D&D General Ray Winninger on 5e’s success, product cadence, the OGL, and more.

[dave2008]

If the planning started 4 years ago, then it really is mind boggling that they failed to execute a 50th anniversary release during the 50th year.

They did execute the release on the 50th year. So I am not sure what you are talking about.

 

[bedir than]

They did execute the release on the 50th year. So I am not sure what you are talking about.

No starter set, no multimedia push, no live event centering D&D the game, failure to get one of the several TV shows out this year, failure to get the documentary out this year

But they did do some museums, LEGO, Converse, dice sets, an album

 

[Iosue]

They did execute the release on the 50th year. So I am not sure what you are talking about.

They certainly hit the technical definition of a 2024 release. But don’t you feel it could have been…more?

In 2014, it was a year long celebration of 40 years that included releasing new printings of the 1e, 2e, and 3e core books, the renewal of PDF sales for out-of-print products, and the release of all three core books along with a starter set and the first part of a 15 level adventure path.

In 2024, there was Eve of Ruin early in the year, and then PHBs in August, and DMGs in October. MM still not out yet. No starter set, no launch adventure, no SRD. To me, at least, it feels like a missed opportunity for the 50th anniversary.

 

[dave2008]

No starter set, no multimedia push, no live event centering D&D the game, failure to get one of the several TV shows out this year, failure to get the documentary out this year

But they did do some museums, LEGO, Converse, dice sets, an album

I guess I have blinders on as I feel like there has been a huge media push.

 

[dave2008]

They certainly hit the technical definition of a 2024 release. But don’t you feel it could have been…more?

In 2014, it was a year long celebration of 40 years that included releasing new printings of the 1e, 2e, and 3e core books, the renewal of PDF sales for out-of-print products, and the release of all three core books along with a starter set and the first part of a 15 level adventure path.

In 2024, there was Eve of Ruin early in the year, and then PHBs in August, and DMGs in October. MM still not out yet. No starter set, no launch adventure, no SRD. To me, at least, it feels like a missed opportunity for the 50th anniversary.

I guess I just don't see it. They celebrated the 50th anniversary. I wasn't expecting anything more. Could there have been more sure, but they did the most important thing - they redesign the dragons. So for me - mission accomplished!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

You can definitely run horror with 5e. What type of horror determines what, if any, tweaks to the default you might want to make.

You can do horror-flavored D&D. I wouldn't consider anything that happens in D&D as horrific as a decent horror RPG.

 

[dave2008]

You can do horror-flavored D&D. I wouldn't consider anything that happens in D&D as horrific as a decent horror RPG.

I don't know why you couldn't, do you wish to illuminate why? Just asking, but no need to if you don't feel like it.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don't know why you couldn't, do you wish to illuminate why? Just asking, but no need to if you don't feel like it.

It's been gone over a lot here in the past. But in short, the essence of horror is a sense of powerlessness. You have to cut so much away from 5E to accomplish that, you're basically playing a new game at that point. You're better off, IMO, just going with a system designed around delivering that experience, of which there are plenty of good choices.

 

[TiQuinn]

In 2024, there was Eve of Ruin early in the year, and then PHBs in August, and DMGs in October. MM still not out yet. No starter set, no launch adventure, no SRD. To me, at least, it feels like a missed opportunity for the 50th anniversary.

This is where I go back to the event releases of 2016-2019. I feel like the community outreach diminished over time and the marketing that’s been done has been very lackluster.

 

[Dire Bare]

No starter set, no multimedia push, no live event centering D&D the game, failure to get one of the several TV shows out this year, failure to get the documentary out this year

But they did do some museums, LEGO, Converse, dice sets, an album

Sometimes I think if WotC had held a parade with floats and giant balloons we'd still have folks going, "That's it?"

Could it have been more? Sure. Should it have been more? I would have liked that. Was it a "failure"? Nah.

And you're criticizing WotC on "failing" to get tv shows and documentaries out the door? Projects that are complex and prone to delays at the best of times, with Hollywood facing its own struggles?

Okay.