Gateways into D&D

[MerricB]

Following up on a comment of Mouseferatu's in the Are you doing your part to destroy the industry? thread:

As I see it, Wizards currently has the following "gateway" products into D&D, or is planning to have them soon:

* D&D Basic Game (3.5e)
* D&D Miniatures Starter
* D&D for Dummies

2006 is the year of transitional elements with:

* Dungeon Mastering for Dummies
* D&D Player's Kit

Has anyone witnessed play of the D&D Basic Game amongst utter newbies? (I've run the adventure in it twice, and had great fun both times, but there's a big difference between me running it and a newbie running it).

Has anyone seen people's reactions to D&D for Dummies?

I do know that some people have come to D&D through the Miniatures game.

What else could be done?

Cheers!

 

[Jdvn1]

diaglo has used D&D for Dummies, but he apparently hasn't gotten as much use out of it as his players have.

At the Worldwide D&D Game Day at the WotC headquarters, there were quite a few copies of it floating around, too.

I think the Races of... books are really good to introduce races to new players.

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Something that might take more of a budget than WotC or Hasbro are willing to sink into this, but how about spinning a TV series off of the second D&D movie? It certainly was "D&Dish" enough in my opinion, even if some of the wooden acting would have to be smoothed over, and it might get youngsters into the game, trying to create their own adventures like what they saw on TV. Or does that sound too silly to work?

 

[rbrt_spade]

Personaly I think that the basic games are a waste of money. Its just more easy to teach players the basics of dnd. You can takes them skills,feats,about the classes/races. I would just teach them the basics of combat, aoos,attack rolls and the like.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

The D&D minis seem to be what is pulling in the younger kids in my area-they usually play that then buy the basic set. I would love to see WOTC do an Expert set for the kids so they wouldn't have to immediately shell out $100 for the core books so soon.

If more librarys would get the D&D gateway through the Public Library program going I think we'd see a real boom...

 

[MerricB]

Personaly I think that the basic games are a waste of money. Its just more easy to teach players the basics of dnd. You can takes them skills,feats,about the classes/races. I would just teach them the basics of combat, aoos,attack rolls and the like.

Basic Games are there for people who have never played before and have no-one to teach them.

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

Something that might take more of a budget than WotC or Hasbro are willing to sink into this, but how about spinning a TV series off of the second D&D movie? It certainly was "D&Dish" enough in my opinion, even if some of the wooden acting would have to be smoothed over, and it might get youngsters into the game, trying to create their own adventures like what they saw on TV. Or does that sound too silly to work?

There was a Forgotten Realms D&D series "in production", but I think it didn't make it to reality.

I don't think Wizards/Hasbro controls the rights for the "D&D" name in movies, and possibly not in television as well.

Cheers!

 

[deClench]

I'd be willing to bet that the old D&D cartoon introduced a lot of kids to gaming: it at least helped me get into the game. I think that would do so much more to bring new players in.

Now the D&D for Dummies book is a start and I hope it does well, but how many kids will stumble across it? A few for sure, but it'll likely be for those that already have an idea of what the game is and are looking to get in deeper. Again, that's great, but how do you get those kids that have never heard of RPGs before? Crossover with something they already love. What better advertisement than a half-hour serial on Cartoon Network?

It may not be worth the investment in the long run, but I would certainly watch it... of course I'm already buying product.

 

[MerricB]

The D&D minis seem to be what is pulling in the younger kids in my area-they usually play that then buy the basic set. I would love to see WOTC do an Expert set for the kids so they wouldn't have to immediately shell out $100 for the core books so soon.

The D&D Player's Kit may well be intended for that use.

Arggh! Why did Charles Ryan get the sack? I could have asked him!

Cheers!

 

[deClench]

There was a Forgotten Realms D&D series "in production", but I think it didn't make it to reality.

I don't think Wizards/Hasbro controls the rights for the "D&D" name in movies, and possibly not in television as well.

Cheers!

That may make my suggestion a moot point then. Darn.