D&D 5E (2024) Are we going to see DMG previews?

[GMMichael]

DMG? So far, Crickets. Even after they promised UAs, they only delivered the Bastions one. (Which needed a LOT of work).

I heard they're just waiting for Vin Diesel's schedule to clear up. The name of the new vlog: VinDMG.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The first big PHB preview started about 7 weeks before they started selling at GenCon, and they had weeks of videos. Then about a month till general FLGS release...

Yeah, and as @MarkB pointed out, they'll not want to step on the toes of the PHB-hype, as that was always going to be the bigger seller. They may have wanted 8-weeks of hype for the DMG, but you can't start it 2-weeks before the PHB drops, or you wind up with noise. So starting next week seems appropriate.

 

[mamba]

I suppose my concern as a retailer is this: The players handbook had a TON of preview content, and yet, a LOT of customers were not (or only vaguely) aware of it coming. I saw a lot of "Oh, this is out now?"-type comments, and the book took some time to start really moving.

it was the first book out, I assume people realize that there will be a DMG and MM as well but who knows, maybe you can surprise them a second and even third time.

Worst case it is a slow ramp up again and you are not sold out in a week

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

We don't have any hard numbers on how many people are left on their marketing team (during the 50th anniversary! during new corebooks being rolled out!) but it's less than it was when they were just rolling out, say, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

I suspect, under normal circumstances, there would be a more distributed load and as one book is being previewed, the previews for the next books are already in the hopper (especially the time-intensive video previews they love doing nowadays). With fewer staff members, I suspect everyone's got more work on their shoulders and there may even be some skill gaps at the moment.

I do expect the DMG to get some (possibly frantic, last-minute) previews, but probably not as many as the PHB did, although there's a smaller market for it, so that's probably OK.

 

[grimmgoose]

5E’s always been a player-focused edition. 5.5 has made it clear that’s not going to change.

I have zero expectations for the DMG. I imagine most of it will be “advice”. I’d like to see a functional CR system, but I doubt WOTC can pull that off.

The Bastion stuff was very disappointing, so I’m more interested in the new MM at this point.

 

[aco175]

I'm still amazed at the garbage roll out of the PHB. I seem to be only half sure that my FLGS has them since so many dates and times had other people getting a copy. How many threads did we have about this or that new thing being terrible before the masses could even have the book.

The DMG might be better if they just give some out to the online people with a no talking clause until the actual release date.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I'm still amazed at the garbage roll out of the PHB. I seem to be only half sure that my FLGS has them since so many dates and times had other people getting a copy. How many threads did we have about this or that new thing being terrible before the masses could even have the book.

The DMG might be better if they just give some out to the online people with a no talking clause until the actual release date.

The PHB rollout was fine, also the book seems pretty well received.

 

[mamba]

The PHB rollout was fine, also the book seems pretty well received.

tell that to the people outside North America, and esp. NZ and Australia

 

[Morrus]

I suppose my concern as a retailer is this: The players handbook had a TON of preview content, and yet, a LOT of customers were not (or only vaguely) aware of it coming.

I'm not sure how WotC can answer that. They put out a ton of preview content? Right.

You knew about it but your customers didn't? Is that not a you problem?

 

[Morrus]

tell that to the people outside North America, and esp. NZ and Australia

I'm in the UK and haven't seen the book yet; I'm aware people had it 6 weeks ago. Also Beth, our official D&D reviewer, was explicitly refused a copy (but luckily Rob Weiland picked one up at Gen Con so we were able to publish a review). The buzz is over now though, so I'll probably pick a copy up at some point out of curiosity, but I've missed the conversation and the enthusiasm has waned.