7 Years of D&D Stories? And a "Big Reveal" Coming?

When asked what he was working on, WotC's Chris Perkins revealed a couple of juicy tidbits. They're not much, but they're certainly tantalizing. Initially, he said that "Our marketing team has a big reveal in the works", and followed that up separately with "Right now I'm working on the next seven years of D&D stories". What all that might mean is anybody's guess, but it sounds like there are plans for D&D stretching into the foreseeable future! Thanks to Barantor for the scoop!
 

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A major difference in fan reaction to Paizo and WotC's communications is that Paizo is seen as the underdog, and WotC is seen as the evil overlord.

That might have been true five years ago, but anyone who still thinks of Paizo as the underdog is behind the times, and I don't get the feeling from my observations of the industry and forums that anyone really still holds to that view. The roles switched a few years back. And I don't know that they have switched back yet. Paizo was the industry leader for a while at least, and if they are not still the leader, they are certainly co-equal captains of the industry with WotC at this point.
 

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Just in case you weren't sure, no, the "big reveal" has not been revealed . . . yet.

True. I should probably have said that.

This thread is pretty standard fare, folks complaining about minor things that don't really have any sort of impact on the game, the brand, or how we play it. We just like to complain, blame, and argue the small stuff, as usual.

You do get that I was joking, right? Hence the smiley at the end, that you elected not to quote. Especially ironic since you'll find me defending them over on the other thread.
 

(. . .) folks complaining about minor things that don't really have any sort of impact on the game, the brand, or how we play it.


You had such great intentions when you began posting to help make sure Zaukrie didn't misunderstand and then you had to marginalize the folks who think the conversion is important (as well as the staffing issues) under the thin veil of laughing at gamers in general. Oh, Brian! You are such a rascal! :p
 


That might have been true five years ago, but anyone who still thinks of Paizo as the underdog is behind the times, and I don't get the feeling from my observations of the industry and forums that anyone really still holds to that view. The roles switched a few years back. And I don't know that they have switched back yet. Paizo was the industry leader for a while at least, and if they are not still the leader, they are certainly co-equal captains of the industry with WotC at this point.

I disagree. The roles never switched. When Paizo had the top-selling fantasy RPG for a while, we all knew it was ONLY because D&D was essentially on hiatus. And, as expected, as soon as D&D started publishing again, Paizo is once again #2.

Paizo is an awesome company that deserves the good vibes most fans have for it. They make awesome games, they are awesome people . . . but they are still a small company playing second fiddle to the major industry leader. Being an underdog in American culture isn't a negative thing, we all love to root for the underdog, but it is cultural myth.

IMSO (In My Strong Opinion), Paizo gets a pass from fans because it has always been seen as the plucky underdog wrestling success from the 800-lb WotC gorilla. WotC gets crapped on every decision they make because they are seen as "The Man", the corporation run by unfeeling suits and bean counters, the evil overlord. If you can't see this behavior constantly directed at WotC, I think you aren't just looking hard enough!

The above has NOTHING to do with actual quality of game products. It's just how many folks characterize the companies subconsciously. I am fan of both companies and love the Pathfinder line and the D&D line. I'm disappointed when either company has to cancel products or lines that I've come to love. Paizo isn't in the business of pulp fiction or board games anymore, sadly, because I loved the Planet Stories line and I always appreciate good board games. WotC still struggles (licensed or internal) to provide decent digital tools. There are more examples from both companies. Who gets all the grief? WotC. I'm sure the Paizo boards have their fair share of complainers, but nothing on the scale that WotC has to deal with on EVERY SINGLE DECISION they make, left or right.
 


If you think saying that WotC can "safely tune out" that "segment of the overall market" from all future sales, then ok.

What future sales are you even expecting? The only products that have been announced are the biannual adventure paths, which are aimed at a completely different customer base. The people who are vocal about Wizards' lack of communication and product are not the target audience for the adventure paths - I suspect that audience is the casual audience who just needs a sourcebook to base the next six months of campaign off of and little else.

Maybe Wizards will put out a FRCS or a Monster Manual II this year, maybe not. Wizards' behavior is not that of a company that is really relying on those products to sell well. At this point the only sales I think they're really concerned about are D&D movie tickets and board game / video game sales.


It is easy for you to throw around words like "riotus" "fanboy" "outrage" and "no matter what they do".
It is a lot harder to actually justify those therms when the reactions are justified but what has actually been done.

The reactions are pretty overblown, in my opinion. People are working themselves up into a tizzy over the release schedule of Dungeons & Dragons, and it's resulting in people slinging insults at and making nasty about the character of the folks over at WotC. I would indeed characterize that as fanboy outrage that's best ignored.

I actually think it's pretty great that people are passionate enough about D&D that they're willing to eviscerate the D&D team the same way they'd rake their favorite sports team's coaching staff over the coals after a big loss.

To pursue that metaphor a bit, after several lousy seasons, they've relaunched with a great team to widespread acclaim but are limiting themselves to a couple of exhibition matches a year, and at the same time looking to get the players featured in movies, cartoons and l̶i̶v̶e̶ ̶g̶a̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶P̶A̶X̶ ̶c̶o̶n̶v̶e̶n̶t̶i̶o̶n̶s̶ fan appearances.

Stop holding the Harlem Globetrotters to the same standard as the Lakers.

But I guess that is why there is zero conversation about what is actually happening in your reply.
I'm sure if you stick to enough name-calling and slander, reality will eventually change to suit you.

In the mean time, the customer business relationship will remain unchanged.

My apologies if you felt like I was calling you names or otherwise insulting you, that wasn't my intent but if that's how it came across I am sorry.

That said, people are acting as if D&D is an ongoing subscription or crowdfunded project that isn't delivering to them what was promised. There's been a lot of snarky comments about "can't cancel things that were never announced", but the fact of the matter is: WotC put out some books. People purchased those books. WotC may or may not put out further books, and have no obligation to let us into their internal discussions about the future of the product line.

The level of acrimony over the whole thing is simply not justified.
 

When Paizo had the top-selling fantasy RPG for a while, we all knew it was ONLY because D&D was essentially on hiatus.


And most of the top RPG creative talent that used to work for WotC and approx half the people who used to play 3.XE and didn't want to transition to 4E and a better perceived PR dynamic and production values as high as anything in the industry and a direct sales program that seems to insulate them from a flagging three-tier distribution model and-

Oh, I'm sorry. I thought your "ONLY" was meant as a springboard to brainstorm all of the major reasons Paizo managed to compete on WotC's level not that you truly believed it was just because WotC was taking a nap.
 

I disagree. The roles never switched.

Heh. Who should I believe? You or my lying eyes? :)


When Paizo had the top-selling fantasy RPG for a while, we all knew it was ONLY because D&D was essentially on hiatus.

Paizo took the top spot while 4e was still a thing, well before the hiatus started, so speak for yourself when you speak about what we all knew. :)

I remember commenting on it at the time and being told it was just a fluke. I then remember the subtle change in language in the industry when people begin talking about the industry leader and it was clear who people were looking to for leadership. (hint: it was not WotC).

They make awesome games, they are awesome people . . . but they are still a small company playing second fiddle to the major industry leader.

Hmm, which company right now actually has the most people making RPG material?

Heh. I wouldn't be surprised if FFG didn't employ almost as many people as WotC in their RPG department. And actually, while I don't claim to know numbers, I also wouldn't be too surprised if FFG didn't do almost as much business as WotC marketwise across the whole of the game market spectrum (note I am not claiming FFG is bigger, I am saying I would not be surprised if their market share wasn't close) (though those MtG numbers have to be daunting) and with the merger of FFG into Asmodee, the Asmodee Group continues to be a player to watch as an up and coming leader in the gaming market.

But for RPGs divisions alone, Paizo beats out just about everyone else right now for company size, including WotC.
 

IMSO (In My Strong Opinion), Paizo gets a pass from fans because it has always been seen as the plucky underdog wrestling success from the 800-lb WotC gorilla. WotC gets crapped on every decision they make because they are seen as "The Man", the corporation run by unfeeling suits and bean counters, the evil overlord. If you can't see this behavior constantly directed at WotC, I think you aren't just looking hard enough!

It's not just that. Paizo have spent years, and a great deal of effort, building a very strong relationship with their fans. Their designers make sure to be active on their website forums, they make sure to communicate things clearly and well in advance, and their customer support is the best I have ever encountered. I'm actually not a huge fan of the game (too complex for me these days), but I'm definitely a fan of the company.

Equally, it's not as simple as saying that WotC are "the Man", because if we look back to 2006 things were different. Yes, there were some complainers, but they tended to be easier to spot and easier to dismiss (Razz). But for the most part they were being recognised because they had a strong product line, they were communicating it well in advance, and the products they were releasing were generally very well received.

WotC had a lot of goodwill. Unfortunately, they've gradually lost much of it in the intervening years - admittedly, not entirely through their own fault.
 

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