D&D 5E Amazon US book sales rank.


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mearls

Legend
Many thanks, Mike - it's good to get the perspective of an industry insider. I always enjoy reading your commentary!

I'd be curious to hear more the "poor business decisions" you allude to. I'd also be very interested to hear what you think a better product plan would have been for D&D 24.
In terms of poor decisions, really the OGL and the handling of it along with the other issues that seem to crop up on a quarterly basis.

In terms of a product plan, I really wish that there was an adventure designed with it in mind that I could run right now. There's no single, specific play experience that is bringing everyone together. That feels very off to me. Combat is a lot more fun and dynamic now, especially on a grid. Something like an adventure bundled with a few poster maps, like the 4e ones, would be ideal.

Otherwise, I think the community would have a very different view of the update if we had seen more rules-focused actual plays, especially ones featuring the design staff. I'd love to see the designers build a few PCs to show off the new stuff and then run a game to show it all in action.
 

mearls

Legend
I know what you’re talking about, but don’t those items specify they’re sold by someone else? Usually promos don’t apply to them either and the last time they had a Buy 2, Get 1 free promo it worked on those books.
Usually, yes. In this case, it looks like the D&D books at Target are sold in by Random House. Wizards stopped working with them at the end of last year. I assume that's inventory left over from before then. A bunch, though not all, of the D&D books are Target.com are categorized under Random House.
 

Azzy

ᚳᚣᚾᛖᚹᚢᛚᚠ (He/Him/His)
In terms of a product plan, I really wish that there was an adventure designed with it in mind that I could run right now. There's no single, specific play experience that is bringing everyone together. That feels very off to me. Combat is a lot more fun and dynamic now, especially on a grid. Something like an adventure bundled with a few poster maps, like the 4e ones, would be ideal.
The lack of a starter set on launch is probably my biggest gripe about the new edition. I'm planning on introducing some newbies to D&D, and it would be nice to have an entry-level adventure. As it stands, I'll probably just use Lost Mines of Phandelver.
 

Zardnaar

Legend
The lack of a starter set on launch is probably my biggest gripe about the new edition. I'm planning on introducing some newbies to D&D, and it would be nice to have an entry-level adventure. As it stands, I'll probably just use Lost Mines of Phandelver.

I'm finding Dragon of Stormwrack Isle is really good.

LMoP is better adventure but DoSI might be the better newbie adventure.

It didn't impress me at first but when I thought about newbie focus rereading it it's a lot better.
 
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darjr

I crit!
In terms of poor decisions, really the OGL and the handling of it along with the other issues that seem to crop up on a quarterly basis.

In terms of a product plan, I really wish that there was an adventure designed with it in mind that I could run right now. There's no single, specific play experience that is bringing everyone together. That feels very off to me. Combat is a lot more fun and dynamic now, especially on a grid. Something like an adventure bundled with a few poster maps, like the 4e ones, would be ideal.

Otherwise, I think the community would have a very different view of the update if we had seen more rules-focused actual plays, especially ones featuring the design staff. I'd love to see the designers build a few PCs to show off the new stuff and then run a game to show it all in action.
It’s actually kind of comical. There IS an adventure for the new book meant for in store play. For the premier of the new PHB. I think @SlyFlourish had and ran it. I had to reach out to my FLGS and they still hadn’t got any info on it.
 

Zaukrie

New Publisher
I think that ties back into the marketing issues. The new PHB is very clear on how to use old subclasses with the new stuff, and it's really simple. Why not just make a video showing someone making a character with a 2014 subclass and a 2024 core class? It would be easy and clear to everyone.
The marketing is not great. The product plan makes no sense. I'm not impressed, and I could probably write a case study and thesis if I wanted to get my doctorate....
 

Stormonu

NeoGrognard
More than anything, I think the Pandemic created an isolation bubble where (online) D&D thrived. That's passed, so I suspect we won't see the level of interest WotC may have been expecting as scores of people probably don't have the time or interest as they did during that time ("Been there, done that - time to move on to something else.").

That said, it's going to take a bit for word to get out about the new books (Last weekend, I saw someone pick up and buy the Stormwrack Starter and be completely oblivious to the new PHB the shelf below it). There may be some holding out for Christmas or later before nabbing the the books, it's going to mostly be the enthusiasts who are going for the PHB right now and we'll probably see things really ramp up when all three books are out and 2014 stock starts running low. The new books will make decent money, but I have a feeling it won't hit levels WotC may have been expecting - I think they were too slow to strike when the game was at peak and are rolling it out as popularity is starting to waver among a couple of recent blunders.
 

mearls

Legend
I think the game gets on track when the DMG has dropped. There we actually find 4? example adventures.
So maybe the extra starter box is not needed.
That's a good point. The 4e DMG remains one of my favorites for including a great sandbox setting and a complete adventure.

My dream scenario would be getting Hommlet and environs written up as a sample starting town, along with the moathouse as a sample starter dungeon.

Say, two short scenarios to go from level 1 to 3, then the moathouse and Lareth as the grand finale for 3rd level PCs.
 

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