D&D General You're Hasbro/WotC Marketing - What Do You Do for the 50-year Anniversary in 2024?

[innerdude]

Back in 2014 when 5e was released, the 50-year anniversary was still a decade away.

Well in the blink of an eye, it seems, 7 years have passed and we're now less than 3 years from 2024.

So just like the subject line says, if you're in charge of Hasbro/WotC marketing, what do you do to mark the event of D&D's 50 year anniversary?

If you're a total cynic, it would be easy to say "6E!", but I don't think that's in the cards. I suppose it's still possible they could start in late 2022 and still manage a decent 18-month dev cycle for a 6E launch in 2024, but I wouldn't bet a single red cent on that actually happening.

Here would be my take.

• A mild refresh with a "5.1" / errata-ed rulebooks, made available as premium "collector's editions". And I mean, really pull out all the stops. Faux leather covers, premium print with gilded edges. Increase the page count for the PHB, DMG, and MM slightly to include artwork from all 50 years of the game's run. I fully expect copies of these books to sell in the $100-$110 range.
• In addition to the collector's editions, refresh the existing "core" books with errata, and maybe give them some new cover art (but otherwise largely left intact).
• In the same vein, do a MASSIVE standalone "50th Anniversary Art of D&D" collector's book, once again highlighting the contributions of the game's artists. Once again, spare no expense --- Retail price ~$100-$110.
• A hardcover compilation / compendium of the 10 best / most popular standalone modules.
• Special edition reprints of Dragonlance Chronicles, Dragonlance Legends, and Legend of Drizzt.
• Special edition / collector minis of the most iconic D&D characters, including making a digital set specifically for use in VTT play.
• Set aside a modest marketing budget (~$1 million) and commission a movie production documentary that gets a limited release in movie theaters, and then distributed to a digital streaming service, highlighting the history of the game. Interviews with well-known and lesser-known media figures (Vin Diesel, Stephen Colbert, Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, George R. R. Martin, et. al.).
• Rebuild Baldur's Gate I and II into a modern game engine (using the BG3 toolset, maybe?) and release them to much fanfare.
• Push hard to get exclusive retail space in Walmart, Target, and Barnes and Noble to celebrate the event, with custom kiosks with digital displays, showing streaming sessions of Critical Role in the stores, and previewing the aforementioned BG1, BG2, and BG3 video games.

 

[imagineGod]

The 50th Anniversary is the perfect time for an anniversary edition core book set with errata and revisions.

Also a good opportunity to hint at 6e.

 

[Retreater]

I'm betting they forget until the night before, then release some social media posts, and that's it.
Honestly, their targeted demographic likely doesn't care about the game's ancient history, and Wizards would probably prefer not to be viewed
as a relic from the past.
So my prediction, it's not even noticed: just like the 40th anniversary was mostly ignored.

 

[RangerWickett]

Obviously it's time to blow up the Forgotten Realms again.

But seriously, the first thing:

50th anniversary deluxe dice. In a fancy case. Two versions. One has the usual suite of dice (d20, d12, d10, d%, d8, d6, d4). The other is the masterpiece set, which has all the dice you'd ever need for 5e. It comes with 8d20 (two each of four colors, for four fighter attacks using advantage/disadvantage), 4d12 (for high-level poison spray), 5d10 (four for high-level cantrips, one as a d%), 4d8 (for high-level cantrips), 8d6 (for fireballs), and 5d4 (for magic missiles).

 

[RangerWickett]

Set aside a modest marketing budget (~$1 million) and commission a movie production documentary that gets a limited release in movie theaters, and then distributed to a digital streaming service, highlighting the history of the game. Interviews with well-known and lesser-known media figures (Vin Diesel, Stephen Colbert, Felicia Day, Wil Wheaton, George R. R. Martin, et. al.).

I agree with this, but ideally find a more diverse group too.

 

[Mistwell]

Genetically manufacture and release on the world a real Beholder.

Obviously.

 

[innerdude]

Genetically manufacture and release on the world a real Beholder.

Obviously.

Well, other than the obvious problem of "It can magically defy gravity and float around," I don't see why this can't be done . . . .

 

[Shiroiken]

Not too long ago I wouldn't have agreed with this, but I expect a revised 5E (Golden Anniversary Edition!). I think this could be an opportunity to fully implement their new tone on racial abilities and alignment, as well as a chance to correct some known issues.

A premium product they might consider would be a gift set containing the base rules for every edition. Obviously they probably won't be able to do full reprints, but they could do a trimmed down version similar to the basic rules of 5E. Doing it as a single book might be interesting, as you could see the direct comparison between the editions.

 

[Quartz]

So just like the subject line says, if you're in charge of Hasbro/WotC marketing, what do you do to mark the event of D&D's 50 year anniversary?

Some sort of tie in with the total eclipse of the sun.

 

[Lanefan]

One thing I think they should do - but given the recent track record, probably won't - is to get involved with and try to absolutely dominate every major gaming convention that year. Make every major convention a D&D convention whether it wants to be or not.

Displays, sample games from all editions, tournaments (using all editions), seminars by TSR/WotC bigwigs-authors-developers-etc. past and present, stupendous amounts of advertising, and anything else necessary to make it an obvious Big Deal.