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!

 

[BryonD]

My niece and nephew's (10) exposure to rpgs was the Pathfinder Basic Box. You think when they think of RPGs their mind is going to say "DnD?" .

I don't care what they call it, so long as they keep off my lawn.

 

[Umbran]

My niece and nephew's (10) exposure to rpgs was the Pathfinder Basic Box. You think when they think of RPGs their mind is going to say "DnD?"

My initial exposure to RPGs was Tunnels and Trolls.

But, strangely, my mind doesn't go to that when I think of RPGs now.

 

[Wicht]

My initial exposure to RPGs was Tunnels and Trolls.

But, strangely, my mind doesn't go to that when I think of RPGs now.

Yes, and my son's first exposure was to 3e.

Tunnels and Trolls solo? Or with a DM?

 

[BryonD]

My initial exposure to RPGs was Tunnels and Trolls.

But, strangely, my mind doesn't go to that when I think of RPGs now.

But D&D gave you reasons to play D&D so you played D&D a lot after you played T&T and thus D&D became the default.
Do you presume that kids coming up today will be driven to D&D the way you were?

It is not an good comparison.

It *could* happen, but the presumption would be deeply flawed.

 

[Kramodlog]

Brand awareness and being industry leader are two different things. Being the industry leader means people in the industry follow your example, while brand awareness is about knowledge of the brand in the general population.

Considering that initially WotC wanted to produce two APs a year and have a companion to go with the APs, that it did public playtests for its edition, that we keep comparing staff numbers and WotC's business model to Paizo's, it would seem that the industry leader is Paizo, not WotC, even if in the general population D&D is more known.

 

[delericho]

OK, Dire Bear said it won't happen EVER (all caps), and you said "this". so I took that as you strongly endorsing his all-caps level certainty.

Fair point, though I had already watered it down from "EVER" to "unless and until WotC take D&D out of print for a period of several years".

No, technology moved AND blockbuster didn't appreciate the need to keep up.

Nonetheless, the tech moving on was one of two required conditions. If it had not, there would be no need for them to keep up!

This is the same mistake of looking at the past and thinking it tells you everything you need for the future.

You miss my point. D&D has already faced the technology change that renders it obsolete. And it has survived, after a fashion - it's now the king of a very small, and diminishing, niche. And despite repeated attempts D&D has not, and will not, become a big player in the MMO field - and it certainly (okay, near-certainly) won't ever be the dominant player in that field. And neither will Pathfinder - their MMO will probably do okay, and make quite a lot of money for a few years, but it won't threaten WoW.

The people who are left are the ones who have chosen not to adopt the new technology and the ones who get something from it that the new technology doesn't, and maybe can't, offer. As I said, we're a small and diminshing bunch. But that gives D&D a certain immunity to further technology advances.

 

[Umbran]

Tunnels and Trolls solo? Or with a DM?

With a GM. I have an older brother who found it to be a pleasant way to spend some structured time with his younger siblings. Later on, he introduced us to AD&D.

 

[Wicht]

Brand awareness and being industry leader are two different things. Being the industry leader means people in the industry follow your example, while brand awareness is about knowledge of the brand in the general population.

Considering that initially WotC wanted to produce two APs a year and have a companion to go with the APs, that it did public playtests for its edition, that we keep comparing staff numbers and WotC's business model to Paizo's, it would seem that the industry leader is Paizo, not WotC, even if in the general population D&D is more known.

There is more than a little truth to this, though it is possible for the industry leader to still steal ideas from smaller competitors if they are good. But there is no doubt that within the industry, as opposed to within the market, Paizo is seen as a leader in a way that no other company except for WotC is perceived

For me, I knew the roles had reversed, not when Paizo had the #1 RPG, but when individuals, not all of whom liked Pathfinder, began talking about the responsibility of Paizo to bring new blood into the market.

 

[Wicht]

And neither will Pathfinder - their MMO will probably do okay, and make quite a lot of money for a few years, but it won't threaten WoW.

I think its always a mistake to make blanket statements about what, or who, will, at some point in the future, threaten the current status quo. While I could cite many examples, I will stick with the subject at hand and mention that I recall those who said, with absolute certainty, Pathfinder will never threaten Dungeons and Dragons.

 

[BryonD]

Fair point, though I had already watered it down from "EVER" to "unless and until WotC take D&D out of print for a period of several years".

Ok, that really is an important distinction.

But I'd add that having other game (or games, and not just "Pathfinder") being neck and neck for several years will have very similar long term effects.

Nonetheless, the tech moving on was one of two required conditions. If it had not, there would be no need for them to keep up!

Sure, but this is just one example.

You miss my point. D&D has already faced the technology change that renders it obsolete. And it has survived, after a fashion - it's now the king of a very small, and diminishing, niche. And despite repeated attempts D&D has not, and will not, become a big player in the MMO field - and it certainly (okay, near-certainly) won't ever be the dominant player in that field. And neither will Pathfinder - their MMO will probably do okay, and make quite a lot of money for a few years, but it won't threaten WoW.

The people who are left are the ones who have chosen not to adopt the new technology and the ones who get something from it that the new technology doesn't, and maybe can't, offer. As I said, we're a small and diminshing bunch. But that gives D&D a certain immunity to further technology advances.

I don't think I missed that point at all. I'm just saying that past performance is no indicator of future results.
Another change (technology or other) could hit tomorrow and WotC needs to react wholly anew.
If they use Dire Bear's assurance that being OG will bring them through, then they will be in a very bad position.

I am not saying that WotC is not more savvy to this than Dire Bear. I was replying to Dire Bear and your "this".
(I'm not saying WotC is adequately savvy either)