Hold on....is WotC becoming Fantasy Flight Games????

[ShinHakkaider]

I hope that no one will take it as edition warring when I say that I am much more likely to play a board game based on the 4e rules than to play an RPG based on those same rules. I actually think the rules would work better in that regard.

Given how unlikely I am to play the RPG it is closer to a compliment. It might well make for a fun boardgame.

The Auld Grump

There are a few people who absolutely will take it as edition warring and not the compliment towards WOTC that it was intended. I'm a Pathfinder guy who isn't a huge fan of 4E at all and I have the first two boardgames and play them with my son and have fun doing so. I dont know if I'll spend anymore money on a third or fourth board game (as expansions to the first two? Maybe. The boxes are kind big and hard to store...) but I definitely enjoy the two that I have.

 

[Asmor]

I'd say it speaks more to the growth in board games as a genre than anything else. WotC are a business and will concentrate on areas that are profitable. Board games, especially the more strategic Euro-style games have grown in popularity in recent years.

Olaf the Stout

Of course, the games WotC is putting out aren't euros at all. They're glorious Ameritrash (note: term of endearment). Which is also doing quite well (see, for example, the aforementioned Fantasy Flight Games who specialize in the genre and are one of the dominant forces in the board game market).

Oh, and just as another point of data, AEG's another name I first heard of in the arena of RPGs but which has become quite prominent as a board game publisher (Thunderstone probably being their most popular game).

 

[Gundark]

Of course, the games WotC is putting out aren't euros at all. They're glorious Ameritrash (note: term of endearment). Which is also doing quite well (see, for example, the aforementioned Fantasy Flight Games who specialize in the genre and are one of the dominant forces in the board game market).

Oh, and just as another point of data, AEG's another name I first heard of in the arena of RPGs but which has become quite prominent as a board game publisher (Thunderstone probably being their most popular game).

Oh yes...AEG good point. I had forgotten about them.

 

[MrMyth]

From what they've said about Conquest of Nerath, they were looking at making board games back in 2005 - but the environment wasn't quite right for it.

I think they feel that the board game market has become stronger, and is also a good way to draw in new gamers into D&D. I think it also likely had to do with the miniatures market becoming less viable for them (even after trying numerous different approaches with it), and thus board games presenting a good replacement for that line.

I'm not sure there are any more specific conclusions to draw from it all, other than that they think board games will sell well and bring people into the hobby.

 

[OnlineDM]

I remember a Gen Con thread here on EN World where someone noted the huge rise in the number of board game events offered this year. There have apparently been more and more board game events each year at Gen Con for a while, and the number of RPG events has been climbing at a much slower pace. I'm pretty sure the stat quoted said that there were more board game events than RPG events listed for this year's Gen Con.

So, if that's the case, it supports the theory that board games have more growth right now, in which case it makes sense for a company like WotC to try to get into that market. Makes sense to me.

 

[jefgorbach]

The other thing to consider is WOTC is owned by Hasbro ... which comprehends how to make/market board games and is once again stressing the value of family game night; so this might be an initial foray into bringing RPGs to the family game table??

Alternately, Hasbro has never managed to truly envision/incorporate its in-house expertise to expand the RPG across its other product lines as originally hoped: fully positional action figures with removal gear/etc with play sets/vehicles (ala GI Joe) with supporting animation shows (GI Joe, Transformers).

 

[Holy Bovine]

I admit I don't pay attention as much as others. As well I don't hang out here as much as I used to. I've been reading the speculation threads about 5th edition and when do we think it'll come...and I do think that it WILL come...however this isn't what this thread is about. Recently we've seen the cancellation of books and a slower release schedule with D&D 4th. At first I thought that it was because maybe 4e wasn't doing all that well, and maybe it isn't, but that isn't what this thread is about. What this thread is about is the board games that WotC have been releasing lately....they seem to be coming with more and more frequency...1st Ravenloft, then the Wrath of some dragon, now this wargame, and there is some Drizzt boardgame coming as well as the Dungeons of dread. This got me thinking that Fantasy Flight Games, until acquiring some games workshop properties had slowed down considerably on RPGs and made board/card games . Obviously this was profitable for them, and it makes me wonder if WotC is finding out the same thing. I noticed that the production quality of the board games is getting better. Quite possibly they pulled staff off the RPG to work on Board games.

So is WotC turning into Fantasy Flight games?

If games like Conquest of Nerath is any indication of what WotC is going to produce going forward I say bring on the board games!! Dungeon of Dread looks great too and my group likes Castle Ravenloft just fine (we haven't gotten the Wrath of Ashalon game yet).

Also, historically, the publisher of D&D has always had some kind of board/card/dice game on the side.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I'm not sure the board game market is all that huge

Board games are big business. Much, much bigger than RPGs. Getting random people to play a board game is alot easier than getting them to play an RPG. Reason being is that a board game can last anywhere between 10 min to 4 hours, depending on the game. But that's alot shorter than months to a year or two for a typical RPG campaign.

Plus everything you need is in one box. D&D/Pathfinder requires you to buy (if it is your first time, and you're running the game) the core book, dice, a book of monsters, something to physically represent the players and the monsters, possibly a battle map. The number of items to buy can be overwhelming. As opposed to "Everything you need to get going is in this one box." Board games are just more approachable.

So it is a smart business move on Wizards' part.

 

[Neonchameleon]

The other thing to consider is WOTC is owned by Hasbro ... which comprehends how to make/market board games and is once again stressing the value of family game night; so this might be an initial foray into bringing RPGs to the family game table??

Possibly. In which case they'd IMO do better to buy up Dread and Dread House. But if that's their approach, no wonder they want more board games and some crossover appeal.

Alternately, Hasbro has never managed to truly envision/incorporate its in-house expertise to expand the RPG across its other product lines as originally hoped: fully positional action figures with removal gear/etc with play sets/vehicles (ala GI Joe) with supporting animation shows (GI Joe, Transformers).

I doubt Hasbro really knows that D&D exists. They didn't buy WoTC for D&D. They bought WoTC for Magic the Gathering - which gets mentioned in the Hasbro press releases and corpoarte reports.

 

[Gundark]

Board games are big business. Much, much bigger than RPGs. Getting random people to play a board game is alot easier than getting them to play an RPG. Reason being is that a board game can last anywhere between 10 min to 4 hours, depending on the game. But that's alot shorter than months to a year or two for a typical RPG campaign.

Plus everything you need is in one box. D&D/Pathfinder requires you to buy (if it is your first time, and you're running the game) the core book, dice, a book of monsters, something to physically represent the players and the monsters, possibly a battle map. The number of items to buy can be overwhelming. As opposed to "Everything you need to get going is in this one box." Board games are just more approachable.

So it is a smart business move on Wizards' part.

Don't forget ZER0 prep time. I can get my group of friends together, get that game itch scratched without any kind of thought before hand about stats, monsters, maps, descriptions, or anything...