D&D has been cancelled (speculation).

[M.L. Martin]

Where are you getting this information on Dragon magazine from, I thought the magazine was doing good for Paizo when they were publishing it in a print format.

The published circulation figures--in the last full year before the cancellation, circulation dropped from about 50,000 to about 40,000.

 

[Ahrimon]

The published circulation figures--in the last full year before the cancellation, circulation dropped from about 50,000 to about 40,000.

Sounds like the numbers dropped after they announced a new edition. Can't say that I'm surprised.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Sounds like the numbers dropped after they announced a new edition. Can't say that I'm surprised.

I should have been clearer. The figures were published in the January 2006 and January 2007 issues. Thus, they cover the span from late 2004/early 2005 (depending on the lead time) to sometime near the end of 2006--long before 4E was announced.

EDIT: Although the figures given are either the averages over the two time periods ('2005' and '2006', for simplicity's sake) or the last month they had figures for in each year, so they match up to charting the change over one year.

 

[Dal Thrax]

I would love to know how this magic man knows the inner workings of Wizards' deal with Hasbro.

Somebody leaked the details of the deal over on RPG.Net. Since this is rumor the thread gets the tag speculation. Though I will say, given many years as a gamer, the vast number of people looking to make excuses for observable data is also a good sign that the game is dead. The rabid fans always get the memo that a game is canceled about six months after it stops publishing. But hey, maybe talk and wishing can change observed business realities.

 

[Dal Thrax]

Um, What? Which drug-adled delusion told you this? And revert to who, exactly?

Edit - I take that back. It would need to be an individual reverter or one in favor of some new company.

While WotC Inc ceased to exist in 2009: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/search_detail.aspx?ubi=601263810

WotC LLC is doing just fine: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/search_detail.aspx?ubi=602895509

My guess is that if there is a reverter, it probably runs in favor of the old Garfield Games shell company.

 

[The Little Raven]

Somebody leaked the details of the deal over on RPG.Net.

...because nobody on an internet forum ever talked out of their ass before?

Instead of just "somebody," how about you actually source this claim so it becomes more than just third-hand internet rumor?

 

[xechnao]

Edit - I take that back. It would need to be an individual reverter or one in favor of some new company.

While WotC Inc ceased to exist in 2009: Corporations: Registration Detail

WotC LLC is doing just fine: Corporations: Registration Detail

My guess is that if there is a reverter, it probably runs in favor of the old Garfield Games shell company.

Why? Couldn't it be possible that Wotc LLC represents all the rights and obligations of Wotc Inc??

 

[moxcamel]

Well, it's a complicated situation legally but as it works out the license will actually revert to... me.

Don't worry, I intend to treasure D&D as I turn it into the kid-friendly manga-based CCG it was always meant to be!

I for one welcome our new intellectual property overlord.

 

[malraux]

Edit - I take that back. It would need to be an individual reverter or one in favor of some new company.

While WotC Inc ceased to exist in 2009: Corporations: Registration Detail

WotC LLC is doing just fine: Corporations: Registration Detail

My guess is that if there is a reverter, it probably runs in favor of the old Garfield Games shell company.

What the hell does restructuring a company's incorporation have to do with anything?

 

[Nyronus]

Of course! It all makes sense now! The Copyright reversion! The Incompetence and the Corporate evil! The death of 4th Edition! The end of DnD! Yes!

This entire edition, its three year run, have all been a long running gambit by Vecna to obtain the DnD license. He slowly used Orcus to take over WotC (Remember what the code name for 4th Edition was called? Eh? Eh?), and then began to invest in the company and make backroom deals with Hasbro. First, Orcus builds up 4th Edition, and then, once its regained a foot-hold, slowly dismantles it from the inside. Unable to handle the loss, WotC and Hasbro are forced to liquidate the DnD line... right into the hands of its richest shareholder and the infamous rights reverter. Vecna, now owning all DnD related IP, gains full control of it and all of its worlds.

Don't you all get it? 4th Edition is all been a gambit by Vecna to become an Overgod!

My god... it's so... perfect...

-

(And this still makes more sense than 90% of the chicken little crap on the internet.)