D&D 5E D&D Next weekly art column!

[Hussar]

Not going to disagree with you at all. In fact I agree completely when it comes to game product, but there's a whole lot more to D&D than just game product.

Question for you...
Would you be more inclined to by a t-shirt with a really cool fantasy image on it that had a big D&D logo splashed across it, or a stylized mark (like the swoosh) that gives a secret handshake to the informed, but just looks cool to Mr. John Q. Public?

To some, it makes no difference, to others, they want that "secret handshake".

There are a whole lot more media uses where a mark would be more useful (from a technical standpoint) than the full D&D logo.

So yeah, I agree, I'd never lose the D&D logo on the product - especially for portal products, but other brand experiences? Maybe. Just depends on what makes sense.

Heh, I was thinking about this thread this morning, thought of exactly this and it's nice to know that I'm not totally off base.

BTW, Jon, thanks a bunch for injecting actual knowledge into the thread. I freely admit that I'm just pontificating from my nether regions 'cos I really don't know what I'm talking about. This has been really interesting and informative. ((And, I can't posrep you again so soon.))

Another interesting take on fantasy art can be found on the SF signal Podcast - Episode 110. There are some very familiar names on the panel - Erik Mona and Paul S. Kemp to name a couple. They've got a very, very good birds eye view on fantasy art, with a pretty strong bent on RPG art in general.

 

[Klaus]

Not going to disagree with you at all. In fact I agree completely when it comes to game product, but there's a whole lot more to D&D than just game product.

Question for you...
Would you be more inclined to by a t-shirt with a really cool fantasy image on it that had a big D&D logo splashed across it, or a stylized mark (like the swoosh) that gives a secret handshake to the informed, but just looks cool to Mr. John Q. Public?

To some, it makes no difference, to others, they want that "secret handshake".

There are a whole lot more media uses where a mark would be more useful (from a technical standpoint) than the full D&D logo.

So yeah, I agree, I'd never lose the D&D logo on the product - especially for portal products, but other brand experiences? Maybe. Just depends on what makes sense.

Great strategic thinking.

Hmmm... "Gamer chic" apparel, with just *the* dragon ampersand...

:scratches chin:

 

[Kaodi]

...I can haz secret handshake now?

 

[Klaus]

New article is up, and folks are discussing it here: http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-horizons-upcoming-edition-d-d/319696-consume-engage-cherish.html

 

[Scribble]

There are a whole lot more media uses where a mark would be more useful (from a technical standpoint) than the full D&D logo.

So yeah, I agree, I'd never lose the D&D logo on the product - especially for portal products, but other brand experiences? Maybe. Just depends on what makes sense.

Like with Google's Android OS.

I'm an Android user/fan, and I love the fact that I can go to the store and buy a little Android toy of their pictorial mark. (Even in all kinds of different outfits!)

I would love to be able to do that for D&D, but I wouldn't really just buy a copy of the wordmark...

 

[Jon Schindehette]

A new article goes live today. This one is about the Consume, Engage and Cherish motivations in D&D.

Based on the comments already flooding the D&D website, Everyone seems to be in agreement (overall) that core books are about consumption for the most part. What do you see as a product that might fulfill your "cherish" motivations. Myself, I want a really fun and cool vinyl of the ultimate orc, dragon or beholder. You?

And what would be your ultimate "engage" experience? I'd be into a D&D themed roller coaster...

 

[Scribble]

I'd be into a D&D themed roller coaster...

Man we all know what happens when we get on one of those...

 

[Yora]

Question for you...
Would you be more inclined to by a t-shirt with a really cool fantasy image on it that had a big D&D logo splashed across it, or a stylized mark (like the swoosh) that gives a secret handshake to the informed, but just looks cool to Mr. John Q. Public?

To some, it makes no difference, to others, they want that "secret handshake".

There are a whole lot more media uses where a mark would be more useful (from a technical standpoint) than the full D&D logo.

So yeah, I agree, I'd never lose the D&D logo on the product - especially for portal products, but other brand experiences? Maybe. Just depends on what makes sense.

It's a valid point, but personally, I don't think D&D is a big enough brand to make it work. Take the other really huge "geek culture" franchises: Star Wars, Star Trek, or even Lord of the Rings if you want. Not even those can really be represented by a symbol. Sometimes people use symbols from Star Trek or Star Wars, that are only recognized by other fans, but I think it's a different thing.
I don't know of any case in which entertainment franchises or brands had such iconic symbols like Nike or Pepsi. There is no Final Fantasy symbol, no Halo symbol, and no Pokemon symbol. There is a Transformers-symbol though.
Not to say it can't be done. Maybe just nobody really tried to do it. But I think attempting it for D&D seems like a very long shot. Don't see any harm in trying, though.

 

[Sunseeker]

Like with Google's Android OS.

I'm an Android user/fan, and I love the fact that I can go to the store and buy a little Android toy of their pictorial mark. (Even in all kinds of different outfits!)

I would love to be able to do that for D&D, but I wouldn't really just buy a copy of the wordmark...

Well, assuming that their product was more readily available(there are probably twice as many wireless sales stores as there are bookstores and gaming stores combined in my city), considerably more portable, required for many aspects of daily life, incredibly cheaper over both the short and long term, and gave you all sorts of free stuff they'd tricked you into thinking you wanted while only making you pay for a few, but very useful items, Wizards would probably have broken into just about every market pertaining to gaming known to mankind, and possibly invented a few new ones.

Dungeons and Dragons action figures! Dungeons and Dragons cereal! Dungeons and Dragons toilet paper! Dungeons and Dragons the flamethrower!

 

[Dausuul]

Based on the comments already flooding the D&D website, Everyone seems to be in agreement (overall) that core books are about consumption for the most part.

I'd be wary of taking that "core books are about consumption" at face value. Remember that your sample consists overwhelmingly of existing players--and not just existing players, but those engaged enough to hang out on the Wizards website.

Sure, when I pick up a core book, consumption is the main thing for me. But I've been playing this game for 25 years across four editions. When I was new to D&D, I didn't care about the nitty gritty of the mechanics--why would I? What I cared about was that I could be a mighty necromancer and raise armies of undead to take over the world*.

Getting players over the formidable hurdle of learning the rules, even the stripped-down BD&D rules, requires getting them excited about the game before they have the rules down. That's engagement, not consumption. And even now, while consumption is my first goal with a new PHB, engagement improves the experience over the long haul.

[SIZE=-2]*Actually, that's still what I care about. It irks me that neither of the last two editions has supported this concept. 3E lets you raise enough undead to take over a Wal-Mart. 4E doesn't even give you that much. Gnrr.[/SIZE]