D&D 5E Amazon US book sales rank.

[Parmandur]

they started, but I do not think they had $20 discounts, making it less attractive. I don’t think a drop by 100 ranks or so between SJ and PS can be explained by people using the WotC preorders

They were discounted, yes.

A change in where people buy does have a lot of explanatory power for the newspaper lists, that mostly stick to major book retailers.

 

[Iosue]

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.

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.

All due respect, Mike, you're just describing the 2014 release, and...uh...yeah, that all sounds about right.

I've long thought (and said) that one of the underrated factors in 5e's success was the carefully built on-ramp. The curated release schedule, with adventures right off the bat, the free Basic Rules, the Starter Set. I think it did a lot in priming people, especially new and returning players, to buy the PHB. (I also fondly remember the actual play videos you guys did in the run-up to and after the release. Frankly, you guys don't get enough credit for promoting the idea of actual play videos. There's no Critical Role without Acquisitions Inc., of course, but I think even the videos you guys did running Lost Mines and the like were essentially proof of concept for an ongoing series of actual play.)

I saw the announcement of the new Starter Set, and thought, "Yes, of course, a new Starter Set in October, makes perfect sen--2025?!?!" That is absolutely a missed opportunity. I mean, heck, even a revised Stormwreck Isle would have been a great companion piece for the new PHB.

 

[EthanSental]

Those ramp up play videos by the wotc staff were great. The 4 or 5 session of Lost Mines DM’d by Greg Bilsland were fun to watch and had a diverse group of veteran and new first time players.

 

[Parmandur]

All due respect, Mike, you're just describing the 2014 release, and...uh...yeah, that all sounds about right.

I've long thought (and said) that one of the underrated factors in 5e's success was the carefully built on-ramp. The curated release schedule, with adventures right off the bat, the free Basic Rules, the Starter Set. I think it did a lot in priming people, especially new and returning players, to buy the PHB. (I also fondly remember the actual play videos you guys did in the run-up to and after the release. Frankly, you guys don't get enough credit for promoting the idea of actual play videos. There's no Critical Role without Acquisitions Inc., of course, but I think even the videos you guys did running Lost Mines and the like were essentially proof of concept for an ongoing series of actual play.)

I saw the announcement of the new Starter Set, and thought, "Yes, of course, a new Starter Set in October, makes perfect sen--2025?!?!" That is absolutely a missed opportunity. I mean, heck, even a revised Stormwreck Isle would have been a great companion piece for the new PHB.

Thing is, I don't think WotC wants to build the on-ramp for the next batch of Middle schoolers until the full trinity of thr Core books are ready to graduate to.

 

[mearls]

Those ramp up play videos by the wotc staff were great. The 4 or 5 session of Lost Mines DM’d by Greg Bilsland were fun to watch and had a diverse group of veteran and new first time players.

Greg did a TON of work to get streaming going at Wizards. He doesn't get enough credit for pushing that forward.

 

[see]

Anyway, the second-week ranking on the USA Today Booklist dipped to #124. Interpret as you will.

 

[Oofta]

Anyway, the second-week ranking on the USA Today Booklist dipped to #124. Interpret as you will.

I interpret that as "we aren't going to know how well the revision sells for several months".

A lot of current players are waiting for the DMG, MM and/or campaigns wrapping up. That, and what really matters is adoption by brand new players.

 

[Clint_L]

I interpret that as "we aren't going to know how well the revision sells for several months".

More like several years.

 

[Oofta]

More like several years.

Fair. Even then there are a lot of things that could affect book sales that have little to do with the revisions.

 

[bedir than]

Bookscan data is released weekly. I'm assuming last week's numbers were fine as there wasn't a Youtube video put out about WotC's failures