D&D (2024) Are we going to see DMG previews?

[EzekielRaiden]

Perhaps one would, but the fact is there are certain hard mechanics you need to actually play the game, and virtually all of them have almost always been in the PH.

And to be frank, guidance (good guidance at least), is very nice to have, but not strictly needed for the kind of casual play most people paying WotC for books are looking for.

Except that the way 5e is designed--which is the argument I already laid out above--is that you ABSOLUTELY MUST have a DM who is super on-board, prepared, incisive, and adaptive. They MUST be patching the holes that not only can but WILL pop up on a regular basis, because the rules are that sloppy. That's what this glorious age of "DM empowerment!" has meant.

And then the book that's actually supposed to help people do that is now, finally, recognized as being absolutely crap-awful at actually achieving any of that.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Except that the way 5e is designed--which is the argument I already laid out above--is that you ABSOLUTELY MUST have a DM who is super on-board, prepared, incisive, and adaptive. They MUST be patching the holes that not only can but WILL pop up on a regular basis, because the rules are that sloppy. That's what this glorious age of "DM empowerment!" has meant.

And then the book that's actually supposed to help people do that is now, finally, recognized as being absolutely crap-awful at actually achieving any of that.

Then how have people been successfully playing this game for the last decade? I doubt all of them are super on-board, prepared, incisive, and adaptive.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Then how have people been successfully playing this game for the last decade? I doubt all of them are super on-board, prepared, incisive, and adaptive.

You might be surprised to find out that a lot of them struggle and aren't happy with that struggle, but don't realize that the problem is the rules, and not them.

 

[bedir than]

You might be surprised to find out that a lot of them struggle and aren't happy with that struggle, but don't realize that the problem is the rules, and not them.

While this might be a significant number, I doubt D&D has had this massive explosion in popularity by being a horrible rule set.
It's extremely unlikely to grow if people struggle constantly.

This feels like a variant of the cliche "No one goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

 

[Rabulias]

The PHB was a “want” that gets you into the door and into WotCs ecosystem. The DMG is “required” by at least one player, so there’s less need to advertise for it - someone in the group has to buy it.

We got three previews from the Monster Manual a few weeks back. By your theory that is also a book that only one player needs to buy, so I don't think your theory holds.

 

[Micah Sweet]

You might be surprised to find out that a lot of them struggle and aren't happy with that struggle, but don't realize that the problem is the rules, and not them.

And yet here they are, continuing to pour money into WotC's coffers for a decade on a game that, according to you, they have difficulty with and are thus unhappy about. If the WotC-paying public can't be bothered to examine why they are struggling and instead keep paying out, what possible motivation does WotC have to do things differently?

 

[mamba]

One should think the rulebook literally called the Dungeon Master's Guide would contain both the rules and the guidance for the Dungeon Master.

have you read any of them, you might be in for a surprise… sure, it gives some guidance (and no rules) but the PHB is definitely more important, even to a DM

 

[mamba]

Except that the way 5e is designed--which is the argument I already laid out above--is that you ABSOLUTELY MUST have a DM who is super on-board, prepared, incisive, and adaptive. They MUST be patching the holes that not only can but WILL pop up on a regular basis, because the rules are that sloppy. That's what this glorious age of "DM empowerment!" has meant.

sorry what? how is that DM empowerment?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'm not sure how WotC can answer that. They put out a ton of preview content? Right.

You knew about it but your customers didn't? Is that not a you problem?

There isn’t much small retailers can do to advertise products outside the shop itself, so they depend on the publishers to do that. The demographics of who walks into a small shop will be different between shops, but my observation of the ones I know in London attract quite a lot of casuals, who might only come in once a year or so. I haven’t been in for around a year for that matter.

But yeah, from WotCs perspective, they need to focus on the PHB. They may expect to sell more DMGs when they realise the 3 book gift set, which I think they are aiming for Christmas 2025.

 

[Parmandur]

There isn’t much small retailers can do to advertise products outside the shop itself, so they depend on the publishers to do that. The demographics of who walks into a small shop will be different between shops, but my observation of the ones I know in London attract quite a lot of casuals, who might only come in once a year or so. I haven’t been in for around a year for that matter.

But yeah, from WotCs perspective, they need to focus on the PHB. They may expect to sell more DMGs when they realise the 3 book gift set, which I think they are aiming for Christmas 2025.

I am certain they will give previews of the DMG: Tuesday marks the 5 weeks to FLGS/Beyond release, and 7 weeks to general release. I wouldn't be surprised if they start dripping more intensive previews anytime in the coming weeks.