D&D General Is DnD being mothballed?

[Tony Vargas]

No. Plainscape COST TSR money to sell. They barely sold any of it compared to thier other products.

But, Planescape is D&D

https://www.enworld.org/threads/planescape-is-d-d-says-jeremy-crawford.700207/unread

 

[dave2008]

Say what? Matt plans on mothballing MCDM?

He did mothball their magazine and with his new system coming out I think he hopes to transition away from D&D

 

[pogre]

I really like Matt Colville's early videos - he was dishing out really good GM advice for new folks and I agreed with almost everything he said. I often pointed to some of his work as a resource for new DMs.

He seems to have gone in a different direction in the last few years. There's nothing wrong with at all and he has a sizable following.

However, he seems out of touch with the mainstream and what works on the macro level. His new game really hits the spot for a lot of people, but it's not what most people want out of their game.

I am by no means white-knighting WOTC/Hasbro - they have made their share of mistakes! However, to suggest 5e is mothballing D&D conflicts with readily available information. It just seems out of touch.

 

[darjr]

But, Planescape is D&D

https://www.enworld.org/threads/planescape-is-d-d-says-jeremy-crawford.700207/unread

I agree. But from the video game. And the AD&D books with the Great Wheel. I really don’t think most planescape fans were from the 2e boxed sets. I think TSR sales numbers show that.

 

[Parmandur]

I think it might go beyond just "its strategy" Im not sure if it makes sense.

No, Colville is out to Lunch on this one. It is an intentional strategy thst has been been explicitly outlined for a decade...and has worked. WotC not making a particular product Matt Colville might want doesn't matter if the books theybdonrelease sell better than a PHhB2 ever could.

For goodness sake, Tasha's has outsold the 3.5 PHB!

 

[Parmandur]

They didn't have a PHB 2, DMG 2 or any other numbered books because based on their research people found it confusing. They don't invest a ton into D&D? They just spent how much buying DndBeyond? They're investing in a VTT just for funzies?

I don't buy it. No, they aren't plowing a ton of money into it, it's not a major product for them because even as the most successful TTRPG ever it still pales in comparison to the money made on things like video games.

IMO, the game being a sideline for merchandising is probsvly good for the game: slow and steady product releases, consistent rules. I for one do not think the hobby should idolize product strategies that nearly destroyed everything.

 

[dave2008]

That particular terminology as an accusation doesn't actually paint him in a bad light...

Last three years, everyone accused of FUD have turned out to be Right and Just.

That is not an accurate statement. It was, mostly, with regard to the OGL. However, that was not the only FUD spread over the last 3 years

 

[Parmandur]

Its not just more books, but what books they are making, if profit is the goal, more player options and more content about stuff like that, would be made more, but...they dont do that, its not profit, its something else.

They also learned that players don't buy books, DMs do. Player option books were a bust. So they make money by providing game prep materials for DMs. And t-shirts for players. Because players will buy t-shirts.

 

[Umbran]

But yea, what do you think?

Honestly, I think Mr. Coville might be being provocative for the sake of being provocative, and is misrepresenting some of the past.

As an example - yes, originally they'd said that 5e was hoped/intended to be "modular", but that was early in the design process, and the idea was apparently dropped well before the game was published.

 

[Professor Murder]

It's a provocative statement, clearly. I think the notion can be engaged honestly, but part of that is recognizing that it is coming from someone in the process of developing an alternative.