WotC Hasbro Bets Big on D&D

payn · Dec 9, 2022

MNblockhead said:
Personally, I hope that they don't make it system neutral. I want a VTT fully customized for DnD that finally makes the more cumbersome elements of the came, such as applying area of effect damage, tracking conditions, etc. automated and simple. I'll always have Foundry for other games. The only think that would get me to buy into the WotC VTT, no matter how impressive the special effects, is if it makes my job as a DM easy. The only way to make it as easy as I want to it to be laser focused on the DnD system.

Shouldn't be hard, I mean, PF2 is a bit more complicated and its absolutely nailed on Foundry.

pogre · Dec 9, 2022

I run D&D weekly on a tabletop. It's my preference because I love miniatures, terrain, and getting energy back from a live game. I can handle a big group at the table.

I run other RPGs (currently DCC) remotely. I use it because I love connecting with my brother on the other side of the country, friends who are a distance away, and my sons who are away at school.

Both methods are better fits for me in different situations. While I prefer in-person, I would never suggest remote play on a VTT is inferior or less rewarding for people who prefer to play that way.

I love spending money on my hobbies. If I was totally into VTT gaming I think I would welcome the opportunity to upgrade my experience. I think I would be excited by this investment from Hasbro.

I am a cheapskate when it comes to online gaming - only use free stuff. While I spend outrageous money on stupid accessories for my in-person tabletop game. Just different priorities...

payn · Dec 9, 2022

Alzrius said:
In terms of the entire RPG community? Sure. In terms of the D&D community? I'm less convinced. I mean, there'll certainly be people who don't go in for a more-expensive, more-bells-and-whistles VTT, or who don't go for a VTT at all, but if things keep trending younger and more plugged-in (the way we keep being told they are), then as far as D&D goes, that has the potential to become what people think of as the standard D&D experience.

I think the standard D&D experience is already so far from where it started. You cant stop progress, although its encouraging to see so many folks playing the older editions and fantasy heartbreakers. I dont think that experience is ever going to settle (or go away). It's more like a pendulum swinging back and forth over a myriad of styles in time.

Scribe · Dec 9, 2022

Clint_L said:
I'm not quite understanding all of the hostility towards Hasbro wanting to make money from D&D.

See the flavour text here? Simply replace "power" with "profit" and "izzet mages" with "Hazbro executives". People understand the need for profits. There is a point where the methods to gain EVER MORE profits, is exploitive and harms the game/players.

Incenjucar · Dec 9, 2022

VTTs are also just necessary for so many people. Between the plague, the difficulty of finding people to play with, friends moving away, comfortable play space, physical and psychological barriers, cost... VTT lets a lot more people play safely and comfortably than otherwise. In person is great, I love it, and it should always be an option, but virtual is extremely important.

R_J_K75 · Dec 9, 2022

Leaning heavily on D&D Beyond
Excited about D&D Beyond possibilities
Start future monetization starting with D&D Beyond
Speed of digital can expand, yearly book model to include current digital style models.

I certainly hope that I am wrong, but this seems like they are going to push D&DB to the max, with digital subscription-based exclusives, etc. I hope they don't try too hard to get people to use the program if they don't want to. I would hate if this doesn't indicate that we'll see fewer and fewer physical products in the years to come.

- New books and accessories, licensed game stuff, and D&D Beyond
..."Hey, did we mention D&D Beyond"?...

Scribe · Dec 9, 2022

R_J_K75 said:
Leaning heavily on D&D Beyond

Excited about D&D Beyond possibilities

Start future monetization starting with D&D Beyond

Speed of digital can expand, yearly book model to include current digital style models.

I certainly hope that I am wrong, but this seems like they are going to push D&DB to the max, with digital subscription-based exclusives, etc. I hope they don't try too hard to get people to use the program if they don't want to. I would hate if this doesn't indicate that we'll see fewer and fewer physical products in the years to come.

- New books and accessories, licensed game stuff, and D&D Beyond
..."Hey, did we mention D&D Beyond"?...

Ahem.

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Over on D&D Beyond you can grab a copy of Dragonlance Creatures, the second digital official Monstrous Compendium volume. This volume includes entries from the original Dragonlance Chronicles storyline of the 1980s, such as Dragon Highlord Verminaard (at CR 17!) and his dragon, Ember, along with...

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LuisCarlos17f · Dec 9, 2022

Maybe it sounds ridiculous, but videogame studios could start to create VTTs with figures and scenaries based in their own franchises. I guess the VTTs don't need a powerful software to work.

My suggestion fot D&D-One is the miniatures can be used in other videogames. For example if you have got the pack of the halflings from valley of happy pony you can use them as miniatures in the VTT, but also the pack can be used in a D&D survival-farming-life simulation videogame.

* My opinion is there reasons for a opened door for the return of Gamma World. It is perfect to sell action figures of post-apocalyptic mutant road-warriors with animal heads, something like mixing Mad Max and Teenage-Ninja-Mutant-Turtles. A family-friendly version of Mad Max. But I suggest the setting places in a fictional world to avoid potential troubles of the style Donald Biden as boss of the bad guys, for example.

Didn't these character appear in the videogame of Mutant Year Zero?

Star Frontiers isn't in the path of return if Hasbro hopes to earn more with Star Wars or Star Trek.

* Some almost forgotten Hasbro franchises could be reskinned to be added to the M:tG+D&D multiverse, for example a mash-up (dieselpunk) version of M.A.S.K within the world of Kaladesh.

Oofta · Dec 9, 2022

Scribe said:
See the flavour text here? Simply replace "power" with "profit" and "izzet mages" with "Hazbro executives". People understand the need for profits. There is a point where the methods to gain EVER MORE profits, is exploitive and harms the game/players.

So ... companies are bad because they want to make money? Any company that wants to make money will automatically gouge their customers, bilking them for all their worth?

D&D is an incredibly cheap hobby. I'm sure they're working on ways to give people that want to spend more options to do so. But you can still download the completely free rules. The core rulebooks and a DM screen goes for $85 on Amazon.

We're not talking something you have to purchase like food, gas or rent. It's a hobby. Don't want to buy any more books? Stop buying books. Done. You can still game to your heart's content. Want to buy something WOTC also sells that isn't necessary to play the game? Why would they not want to sell it to you if they can make a profit?

Incenjucar · Dec 9, 2022

D&D is basically free already as long as you're comfortable with the OGL characters or just using the new playtest stuff. They have to make sure to not sully the game with a bad PR move like those random ability packs from Gamma World and 4E, because then people will want to play a different game, but outside of that it's infinite free gaming already.