Maybe @oreofox is talking about splat books and not adventures?Curious. For pretty much the first two years, I almost exclusively used 1e adventures and setting material in 5e. And I found it exceptionally easy to convert. I could even do it on the fly. So I’m curious to know what your hurdles were.
I find it odd that so many people don't want to reach out to new players.
I find it odd that so many people don't want to reach out to new players.
The primary audiences for a luxury hobby are the ones with little to no disposable income? Interesting business model; not sure you could get a loan for that, though.
Have you looked at Expanded Monster Manual on DM Guild? It is 3rd party, but it's the MM2 WotC should have made. It expands on the core monsters with hundreds of variants, really good stuff. There's a sequel now that does the same thing with Volo and Mordenkainen monsters. More powerful/alternate versions of the the official ones. It's pretty fantastic and should scratch your monster itch.
Let's face it, if you're over 40 you're not in anyone's target audience, other than sellers of cars, ED drugs, and hemorrhoid cream.
Parents buy for kids things that kids repeatedly ask them for because marketing is aimed heavily at the kids. This isn't the case for D&D. Sure, there's a market for this demo, but it isn't a major one.I don't agree with his premise but yours is silly as well. Obviously parents buy stuff for their kids. I'd venture to guess most starter sets are not bought by the people who end up receiving them, for example.
What merchandising? Where are the money making product lines that aren't books?The give the game away for free: the real money is in merchandising, which is a long game of building up customer loyalty. See also, the heavy emphasis the past few years on D&D children's books.
Sure, you won't get a loan for it, that's why it is part of the investment portfolio of a multi-billion dollar corporation that hopes to monetize the IP in the end.
Sure, but it's not the core market for 5e at the moment. That's mostly post-school adults.18-25 year olds are the gold standard for getting people locked into using a particular product. Because they will eventually have spending money.
Something to look forward to!You forgot Medicare Advantage insurance plans. True, you have to not only be over 40, but also in the more leet over 65 demographic, but come September/October, I have to be very diligent about emptying my mailbox every day (mostly straight into the recycle bin).
All gamers are hobby gamers, because gaming is a hobby. Maybe a better word for your point (which I don't disagree with, btw).I haven't bought a book since Xanathar's.
I don't need more adventure paths right now and the new rules and campaign stuff just hasn't interested me.
And that's okay. 5e is still by far my favourite edition and one I could see playing for many years to come.
About demographics; keep in mind that most 5e players have never played a previous edition.
Hobby gamers are no longer the majority. This is something I see time and again on boards, usually when talking about release schedule but also about releases in general. That WotC will regret not catering to hobby gamers. Sometimes they throw in that Pathfinder will eat up their customers.
I think many people outside of hobby gaming don't realize just how huge (relatively speaking) D&D is now.
"Because they must cater specifically to me. And they must continually make products to make me happy."If you choose not to buy new products but are still playing the game, congrats... you get to save your money and WotC's still completely happy for you. Why anyone would think that's a bad thing is beyond me.
What merchandising? Where are the money making product lines that aren't books?
I'm too attached to the 2nd Edition setting, and the changes and additions felt gratuitous (e.g., dusk elves and Mordenkainen), contrived (Madam Eva as Strahd's half-sister), and/or overly bleak (large numbers of soulless Barovians), and a read through suggested little worth mining.What is it that you do not like about it?
You are no longer D&Ds only target audience.I've been gaming since high school, like many people here, and high school for me was around the late 80s.
I've decided that I'm no longer WoTC's target audience. .
How much disposable income do their parents have?The primary audiences for a luxury hobby are the ones with little to no disposable income? Interesting business model; not sure you could get a loan for that, though.