D&D 5E Am I no longer WoTC's target audience?

[generic]

Gamma World says Hi, and invites everybody to join an Expedition to the Barrier Peaks.

But, but, robots and spaceships in mah D&D!

Tucks Expedition to the Barrier Peaks under arm while flipping through an Undermountain sourcebook and looking at Spelljammer monsters on phone.

 

[schneeland]

It kind of amazes me that it seems like the players and DMs with the most experience are often asking for the most guidance.

Not sure if it's really guidance. My gut feeling is: people (me included) would like to have convenience products that save us the effort of going through the old material and convert it to 5e - because we have more money than we used to have, but a lot less time.

Of course, it's still a valid business decision on WotC's side, to say: that's all nice, but there's not enough of you to make this a priority for us.

 

[Parmandur]

I completely understand his viewpoint. Adventure modules with some flavor of older settings feels like a tease - it doesn't feel like WotC taking seriously requests for 5e treatments of older campaign settings. When I question why Wildemount instead of an update of GH or DS or FR, I get various ad hominems in response ranging from "be patient" to "people really want CR stuff" to "why are you saying CR is a flash in the pan, it's been around at least 5 years" to "ok boomer."

Be patient? It's been 5 years and they're publishing a new setting in lieu of updating older settings after they've published stuff set in those older settings.

People want CR stuff? Ok, what about the rest of us who want 5e treatments of existing settings? How long should we continue to be disappointed while waiting for what we are asking for, while watching newer campaign settings be published - it's like a dog waiting after being abandoned on the side of the road?

I would say that WotC is paying lip service to older players. They made FR the default setting for 5e - where's the campaign guide? It's been 5 years and the paper-thin SCAG is a joke. It took 5 years to get Wayfarers Guide to Eberron. They're sitting on IP that they could have published 5e treatments for in the 5 years since 5e had been out. I get they want to not publish to much, but publishing actual 5e versions of full campaign settings for existing settings isn't the same thing as vomiting a bunch of books containing player or DM rules options.

If they don't want to support older campaign settings by publishing complete setting books and have no intention to do so, they should license the IP.

It's only been 5 years: no need to be hasty. AD&D didn't get extra settings for even longer than 5E has, and days are early yet.

 

[hawkeyefan]

Not sure if it's really guidance. My gut feeling is: people (me included) would like to have convenience products that save us the effort of going through the old material and convert it to 5e - because we have more money than we used to have, but a lot less time.

Of course, it's still a valid business decision on WotC's side, to say: that's all nice, but there's not enough of you to make this a priority for us.

Yeah, that’s largely it. I expect that some of the products people are eager for will be coming....or at least, some of the elements will be included in products that are slightly different than what past editions have offered.

But it makes a lot of business sense to try and capitalize on the success of Critical Role. That should take priority. Hook as many of the Critters as possible with a product that appeals to them.

Then maybe that can be parlayed into future sales of other books and settings.

And I absolutely understand the bit about not having as much time....I’m in that boat for sure. I’ve used tons of old products and just do a barebones conversion ahead of time or else convert on the fly.

 

[3catcircus]

Not sure if it's really guidance. My gut feeling is: people (me included) would like to have convenience products that save us the effort of going through the old material and convert it to 5e - because we have more money than we used to have, but a lot less time.

This, and the expected whining and complaining from players when the DM converts stuff while waiting for an official conversion to the current edition doesn't match the official conversion.

 

[Retreater]

Feeling the same way as the OP. I think I'm going to be giving more attention to 3pp from here on out.

 

[hawkeyefan]

Feeling the same way as the OP. I think I'm going to be giving more attention to 3pp from here on out.

I think that’s one way to go for sure.

I personally haven’t picked up any of WotC’s D&D books since Mordenkainen’s Tome. What I’ve been doing instead is buying all kinds of other games. Either 5E compatible stuff or OSR games/adventures or entire other systems.

It’s been really enjoyable. We’re still playing 5E, but mixing it up with other games here and there.

Blades in the Dark has been the most prominent, but Tales From The Loop, Mothership, and Spire are all good games I’ve played in the last two years. I’ve recently grabbed Esoteric Enterprises, Five Torches Deep, and Whispers in the Dark, too.

There’s lots of stuff out there. If WotC isn’t making stuff you like, find someone who is.

 

[Bacon Bits]

I'm reading about Mercer's new campaign sourcebook coming out from WoTC, and I've decided that I'm no longer WoTC's target audience.

You're not in the target audience for every book. I think that if you look back at the history of the game, you'll find books or supplements in every edition that you have no interest in. I can't reasonably believe that this is the first book in 30+ years that you didn't want.

I mean, do you own Birthright, Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Red Steel and Planescape in 2e? Did you actually use the Epic Level Handbook? The endless 3e FR region guides? Cardmaster? There's some really, really narrow crap out there.

 

[Anoth]

You're not in the target audience for every book. I think that if you look back at the history of the game, you'll find books or supplements in every edition that you have no interest in. I can't reasonably believe that this is the first book in 30+ years that you didn't want.

I mean, do you own Birthright, Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Red Steel and Planescape in 2e? Did you actually use the Epic Level Handbook? The endless 3e FR region guides? Cardmaster? There's some really, really narrow crap out there.

i did. I couldn’t get enough of that stuff back then that you named. But even I will admit their were some minor books i didn’t like. I didn’t like skill and powers option book. But i did like epic. But I didn’t hate them for making it. It just wasn’t for me. I know others that loved it. And I was glad they made the product for them.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm reading about Mercer's new campaign sourcebook coming out from WoTC, and I've decided that I'm no longer WoTC's target audience. Maybe that puts me in the minority of gamers, and I would imagine that WoTC knows exactly what they're doing with some of the books and supplements they've come out with recently.

I've been gaming since high school, like many people here, and high school for me was around the late 80s. So, that puts me starting with 1st as a player, GM'ing 2nd edition, and then moving (gladly!) into 3rd, skipping 4th, and absolutely loving 5th. I make my own campaigns, so campaign modules are not of interest to me. I'm also a huge fan of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy. It's literally more campaign world than I could ever possibly use, so I don't need any more. I loved Xanathar's Guide, and I LOVED Volo's guide. One of the best books WoTC's ever created. I was lukewarm on Mordenkainen's, since many of the monsters I'd never use (and really, who needs a dozen demon lords, anyway?).

But I keeping seeing things like Acquisitions Incorporated, and a Rick and Morty module, and I can't help but think those are probably popular products - for someone... but not for me. I've no interest in that stuff. Meanwhile, I'm sitting here anxiously awaiting a follow-up to Volo's so I can snatch that, maybe a Monster Manual II, or something that gives me a ton more magical items that I can use, or something else that will add value to my game. I'd even settle for a version of Tales of the Yawning Portal that didn't actually suck (I wanted to like it, I really did, I just couldn't).

Am I alone?

I have to ask. What's the difference between this setting and say Ebberon? Beyond the obvious setting details. It seems to me a setting is a setting is a setting, and it really doesn't matter where it comes from. You look at it and see if you like it.