D&D General Has 5e become noise?

[Micah Sweet]

Are we talking about WotC official material only? Or also including 5e-compatible third party publisher (3PP) content?

There really isn't that much WotC official content coming out to call it anywhere near a "constant barrage" so I'd assume you're lumping all 3PP content together as "5e". There's no way anyone can follow all the 3PP 5e content but having 5e-compatibility is still very attractive (required?) if you want any sort of reasonable sales on your product. I use a bunch of 3PP content but anything that isn't 5e-compatible is an instant pass for me, so I certainly wouldn't call the 5e label "noise", it's very much the opposite

So you have no interest in the hobby or the industry beyond 5e?

 

[Micah Sweet]

At the same time it does not really matter what one individual does, there are constantly people entering and leaving D&D, what matters is the aggregate.

Matters in what sense? Is this discussion actually about profit? Because I can't see a person's opinion not mattering otherwise.

 

[mamba]

Matters in what sense? Is this discussion actually about profit? Because I can't see a person's opinion not mattering otherwise.

Yes, it is about general interest, and a good measure of that is profit (or at least revenue). The question

Have we passed peak 5e?

is not about a single person, it necessarily is about the aggregate / general interest

 

[jayoungr]

With the fragmentation of the market after the OGL debacle, I think you'll be seeing the number of 5E products taper off, at least somewhat.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yes, it is about general interest, and a good measure of that is profit (or at least revenue). The question


is not about a single person, it necessarily is about the aggregate / general interest

General interest and profits are two different things.

 

[Desdichado]

I doubt my experience is representative, but I don't really care what mechanics a module or setting or campaign has. I don't run 5e, although I do play in a game of it. I readily read modules in 5e, 3e, OSR, Pathfinder 1e or 2e, DCC or even WFRP and if I like it enough to run, adapt or loot it, I do. But I don't really care very much what mechanics its written for.

 

[Dire Bare]

It's been 11 years of this--what's changing in a few more months?

It's just anecdotal . . . but I feel the same way. There has certainly been a lot of 5E material put out all the way back to 2014, but relatively recently there feels like an uptick. I mostly notice this on Kickstarter, where there are a LOT of 5E projects constantly churning through.

I do play 5E, it's my game of choice. But I've also found myself a bit exhausted at the volume of 5E products being made available. Is it truly more than before? Or has the marketing gotten "better" so it's feels constantly in my face?

Most of the projects I click on seem to be successfully meeting their crowdfunding goals. There seems to be a lot of "slop", mediocre quality projects that don't seem all that different from other projects, but there also seems to be an increase in interesting, different, and high-quality projects, often by a wider variety of creators that have been available to the American market before. Some really good stuff coming out of France and Italy, and other corners of the globe.

Is this good or bad? A mix of both, IMO. A lot more slop to wade through, hence the "exhaustion" as a consumer. But a lot more gems within the slop too. Although, it can sometimes be hard to judge until after you've pledged towards a crowdfunder, and received your books, of course.

I haven't stopped backing or purchasing 5E compatible game books . . . but I've become a lot more wary and careful in considering which projects to back, or which products to buy.

 

[mamba]

General interest and profits are two different things.

I am not so sure about that…

 

[Morrus]

It's just anecdotal . . . but I feel the same way. There has certainly been a lot of 5E material put out all the way back to 2014, but relatively recently there feels like an uptick. I mostly notice this on Kickstarter, where there are a LOT of 5E projects constantly churning through.

There’s actually been a big drop since 2024 was announced. The peak was just after Covid.

 

[Dire Bare]

There’s actually been a big drop since 2024 was announced. The peak was just after Covid.

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Wow!

Maybe it's just an increase in marketing then . . . or maybe my exhaustion is catching up with me since 2023 or so . . .