D&D 5E WotC Dungeons & Dragons 2020 Product Survey

lkj · Aug 19, 2020

Ruin Explorer said:
You didn't think the constant detailed questioning about how you play D&D post-COVID, and particularly how you play D&D via online tools and stuff, both as a player and a DM suggested an interest in that sphere?

And the only way they could cleanly get into that sphere is with a new edition which they didn't license out to Roll 20/Beyond/etc.

An interest, yes. That they wanted to create their own tools and start a new edition, no. It was a detailed survey about how we are playing the game and what tools we are using. It's information I'd want to know regardless of whether I was planning a new edition or deciding to make my own online tools. It's all information that could just as easily feed back into how they manage their partnerships going forward and how much effort to put into them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying your interpretation is wrong or absurd or anything. I'm just saying that I'm not convinced it's the only or even the most likely explanation. But hey, I've been both right and wrong in gleaning WotC's intentions in the past, so I'm not too invested in any given explanation.

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Ruin Explorer · Aug 19, 2020

lkj said:
An interest, yes. That they wanted to create their own tools and start a new edition, no. It was a detailed survey about how we are playing the game and what tools we are using. It's information I'd want to know regardless of whether I was planning a new edition or deciding to make my own online tools. It's all information that could just as easily feed back into how they manage their partnerships going forward and how much effort to put into them.

Given the tens of millions WotC is chucking at digital, it's hard for me to believe they're just going to continue to let their "partners" (who are doing a solid but not amazing job) manage all the online tools stuff.

BigZebra · Aug 19, 2020

Ruin Explorer said:
Given the tens of millions WotC is chucking at digital, it's hard for me to believe they're just going to continue to let their "partners" (who are doing a solid but not amazing job) manage all the online tools stuff.

Totally agree. The space is ripe for something with deep pockets to come and do this "right". Seeing how DnD Beyond have grown, I think it's obvious they are going this route.

Also this work they are doing in this arena, might make it obvious that the system could use some adjustment here and there to be a better fit for online play (perhaps a 6e or 5.5e?)

Sword of Spirit · Aug 19, 2020

lkj said:
Yep. I think this is a completely reasonable concern and a good reason, as a consumer, to want a pdf. I was specifically responding to the idea that WotC is being completely clueless about the importance of digital mediums by not offering them. As an 'archival' copy, they make a lot of sense. But, as you note, as an active electronic medium, they're pretty out of date. There are just much better ways to deliver content electronically.

One of the things that I personally find valuable in a pdf is that is preserves the same layout as the physical books. While it might be easier to access an element like a spell with digital content, in general you can't just look at page X like you can with a pdf. I find intrinsic value in that, as I see a good RPG book as a work of art, not just a compendium of different content bits.

lkj · Aug 19, 2020

Ruin Explorer said:
Given the tens of millions WotC is chucking at digital, it's hard for me to believe they're just going to continue to let their "partners" (who are doing a solid but not amazing job) manage all the online tools stuff.

Do you mean the tens of millions in video games? Because I'll buy that there are 10's of millions to be made there hypothetically, which is why I suspect they've started buying and setting up video game studios. But in the 'character and campaign management' space? Seems like for the tabletop side most of the money is in selling the content, and they clearly have a lot of control over that part in their licensing agreements (based on frequent comments made by the DDB team about how they can't really change pricing, what is sold on their site, what is displayed on their site, and how they bundle things without WotC approval). I just think the margins for the campaign management side are probably so much narrower that it's not a slam dunk to set up your own in house coding team for it. I mean, they've tried it in the past, and while Insider was presumably successful, I never got the impression they were rolling around in dough.

That said, of course it's possible to envision a scenario in the future where they roll out an edition that has a digital platform at launch. We'll see if that's 'soon'. And whether they don't just do it with a partner or by buying a partner.

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lkj · Aug 19, 2020

Sword of Spirit said:
One of the things that I personally find valuable in a pdf is that is preserves the same layout as the physical books. While it might be easier to access an element like a spell with digital content, in general you can't just look at page X like you can with a pdf. I find intrinsic value in that, as I see a good RPG book as a work of art, not just a compendium of different content bits.

Well, the ebook version on DDB does largely retain the physical book format, with the art, covers, content etc. The 'listings' that let you search individual elements is a separate interface. The ebook just lacks the same page numbers and count. Kind of the same way a kindle or other ebook doesn't retain the same page numbers (except that the DDB book is full color with images)

Edit: Just to clarify-- I do understand the appeal of a version of the book that is a more or less exact replication of the physical book.

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SkidAce · Aug 20, 2020

Sword of Spirit said:
One of the things that I personally find valuable in a pdf is that is preserves the same layout as the physical books. While it might be easier to access an element like a spell with digital content, in general you can't just look at page X like you can with a pdf. I find intrinsic value in that, as I see a good RPG book as a work of art, not just a compendium of different content bits.

This is how I feel about pdfs. It replicates the layout of the book, I can word search if I need to, and its portable.

Done, thats ALL I need.

The Mirrorball Man · Aug 20, 2020

LuisCarlos17f said:
Mystara could be popular again thanks some arcade videogame as "Tower of Doom" by Capcom, but the old lines are too "frozen" to allow the new elements of crunch, as PC races or classes, to be added.

The Know World is mostly unexplored. You could add whole continents of crunch to it.

Chaosmancer · Aug 20, 2020

I was also a bit shocked that they did not include Tal'Dorie/Wildemount. I had to go back and write that in.

I also have never bought the digital tools (a DM of mine does on DnD Beyond, and they share with us through the campaign) because, well, I'm not rich enough to buy the same content multiple times. So, if they try and sell me on buying all my books all over again, I'm sorry, but I'm not interested.

MichaelSomething · Aug 20, 2020

No survey topic is complete without this comic!

D&D 5E WotC Dungeons & Dragons 2020 Product Survey

lkj

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Ruin Explorer

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BigZebra

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Sword of Spirit

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lkj

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lkj

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SkidAce

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The Mirrorball Man

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Chaosmancer

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MichaelSomething

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