D&D General Does D&D (and RPGs in general) Need Edition Resets?

[Micah Sweet]

Digital would have to come with a feature to print, store offline, or screenshot.


But an incremental RPG needs the ability to update digitally.

For example WOTC needs the ability to add Cunning Strike to your rogue without you paying for it.

You think they wouldn't charge you to add new content?

 

[Minigiant]

You think they wouldn't charge you to add new content?

I'm not talking about new content.

I'm talking about patches, bug fixes, and errata. No one with more than 2 working braincells charges for bug fixes. It's bad press.

A big issue with TTRPGs is that physical books are physical books. To fix and error, the owner must attach a paper describing the new wordage or purchase a new book. This is fine in the beginning but quickly hurts sales. This is why WOTC turned a blind eye to any problems with 5e after the first year. They didn't want to hurt sales saying their previously printed books that everyone bought were flawed.

Digital solves that.

You can edit a confusing feature, buff a weak class, or clarify a spell on every digital copy at no cost to the buyer.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I'm not talking about new content.

I'm talking about patches, bug fixes, and errata. No one with more than 2 working braincells charges for bug fixes. It's bad press.

A big issue with TTRPGs is that physical books are physical books. To fix and error, the owner must attach a paper describing the new wordage or purchase a new book. This is fine in the beginning but quickly hurts sales. This is why WOTC turned a blind eye to any problems with 5e after the first year. They didn't want to hurt sales saying their previously printed books that everyone bought were flawed.

Digital solves that.

You can edit a confusing feature, buff a weak class, or clarify a spell on every digital copy at no cost to the buyer.

And the real beauty of it is that you can do that with no input from the buyer. They just log on one day and the stuff they paid for is different, whether they like it our not. It's genius!

 

[Parmandur]

I just don't like when arguments are presented in black and white terms, as if, in this case, it is a battle between digital and print media, and you can't have both. You can and we do, and we will for the foreseeable future. I love the ways that DDB has made it so much easier to prep and play D&D, but I also love spending hours making elaborate sets and painting miniatures. I love flipping through the Monster Manual on my patio.

We aren't being forced to choose between one thing or the other. We get to have more options. I don't have to play online with my best friend in Vancouver...but now I can. That's a win, in my books!

I don't use D&DB except to claim free stuff and access UA, but it isn't a threat to my book-using ways.

 

[Staffan]

A big issue with TTRPGs is that physical books are physical books. To fix and error, the owner must attach a paper describing the new wordage or purchase a new book. This is fine in the beginning but quickly hurts sales. This is why WOTC turned a blind eye to any problems with 5e after the first year. They didn't want to hurt sales saying their previously printed books that everyone bought were flawed.

Digital solves that.

You can edit a confusing feature, buff a weak class, or clarify a spell on every digital copy at no cost to the buyer.

Hmm. I seem to remember 4e getting a fair bit of balance-fixing errata, and it not being received very well. But I could be misremembering.

 

[Minigiant]

Hmm. I seem to remember 4e getting a fair bit of balance-fixing errata, and it not being received very well. But I could be misremembering.

It wasn't.

Essentially since 4e was built with so many moving parts.

And the real beauty of it is that you can do that with no input from the buyer. They just log on one day and the stuff they paid for is different, whether they like it our not. It's genius!

90% of people don't read patch notes and wont realize it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Hmm. I seem to remember 4e getting a fair bit of balance-fixing errata, and it not being received very well. But I could be misremembering.

I remember it well, 4e's phantom release: the Complete Errata Handbook. It was as big as any of the others.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It wasn't.

Essentially since 4e was built with so many moving parts.


90% of people don't read patch notes and wont realize it.

That's just means they're being messed with without knowing it. Doesn't make it better.

 

[Minigiant]

That's just means they're being messed with without knowing it. Doesn't make it better.

So you want to buy a $40 book instead?
40 bucks is better?

 

[Lanefan]

Credit where credit is due: it is a consistent anti-technology stance and not a "I don't use X platform, but other similar things are just fine" one.

Don't get me wrong: I like technology when it a) works perfectly about 100% of the time and b) does what I want it to do rather than trying to bend me into doing what it wants me to do.

I've had to move to more technology oriented solutions (mainly a cheap Chromebook) because I don't DM in my own space and carrying my library on my back isn't as appealing as it was when I was 20.

On the rare occasions I don't DM at home, I have a small box that holds all the books I (probably don't) need, plus the adventure, my DM screen, everyone's character sheets, and my game notes. Most of the run-of-play material is online on our games' website.

Far more of a headache is carrying the chalkboard, minis, dice, beer, and all the other bits.