Could this be the future format of 4th Edition D&D?

[Upper_Krust]

Hey the dungeondelver!

When ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS was at its most popular, there was no reason - none - to dilute the product by trying to make it a board game. A company that could count four million plus people who played their game must've gotten something right.

1. The current incarnation of the game is a lot more daunting to new/casual gamers now, far more rules and far more component parts...the net result being that new and casual gamers are being scared away.

2. In the entire lifespan of 1st Ed. AD&D they released 13 books! WotC release that many every year practically...and if we take d20 third parties into account its probably ten times that figure...my point being that WotC is a victim of its own success, they have already covered 95%+ of all the main topics, I'm not that excited about PnP 4E because virtually every book is going to be a case of deja vu.

3. Back then D&D didn't have the same amount of competition competing for peoples attentions...hence my reasoning to add some bling in the form of minis, cards and board tiles.

 

[Cam Banks]

1. The current incarnation of the game is a lot more daunting to new/casual gamers now, far more rules and far more component parts...the net result being that new and casual gamers are being scared away.

No, the new and casual gamer is spending their money on World of Warcraft and signing up with their friends' guilds, to play a game that requires not only more money spent but has just as much in the way of a learning curve to master as any PnP game once you get into it.

All versions of D&D have been daunting. It hasn't stopped them from being incredibly popular, and even though it has more rules and more component parts (ironic given what you want to add to it), it outsells all other games with lighter/fewer rules and parts.

4th edition players will buy the core books, they'll buy the sourcebooks that update their older books, and they'll play the new game because that's just what they do. They want to stay current. I know you aren't concerned about fragmenting the audience, since you're suggesting something just as if not more fragmentary as a new edition of PnP. So you're left with "fresh" and "easy to learn" which can be done just as well without the gimmicks.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[DeadlyUematsu]

While I agree that making D&D "fresh" and "easy to learn" is possible without gimmicks, packaging rules, miniatures/counters, board pieces, record cards, dice, and an adventure path in one box is just more convenient for new and casual players.

Still, if D&D did not go the "gameboard"-esque route, I would be fine with a Rules Cyclopedia setup (3E rules, pared down, improved upon, and free of any redundancies and lame character options, etc.) and an adventure path between two volumes.

 

[Ranger REG]

When ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS was at its most popular, there was no reason - none - to dilute the product by trying to make it a board game. A company that could count four million plus people who played their game must've gotten something right.

Um, just to refresh my thirtysomething-year-old memory, when was AD&D at its most popular?

 

[thedungeondelver]

Um, just to refresh my thirtysomething-year-old memory, when was AD&D at its most popular?

AD&D (first edition) peaked out in 1982 or 1983 if my memory of conversation with Frank Mentzer serves me.

 

[Ranger REG]

AD&D (first edition) peaked out in 1982 or 1983 if my memory of conversation with Frank Mentzer serves me.

Whew! For a moment there, I thought you were going to mention 2e.

 

[replicant2]

One thing that I'm not sure has been mentioned yet is the price. I thought the original poster mentioned that that the current cost of the three core books ($90) would equal 2-3 of these hypothetical box sets.

Considering the price of D&D minis, and the fact that Descent costs (I believe) $80 retail, I think the price would be very prohibitive. Especially if your plan is to get people to purchase multiple sets. And Descent's figures aren't even pre-painted.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

36 boxed sets?
36?
36!


Upper Krust, you're Bugaboo, right?

This is all just a fake idea to stir up people, right?

Do I win the thread by calling shenanigans?

((Apologies if you are not faking, but I'm done.))

 

[thedungeondelver]

36 boxed sets?
36?
36!


Upper Krust, you're Bugaboo, right?

This is all just a fake idea to stir up people, right?

Do I win the thread by calling shenanigans?

((Apologies if you are not faking, but I'm done.))

It's gotta be a wind up. It has got to be.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey Cam!

No, the new and casual gamer is spending their money on World of Warcraft and signing up with their friends' guilds, to play a game that requires not only more money spent but has just as much in the way of a learning curve to master as any PnP game once you get into it.

Yes but its also much more visceral than a PnP game.

All versions of D&D have been daunting. It hasn't stopped them from being incredibly popular, and even though it has more rules and more component parts (ironic given what you want to add to it), it outsells all other games with lighter/fewer rules and parts.

It sells more because of the brand name, not because its got the best mechanics.

I agree its always been daunting to an extent, but now its more daunting than before. Having more moving parts doesn't make it more 'fun'.

4th edition players will buy the core books, they'll buy the sourcebooks that update their older books, and they'll play the new game because that's just what they do. They want to stay current. I know you aren't concerned about fragmenting the audience, since you're suggesting something just as if not more fragmentary as a new edition of PnP. So you're left with "fresh" and "easy to learn" which can be done just as well without the gimmicks.

Obviously some will update with new sourcebooks, but I think it will a lot less than during the 3.5 era.