D&D General Is DnD being mothballed?

[darjr]

I would be curious to see how the 5e release cadence stacks up against the 1st ed of AD&D.

That’s an interesting question. Do it?

 

[mamba]

It is also conflated with the increased release rate. A perfect storm if you will. And even with this it’s slower than 3e and still too much.

it’s a bit of both. If they had managed to release a book every three months, no one would have complained, and if there were only two releases in one year, but they are a month apart, no one would have either

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Posting Justin Alexander's comments from his discord server, because they mostly echo my own:

The game ain't mothballed. The anemic approach to content is consistent with 5th edition's history.

I must say I agree with The Alexandrian's comments.

Also this is literally the best selling rpg ever. Ever.

Still! TEN years after initial release.

This, also, Colville's comments would suggest that 4e or 3e marketing and production strategy were better than the current one. Did the Beastheart book sell in numbers comparable to similar WoTC books?

 

[Oofta]

Anecdotal I know, but my in-laws (Sister and Brother in law and their 3 children) all have cited Stranger Things as what instilled in them a desire to try D&D. It's in the mix, but I agree it's not going to be a sole/primary cause overall.

There are so many things that lead to 5E's success that I don't think anyone has a good breakdown. It's everything from an approachable game that doesn't focus on "crunch" to streaming to people wanting real person-to-person interaction to VTT to COVID to a general acceptance of geek culture that simply wasn't there before.

But without a solid foundation that works to get people in the door and keep them it wouldn't matter. I'm just happy I can find players.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I really like Matt's videos about DMing, but his opinions otherwise (including on Dune!) are suspect historically.

Yes, WotC misses a lot of obvious opportunities for good and successful products, as I've mentioned once or twice. A day.

But the right approach is Hanlon's Razor. It's not a sinister mothballing (?!) strategy, but instead WotC repeatedly screwing up. (I apologize for triggering the folks who have a physical reaction when WotC is even mildly criticized.)

The notion that WotC is putting D&D out to pasture is goofy, to put it mildly. What next? Taco Bell is going to mothball tacos? (It would improve their taste.)

 

[mamba]

Because the slow approach works better over the long haul. And theybhave changed it, we are getting five books this year after five books last year!

I was not really arguing with that, it seems to be working. I was trying to explain their perspective.

Also, I do believe they are leaving some money on the table with the limited class / subclass releases, Matt knows this, he and others are filling that gap.

Personally I have no issue with that, I do not really care about the player facing side as much, and if 3pps get some crumbs, even better

 

[Divine2021]

Mothballing? No, that’s silly. Money left on the table? Sure. Hasbro/WoTC caring about the brand more than the game? Of course; it’s fairly obvious, we aren’t blind lol

 

[darjr]

There are so many things that lead to 5E's success that I don't think anyone has a good breakdown. It's everything from an approachable game that doesn't focus on "crunch" to streaming to people wanting real person-to-person interaction to VTT to COVID to a general acceptance of geek culture that simply wasn't there before.

But without a solid foundation that works to get people in the door and keep them it wouldn't matter. I'm just happy I can find players.

Can I steal this?

 

[bedir than]

But the right approach is to use Hanlon's Razor. It's not a sinister mothballing (?!) strategy, but as, frankly, WotC repeatedly screwing up. (I apologize for triggering the folks who have a physical reaction when WotC is even mildly criticized.)

They grew rather than shrank during every single one of their errors.

If their errors are indications of mothballing than they are the most incompetent mothballers in the history of mothballing

 

[Parmandur]

that doesn’t mean it is ironic, it means he sees how WotC is leaving money on the table, and he is there to pick it up.

He absolutely is right that if WotC published more classes, then things like their Beastheart would not exist / be less popular, and if they can sell 10k copies (totally made up), then WotC can sell 200k for the same effort

But what if WotC believed they could only sell 10,000 of thar, when they could sell twice as many of Keys from the Goldeb Vault...?