Is WOTC falling into a problem like the old TSR did

[Philotomy Jurament]

Are you suggesting a system of smaller publishers with smaller profit margins?

Yes.

Unfortunately, this won't work for a company like WotC or a brand like D&D (at least while in the hands of a company like WotC/Hasbro).

The idea is fascinating though and no matter what, there still is a draw for companies to attract new players.

Yeah, I agree.

 

[yipwyg]

Here is an interesting thread on rpg.net

And this is the main thing hurting the role playing industry today!
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=305289

It deals with someone that is totally new wanting to get into rpg's.

Now a lot of people will say pick up D&D, which is fine being the best supported.

However, I think D&D at this point might not be necessarily the easiest to get into anymore. The poster said back in the 80's you just picked up the Basic D&D set (I believe it only went up to 3rd level and had the very basic of rules.)

What do you think of the thread and do you think D&D as it stands today is the best rpg someone with no experience at all with rpg's should start with.

 

[Umbran]

However, I think D&D at this point might not be necessarily the easiest to get into anymore. The poster said back in the 80's you just picked up the Basic D&D set (I believe it only went up to 3rd level and had the very basic of rules.)

People say that - but I don't know how many people actually learned to play that way.

What do you think of the thread and do you think D&D as it stands today is the best rpg someone with no experience at all with rpg's should start with.

The best way is, and always has been, to have a person teach you the game, rather than a book. I think very few RPGs stand well as a "pick it up, read it, and learn to play" thing. Given that social interaction is a major aspect of tabletop play, I think social interaction is the best gateway.

 

[kenobi65]

However, I think D&D at this point might not be necessarily the easiest to get into anymore. The poster said back in the 80's you just picked up the Basic D&D set (I believe it only went up to 3rd level and had the very basic of rules.)

What do you think of the thread and do you think D&D as it stands today is the best rpg someone with no experience at all with rpg's should start with.

I don't think D&D, in any of its forms, has been the best way to get into RPGs. However, it has always been the way that the vast majority of RPGers have gotten into the hobby.

The advantage D&D has pretty much always had is that it's always been the market leader. It's pretty hard not to be able to find a group of people playing D&D. While I'm sure that many people learned the game solely by reading the books, I think learning to play D&D (or, really, any RPG) has always worked best when it's shown to you by someone who's already playing.

 

[Ranger REG]

Thoughts

Not many within the D&D fan community are as enlightened as you.

Though I try not to see the overhwelming volumes that WotC published in the last 7 years -- including the revision to the core rules -- I looked it as a variety of options to satisfy almost every spectrums of the gamers' taste or preference.

As I stated in another thread, there are many ways to play D&D. Gamers shouldn't conform to one style of gameplay, and WotC shouldn't offer just one style either.

 

[yipwyg]

My first time was walking into a bookstore when I was 11 while visiting my grandparents. I saw the red box set I saw the older kids playing, and had my grandparents get it for me.

I spent the whole day making characters up and playing through the adventure that came with it. So there is one

 

[MerricB]

One other big thing about (most) 3e books is how broad they are.

Complete Warrior helps all classes, although it helps warrior-types more, of course.

This is a big change from "The complete Necromancer" which looked only at a specialist class!

This is not to say that the supplements aid absolutely every PC, but they're not so limited in scope.

Cheers!

 

[JiffyPopTart]

I am not sure exactly what the OP is suggesting. A new edition? Not publishing as many books? Not making any more "splatbooks"? I can't figure it out.

I personally enjoy the style of books they are releasing now because I can get the things I really an interested in (Complete Whatever) and not bother with the things I don't think i'd ever use. Later on when those books I don't think i'd use (like the environment and races of books) show up at a deep discount on Amazon or Ebay or Half-Price books I can pick them up as the usefulness vs. price value goes up.

For instance....if I had purchased Races of Destiny at full price, i'd be torqued off. Its not that good of a book, and by far the worst of the series. Since I got it for $7, however, I can cut it some slack and I treat it as a hardback magazine I thumbed through and then put on my bulging gaming shelf.

DS

 

[3catcircus]

You know what I find ironic? Ever since I switched to Castles and Crusades my enjoyment of the 3E books has increased.

I like the idea behind "9 Swords" and the ideas shown in the various feats/abilities.

I like Dragon Magic, some pretty cool ideas.

PH2, cool alternative class ideas/flavors, and good advice.

DMG2, lots of cool stuff.

Red Hand, Howling Hordes, Twilight modules all good to excellent.

Fantastic locations, neat stuff.

Exp. to Ravenloft. Cool reinterpretations and new ideas/NPC's that I may use.

I think it is because I am absolutely free to ignore anything or, if I use it, I have to "make it my own" in order for it to fit into my C&C game.

So yeah, WOTC is where TSR was at when it fell apart. I have found my "happy gaming groove" and WOTC is producing a ton of product I buy and use small bits and pieces from here and there while ignoring the vast majority of it. Even stuff I have bought. Just like it was when TSR broke down.

But I don't think WOTC is going to go out of business. I think they will do 4E. When? I don't know and I don't really care. This time I am staying in my "happy gaming groove" and I'm not letting anyone talk me out of it again.

The problem I've found with most of the "new hotness" in PHB2 or other books is that almost no *real* playtesting is done - it is either too cumbersome to use, too game-breaking, or just plain-old half-assed in implementation.

For example, the "rules" for changing your character levels/background in PHB2? Please, *anyone* could have come up with that (and we all already have) and do a better job of it.

When it comes to *mechanics*, almost *any* other d20 publisher comes up with something much more "realistic" (Expeditious Retreat's economic simulator, Adamant Entertainment's ship movement and combat, etc.)

 

[Psion]

One other big thing about (most) 3e books is how broad they are.

Complete Warrior helps all classes, although it helps warrior-types more, of course.

This is a big change from "The complete Necromancer" which looked only at a specialist class!

I take it you do not own the Complete Necromancer, then?

It is not even close to Complete Warrior in format. It's a bit more like Libris Mortis. It had a mini-setting/adventure site, and rules for a variety of necromantic characters, not just those of the Necromancer specialist class, but including clerics and creature types.