D&D General Is DnD being mothballed?

[Velderan]

I do not believe that they are. But they are revamping the product line along with the rules, and no doubt there is going to be some market segmentation ("they can pry.Alignment and Mafic Missle out of my cold, dead hands!").

And none of that will prevent someone from using the new AP material. Rage of Elements was released in July (I think) and it already reflects the Remaster material without breaking compatibility. Currently published AP material seems to reflect the new material (e.g. new stat blocks drop ability scores and just list the modifiers) while still referencing previously published books, such as using stat blocks from Bestiary 1, 2, and 3. I’m not sure where you sit on the 2024 D&D compatibility debate but this is basically the same situation. It won’t matter if people want to continue using alignment, magic missile, or OGL monsters since mechanically it’s just going to be like you homebrewed them in. Just like it won’t matter if you had a 2014 warlock playing with a 2024 paladin and a Tales of the Valiant fighter.

 

[Velderan]

No. There really isn’t. At five books per year, that’s just a bit less than one every two months. More than that and your just cannibalizing your own sales.

It’s funny. WotC gets endlessly criticized for focusing on profit yet the only argument in favour of making more books is to increase profits.

Talk about damned if you do…

IMO I think where WotC is generally doing a good job of releasing material at a good pace is the rules options books. Too many rule options can make it confusing, especially if you’re using physical books.

What I would have liked to see was more adventures being released, but not the big AP releases but rather a short scenario that could be played out over 3-4 sessions. I liked having stuff like that during the 2e days. Since they don’t really do softcover stuff, maybe DDB could be an appropriate place for that sorta thing? If I’m not mistaken, they did release some surveys a couple months ago that seemed to be about this sort of thing so maybe it’s on their radar as an option. I’m aware DMs Guild is a thing, but it also can be difficult to find quality stuff there since there’s no form of quality control in what gets put out there.

 

[Parmandur]

And none of that will prevent someone from using the new AP material. Rage of Elements was released in July (I think) and it already reflects the Remaster material without breaking compatibility. Currently published AP material seems to reflect the new material (e.g. new stat blocks drop ability scores and just list the modifiers) while still referencing previously published books, such as using stat blocks from Bestiary 1, 2, and 3. I’m not sure where you sit on the 2024 D&D compatibility debate but this is basically the same situation. It won’t matter if people want to continue using alignment, magic missile, or OGL monsters since mechanically it’s just going to be like you homebrewed them in. Just like it won’t matter if you had a 2014 warlock playing with a 2024 paladin and a Tales of the Valiant fighter.

For some people, and based on history probsvly not an insignificant number, the thematic disjuncture will be a deal breaker more than any rules incompatibility. And my point isn't that is a totally new game, but that their release schedule has forced rapid changes toothed games themselves that are not always for the best.

 

[Parmandur]

I’m aware DMs Guild is a thing, but it also can be difficult to find quality stuff there since there’s no form of quality control in what gets put out there.

I mean, it's just like the 2E era!

 

[Velderan]

For some people, and based on history probsvly not an insignificant number, the thematic disjuncture will be a deal breaker more than any rules incompatibility. And my point isn't that is a totally new game, but that their release schedule has forced rapid changes toothed games themselves that are not always for the best.

I’m not sure how their release schedule has anything to do with them removing OGL content from their game. While they’re making other changes (e.g. rebalancing witch), the removal of OGL content is the driver behind the project.

 

[Velderan]

I mean, it's just like the 2E era!

Unfortunately, but I generally think WotC does a better job of play testing what they send out the door than what TSR did. I also wouldn’t be advocating for WotC to open the floodgates like TSR did for adventures.

 

[Echohawk]

I mean, it's just like the 2E era!

Except that DMs Guild releases usually get swiftly fixed if there are obvious replacement errors or missing iwizards in them.

 

[Velderan]

Except that DMs Guild releases usually get swiftly fixed if there are obvious replacement errors or missing iwizards in them.

That is one thing digital does have going for it over physical.

 

[Parmandur]

I’m not sure how their release schedule has anything to do with them removing OGL content from their game. While they’re making other changes (e.g. rebalancing witch), the removal of OGL content is the driver behind the project.

Honestly, the OGL part is tertiary from where I am sitting. Theybare taking that opportunity to radically overhaul the game and prodict line, in a manner which will cause some level of.market segmentation, and get the train going, going, going.

 

[Parmandur]

Unfortunately, but I generally think WotC does a better job of play testing what they send out the door than what TSR did. I always wouldn’t be advocating for WotC to open the floodgates like TSR did for adventures.

I know, I just thought it was a funny juxtaposition.