn helped.

Smaller adventures are easier to run. LMoP is so good because of its length.

3pp exist but they don't have the same "prestige" as WotC ones.

Often the longer adventures don't get completed either and they can be hard for a DM to digest.

 

[3catcircus]

This, frankly, baffles me.

Look at those "giant, expensive hardback adventures". The WORST selling of them is still selling better than most other RPG products. Out of the Abyss is a 4 year old module. It's STILL sitting at about 8000 on Amazon in all books. That's the place those 32 page modules hold after a month. If they're lucky. To put it in perspective, Pathfinder 2 core rule book is sitting at about 2500 in all books. It hasn't been out three MONTHS yet, let alone 4 years.

Why in their right mind would WotC do what you propose when what they are doing is, by leaps and bounds, far more successful than anything done before?

Or, to put it another way, why do they need to "help their cause"? Their cause seems to be pretty darn helped.

How many people new to playing D&D starting with 5e are aware of ENWorld, dmsguild, or drivethrurpg? Or Pathfinder, Burning Wheel, or any other RPG? D&D has brand recognition unmatched by any other TTRPG publisher.

Those $50 hardback adventures are all many D&D buyers know exist. When you aren't aware of other resources, you'll buy what you know is available.

The other piece to this that no one talks about: how many DMs end up spending $50 for that hardback only to abandon it halfway through because the players have lost interest? A 32 page generic module is easy to go drop in, and it's easy to salvage or abandon.

Have all this freelancers do them for you and even if you as WotC kept 75% of the profit, that name brand recognition will drive buyers to dmsguild or drivethrurpg head and shoulders above their current traffic.

I find it disheartening that the quality of content in adventures is, on average, better amongst 3pp than it is for the ones WotC publish themselves.

 

[Parmandur]

But it isn't a straight conversion - they've added several additional adventures.

Not inside the relevant chapters: Chapter 2 is just the original Sinister Secrets of Saltmarsh, Chapter 3 is just the original Danger in Dunwater, Chapter 6 is a conversion of The Final Enemy, and the same for the chapters on the Dungeon magazine modules. Those chapters are all straight conversions, with Chapter 1 fleshing out the sandbox region it's all set in, and there is some cool stuff in the Appendix. All for $28.49 on Amazon, which costs less than buying just three of the included modules and the DMsGuild conversion keys.

 

[Parmandur]

Smaller adventures are easier to run. LMoP is so good because of its length.

3pp exist but they don't have the same "prestige" as WotC ones.

Often the longer adventures don't get completed either and they can be hard for a DM to digest.

Not hard if taken one chapter at a time: basically no difference from shorter adventures when viewed that way.

 

[Parmandur]

The other piece to this that no one talks about: how many DMs end up spending $50 for that hardback only to abandon it halfway through because the players have lost interest? A 32 page generic module is easy to go drop in, and it's easy to salvage or abandon.

I paid $32 to see Toy Story 4 with my brother-in-law. That was two hours of entertainment.

If I only get 50 hours of entertainment out of $50, that's a big win. Not sure how it would be better to pay 2-3 times as much for the same material in small booklets.

I find it disheartening that the quality of content in adventures is, on average, better amongst 3pp than it is for the ones WotC publish themselves.

Questionable assertion is questionable. Though we haven't been discussing quality, but rather publishing format. It's not like Chris Perkins would write differently if his chapters were turned into small book.