D&D 5E Dungeonscape no more?

[Umbran]

We're clearly not being told something.

Nor should we expect to be told everything. We are fans and consumers, not business partners. We don't get to know the details. There is nothing sinister about that.

 

[Umbran]

The best case scenario isn't all that bad--it's quite possible that WotC has open-ish licensing plans which render exclusive agreements untenable. Which could explain, perhaps, why Trapdoor continues to have plans for Dungeonscape.

This occurred to me as well. The statement is that TT and WotC would not be working *together*. It sounds a bit like WotC has decided to stop funding development, but isn't *disallowing* development. So, they need a new source of funds...

Edit: Except, stupid me, they say that it was internally funded.

 

[Thaumaturge]

This occurred to me as well. The statement is that TT and WotC would not be working *together*. It sounds a bit like WotC has decided to stop funding development, but isn't *disallowing* development. So, they need a new source of funds...

That's possible. But from their twitter:

@sixcupsofcoffee As far as we know, there are no in-app D&D book purchases. Safe to buy books. We will not be selling D&D products.

That could mean nothing specifically D&D branded (so "5e-compatible" or some such), but a plain reading seems to be that they are on to other things.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Nebulous]

This is a sudden change.

Or, I should say I surmise it was. I was only accepted *into* the beta on October 27th - so the process of accepting people in was still running a couple of days ago.

Huh. That's interesting. That must have been a very, very disappointing and jarring conference call with Trapdoor.

 

[Umbran]

That's possible.

No, it isn't, at least not as I said it. I had forgotten for a moment that they said it was *internally* funded.

So, maybe they ran through those internal funds, and WotC refused to pony up more?

 

[Gargoyle]

This occurred to me as well. The statement is that TT and WotC would not be working *together*. It sounds a bit like WotC has decided to stop funding development, but isn't *disallowing* development. So, they need a new source of funds...

Except, stupid me, they say that it was internally funded. So, it really is a licensing issue, not a funding one.

Holy crap. Umbran made a mistake. So you are human after all.

 

[Thaumaturge]

It's a sudden change from our perspective, on the outside, but WotC has been sitting on the app for weeks. Trapdoor mentioned at least a couple of times that they were waiting for final approval from WotC to release it to the App Store. This was building for a time, for whatever reason.

Trapdoor could have suspected something was coming, but kept inviting people just in case things worked out. Or they could have been blind-sided, which would stink.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Mercurius]

All that we really know from those two letters is:

1. Wizards "ended the relationship."
2. Trapdoor, and presumably Dungeonscape in some shape or form, will continue in some form or another ("there is a future").

What we don't know is why. If what [MENTION=1927]Thaumaturge[/MENTION] says is true, that Trapdoor was waiting on WotC's final approval to release the app, then it seems that the final product was more complete than it sounds based upon people's experience with the beta, and that it is likely--or at least possible--that WotC simply didn't like what they saw, or didn't want to be associated with it, or have a "better" option.

What I hope this means is that WotC finally nailed down their license and that it is rather open, so they'd essentially be saying to Trapdoor, "Nice product, but you'll have to do it yourself under our new license."

I sincerely hope that Trapdoor isn't completely left in the lurch, because I imagine that a lot of time and money was put into this project.

 

[mcbobbo]

Nor should we expect to be told everything. We are fans and consumers, not business partners. We don't get to know the details. There is nothing sinister about that.

Tell me nothing, that's fine. Tell me something that makes no sense and you're essentially just noise in my ears. It should be okay for me to complain about the noise.

 

[halfling rogue]

I've seen folks elsewhere automatically write off 5e because of this. Aside from being knee-jerk, if you are basing your entire D&D gaming experience (DMing or Playing) on an e-tools app, then you are doing it wrong.