raniE
Adventurer
Huh?To put this in terms a 5 year old can understand, you start with 100 dollars. You
Huh?To put this in terms a 5 year old can understand, you start with 100 dollars. You
I think it was to finish with , "you end with 100 dollars." as the definition of flat but early post.Huh?
Posted by mistake. I was trying to do the math, realized I was missing some needed info, and must have tapped "post" without meaning to.Huh?
Hmmmmm.The lifetime gamers that he talks about represent only a minority of die hard players on these forums for instance instead of the backbone of the hobby.
This is true, but I don't think it's as simple as that. WotC estimates 30-50m active D&D players, but there are only 13m even registered accounts on DDB. That means the vast majority are playing with physical books or similar.Most players no longer by their D&D books from FLGS they get them from Amazon or direct from DDB. So WOCs need to have thriving FLGs is no longer as important,
I don't agree at all. The core rulebooks are still the things that sell the most, even for companies known more for their adventures than for any other content. With more "casual" players, a focus on the PHB is even more important, because that's the extent of what many will buy. That's why it's always been the top seller. And core rulebooks were never the only major product sold. TSR, including TSR under WotC was selling settings, adventures, player option books etc. None of them sold as well as the PHB. The same is true for other game companies that sell core books and adventures, setting books etc. The core books are always the best sellers.I’ve seen the reasoning now. Very interesting. However I think Ryan Darcey’s support was a given.
The reality has changed. The market for casual players is greater now that it ever was. The lifetime gamers that he talks about represent only a minority of die hard players on these forums for instance instead of the backbone of the hobby.
Most players no longer by their D&D books from FLGS they get them from Amazon or direct from DDB. So WOCs need to have thriving FLGs is no longer as important,
Core rulebooks are also no longer the only major product sold. OGL was released in the days when the conventional wisdom was that Adventures don’t sell… that has clearly changed. So the idea that 3pp adventures are needed to sell core rulebook did outdated.
In short, the justification was a theory… one that has several gaps.
Was there ever a period when most players got their D&D books from gaming stores? Even in the 1980s when D&D was smaller there weren't that many stores selling RPG products. We had to look for them at bookstores, comic book stores, toy stores and even hobby stores like Michael's. The place I got the Monster Manual in 1980 was a train hobbyist store at a mall.Most players no longer by their D&D books from FLGS they get them from Amazon or direct from DDB. So WOCs need to have thriving FLGs is no longer as important,
Heck, I got my copy of Dieties and Demi-gods at Carson Pierre ScottWas there ever a period when most players got their D&D books from gaming stores? Even in the 1980s when D&D was smaller there weren't that many stores selling RPG products. We had to look for them at bookstores, comic book stores, toy stores and even hobby stores like Michael's. The place I got the Monster Manual in 1980 was a train hobbyist store at a mall.
Pirating, free sites, and sharing.This is true, but I don't think it's as simple as that. WotC estimates 30-50m active D&D players, but there are only 13m even registered accounts on DDB. That means the vast majority are playing with physical books or similar.
And instead of FLGSes mattering, stuff like Kickstarter matters. Kickstarter helps D&D. Loads of nerdy/alternative people (i.e. those most likely to play D&D, still) use Kickstarter a ton if they can afford it. And if you keep seeing D&D stuff on KS, you keep thinking of D&D as this important fun thing. Yet WotC's actions may significant decrease that, and even if they don't, it's not going to be for lack of semi-accidental trying. And de facto, KS and the like fills a very similar role to the old FLGS in terms of supporting D&D.
I think too many people are blinded by appeasement, personally.They will have their new OGL, and 4e still did fine without the OGL.
Wizards also has bunch of other new things coming out as well. Like the movie and games, that 4e did not have. Too many people are blinded by their outrage.
That's a great question.Was there ever a period when most players got their D&D books from gaming stores? Even in the 1980s when D&D was smaller there weren't that many stores selling RPG products. We had to look for them at bookstores, comic book stores, toy stores and even hobby stores like Michael's. The place I got the Monster Manual in 1980 was a train hobbyist store at a mall.