D&D 5E (2014) Dark Sun, problematic content, and 5E…

[lynnfredricks]

A claim that the 20% of the market that played D&D before 5e is more important than the tens of millions who picked it up in the past decade doesn't make sense

From a business perspective, that 20% may well be more important if they represent a larger amount of income than the 20%.

Those older buyers may not get the most use out of what they buy but, they have income to buy more.

But that's not to say millions that don't spend money aren't important, because the business can get value in ways that businesses do through a freemium model (like ShadowDark or Kevin Crawford's products being free for most of the rules people use).

 

[bedir than]

I didn't say they are more important, you said they weren't important at all.
Where are your numbers coming from?

They're rough approximates based on the conversations WotC's had about D&D's growth in the 5e era as shared in shareholder meetings.

And yes, I remain thinking that catering to a staunch, unchanging and unchangeable group that demands media never change is a marketing mistake. Those people already have the material they need.

The modern game and fiction should be built for the modern audience. There's a reason the game is more popular now than ever, and it's not because of people who haven't touched their Dark Sun books in three decades

 

[Paul Farquhar]

And yes, I remain thinking that catering to a staunch, unchanging and unchangeable group that demands media never change is a marketing mistake. Those people already have the material they need.

Not to mention that they are going to die off.

 

[Scribe]

There's a reason the game is more popular now than ever, and it's not because of people who haven't touched their Dark Sun books in three decades

And its not because of a pivot to Twee either.

Right time, right place. "We never thought 5e would take off like it did."

 

[bedir than]

And its not because of a pivot to Twee either.

Mostly cause this hasn't happend

 

[Scribe]

Mostly cause this hasn't happend

lol sure.

Anyway, we know the major touch points on why 5e took off, it has nothing to do with an appeal by Wizards to a 'new audience'.

 

[kayakingpoodle]

They're rough approximates based on the conversations WotC's had about D&D's growth in the 5e era as shared in shareholder meetings.

And yes, I remain thinking that catering to a staunch, unchanging and unchangeable group that demands media never change is a marketing mistake. Those people already have the material they need.

The modern game and fiction should be built for the modern audience. There's a reason the game is more popular now than ever, and it's not because of people who haven't touched their Dark Sun books in three decades

Good to know there is no room in D&D for certain groups of players based on selected criteria.
There are plenty of people that want Dark Sun that do not fit your narrow selection of people you choose to discriminate as unworthy to market to.

I am done with this discussion, good day.

 

[bedir than]

lol sure.

Anyway, we know the major touch points on why 5e took off, it has nothing to do with an appeal by Wizards to a 'new audience'.

Of the first 10 non-dice images in the 2024 PHB there's 1 that's 'twee.' there are nine that aren't, including a couple that are brutal.
Chapter two has 8 images that aren't icons. Zero are twee.
Chapter three has 14 icons and 29 other images. There are four of five twee bards and a single twee druid. No twee are anywhere else.

This so called "pivot to twee" isn't backed up by a survey of the art in the official books.

There may be a perception, because people tend to latch onto things they don't like in a way that makes it so a mind can't forget it. There's no real, actual pivot.

What we do know is that Stranger Things, Critical Role (and other actual plays), Ghosts, Magic tie-ins, the D&D movie helped 5e surge. None of these things were embraced by unchanging traditionalists. All welcomed new players to the table in a way that this hobby has traditionally struggled with.

 

[king of the ceaders]

Not to mention that they are going to die off.

How compassionate and caring of you, this methodology applies to every customer regardless of age you know?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

How compassionate and caring of you, this methodology applies to every customer regardless of age you know?

Yeah, that’s why you need to keep recruiting new younger customers.