Forked Thread: should wotc make a board/minis game to market in toy stores?

[RFisher]

I would not buy it. I’m not really interested in hybrids. I’d rather play a regular RPG or a regular board/card game.

As much as I’ve wanted to get into minis either for straight mini games or for use with RPGs, it just hasn’t worked for me.

And—because of those reasons—when I want to introduce someone to RPGs, I don’t want to do it through minis or a board game.

 

[El Mahdi]

Yup! I'd buy it for me, for my nieces and nephews, and possibly even to get my parents and mother-in-law introduced into D&D. I'd give it as gifts to others also. I think it would be an awesome idea.

 

[jephlewis]

Nope, no interest. I don't play a lot of boardgames anymore, and the ones I have are fine by me.

Would I be correct in understanding this as "I would NOT buy it to use as a board game? What would it take for something like this to appeal to you, buy, and play as a board game?

I certainly wouldn't pick it up just because it was D&D related -- nowadays that is not a selling point for me.

Do you feel that it would NOT add to the D&D pnp tabletop game, nor would it aid in bringing in new D&D players, nor would it be easier for new D&D players to understand [quick start rules vs. a three hundred page rulebook]?

And if I were to introduce people to rpgs, I would use other, simpler systems (Spirit of the Century, FUDGE, Over The Edge, NWoD) rather than a board game that does not directly relate to rpgs in general.
Nope, no need, no use, no desire.

The goal of this product wouldn't be to introduce people to rpg's, but to D&D specifically [through toy and department stores, not book stores]; stripped down 'quick start' rules and multiple 'hands on interactive' elements so they could understand and play D&D quickly. How is it that this board game would 'not directly relate to rpgs in general' if it used the same exact quick start rules as keep on the shadowfell and the starter set?

I don't spend a whole lot of time playing board or wargames these days. I don't feel a need for another one. Maybe if it turns out to be a spectacular game, but I wouldn't be holding my breath.

What would make it spectacular?
Also, do you think something like this would be able to reach new players through the toy stores so long as it was just the quick start rules?
Do you think something like this would be a decent buy for D&D players just for the accessories?

Heroscape is not really what I'm thinking of, because it's not D&D. What would make a D&D collectible board game neat?
1) Boards that double as RPG battlemats.

I like this! Personally, I'd prefer modular dungeon tiles.

2) Constructable three dimensional elements.

Yes; This would be what separates it from descent.

3) Some "Euro" qualities, including a way to play with purer strategic focus (even if you blow dice rolls), and no player elimination.

I'd rather they use the exact same rules as 4E, to aid in teaching new players.

4) Actions other than combat.

In a rules light, 4E board game?

5) This is the big one -- intelligent use of the D&D brand. That's the tricky part. D&D has this odd combination of recognition and mass market disdain.

Would you define 'intelligent use of the D&D brand' as "successfully marketing D&D to families and other people who wouldn't normally plow through a three hundred page rulebook"?

They already did this...
Dungeons and Dragons: Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games
Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Boardgame - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dungeons and Dragons
Now the problem was that Hasbro/WotC decided not to release the game in the U.S.... Would I have bought numerous copies of this and the expansions for my son as well as my nephews...yep, but WotC made it too hard to find in the U.S. I felt they really dropped the ball on that one.

This particular game is under 'inspiration' in my OP, as well as several others. Also, weren't the rules different from 3.x D&D?

I would not buy it. I’m not really interested in hybrids. I’d rather play a regular RPG or a regular board/card game.
As much as I’ve wanted to get into minis either for straight mini games or for use with RPGs, it just hasn’t worked for me.
And—because of those reasons—when I want to introduce someone to RPGs, I don’t want to do it through minis or a board game.

Currently, people can buy dungeon tiles, power cards [releasing next year], and minis for their tabletop game. I'm assuming that you don't think 4E is a hybrid; if you DO think 4E is currently a hybrid, please ignore the rest of this...
The main items added in this board game would be
a)multiple 'accessories' in one big box instead of buying them separately
b)additional 3d and 2d items to make the game more interactive, easier, and faster to learn.
c)the same quick start rules as what is in keep on the shadowfell and the starter set instead of a player's handbook
At what point does it become a hybrid? What makes it a hybrid? What must be removed to make it no longer a hybrid?
What if you wanted to introduce someone to D&D specifically? Do you think that a game like this would aid or impede someone learning the basics of 4ED&D?

 

[Dice4Hire]

I would not buy it.

For several reasons.

1. I like to play D&D, generally not boardgames

2. This game sounds like it would have a steep learning curve, especially if you seriously though t of using the 4E rules in it. Most people would only want 4-6 numbers on any given card.

3. How would this lead people to 4E? Or D&D in general?

 

[jephlewis]

I would not buy it.

Fair enough.

For several reasons.
1. I like to play D&D, generally not boardgames

Alright. When you play D&D, do you use any physical accessories such as dungeon tiles, minis, or anything to keep track of pc's abilities such as cards? If you do, would you like an option to buy a whole bunch of said accessories in one package?

2. This game sounds like it would have a steep learning curve, especially if you seriously though t of using the 4E rules in it. Most people would only want 4-6 numbers on any given card.

It would be the same quick start rules as what's in keep on the shadowfell and the new starter set; pre gen characters, very limited lists of abilities/powers/feats.
Do you feel the new starter set [and keep on the shadowfell] have a steep learning curve? what could wotc have done to make 4E easier and faster to learn?

3. How would this lead people to 4E? Or D&D in general?

1.For the MOST part, D&D, when sold in a physical location [NOT amazon, nor any other place on the net] is sold in bookstores

2.The idea behind the board game would be to sell D&D in toy stores, wal mart, target, kmart, etc...wherever board games are sold, thus increasing exposure, specifically to families looking for a fantasy board game much in the same vein as the fantasy board games I listed in my OP under 'inspiration'.

3.as a board game, it's fairly complete [see OP for specifics]; as a tabletop rpg, it's more complete than the new starter set and keep on the shadowfell, but would lack character creation rules and many options available in 4E. it's an 'introduction', not the whole shebang, again, just like the starter set or keep on the shadowfell, only with more components. To restate, something like this would attempt to further fulfill the idea behind the starter set and keep on the shadowfell; market to new players.

4.People who wouldn't 'normally' pick up D&D because it's a 'book game' MIGHT pick up the board game, even though the board game uses the quick start rules and pre gens.

5. the core books would be advertised in the board game as giving more options; theoretically, SOME of the people who bought the board game MAY buy the core books for more options in the board game

6.so, it would work something like this [ideally]: people who wouldn't normally buy a book rpg buy the board game, some like it, and some of those buy the core rules and become book gamers. Other people would buy it for the components to use in their book game, still others would buy it to introduce others to D&D; again, IDEALLY, different people would buy it for different, sometimes multiple reasons.

How do you think wotc could reach out to new people for 4E? What should they make to introduce people to 4E?

 

[CleverNickName]

Nope, I am not/would not be interested. In fact, lately I've been trying to get back to my pencil & graph paper roots.

 

[eyebeams]

I think these protests kind of miss the point that marketing a boardgame to teach D&D would just make it a bad boardgame. I'd rather have a good boardgame with physical and new rules elements I can port to D&D.

 

[SteveC]

They already did this...

Dungeons and Dragons: Amazon.co.uk: Toys & Games

Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Adventure Boardgame - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dungeons and Dragons

Now the problem was that Hasbro/WotC decided not to release the game in the U.S.... Would I have bought numerous copies of this and the expansions for my son as well as my nephews...yep, but WotC made it too hard to find in the U.S. I felt they really dropped the ball on that one.

I picked up this game and both expansions in my trips over to London. Lots of fun. There were two problems: it had very limited replayability, and characters became too powerful if you let them keep their stuff between adventures.

A game like Warhammer Quest released for D&D would be fantastic as far as I'm concerned. I'd be in for more than one copy, I'm sure.

--Steve

 

[jephlewis]

Nope, I am not/would not be interested. In fact, lately I've been trying to get back to my pencil & graph paper roots.

Nothing wrong with that. A question, though; what do you think of the new 4E starter set and keep on the shadowfell? Do you think the starter set is 'good at' introducing new people to 4E D&D? Same question concerning keep on the shadowfell.
What products do you think wotc should make to get new people in the game?

I think these protests kind of miss the point that marketing a boardgame to teach D&D would just make it a bad boardgame. I'd rather have a good boardgame with physical and new rules elements I can port to D&D.

What do you think of the games listed in my OP under 'inspiration'? Which games do you think have good new rules elements that can be ported to D&D? What physical elements from those games listed do you/would you use for D&D? If wotc made some of these physical elements for 4E, would you buy them? what about if wotc made a whole bunch of these physical elements available in one package?

With respect to 'teaching D&D', what do you think of the 4E starter set? Keep on the shadowfell?
What product could make 4E more enticing for new players, and at the same time, something that people already playing 4E would want?

I picked up this game and both expansions in my trips over to London. Lots of fun. There were two problems: it had very limited replayability, and characters became too powerful if you let them keep their stuff between adventures.
A game like Warhammer Quest released for D&D would be fantastic as far as I'm concerned. I'd be in for more than one copy, I'm sure.
--Steve

Were the rules the same as 3.x?
Also, in what ways would you want the game to be like warhammer quest for you to buy more than one copy?
What ways would the game have to be DIFFERENT compared to my OP for you to like/want to buy it?

 

[CleverNickName]

Nothing wrong with that. A question, though; what do you think of the new 4E starter set and keep on the shadowfell? Do you think the starter set is 'good at' introducing new people to 4E D&D? Same question concerning keep on the shadowfell.

What products do you think wotc should make to get new people in the game?

I don't particularly care for 4th Edition, so maybe I'm not the right person to ask. But my personal preference aside, 4E is a good game. The rules are simpler than 3.5E, and there is a definitive "retro" feel to it. It just has a bit too much "zowie" for my tastes.

So as for the 4E starter set and Keep on the Shadowfell, they did not entice me to start buying new books. But I hardly speak for the entire gaming population...plenty of people love the new edition. I think the new product line alone is good enough at introducing new people to the game.

If it isn't, then WotC would need to rebuild the game, not dress it in different clothes.