John Lloyd1
Explorer
Do we have any indication that the 2014 core books will be available digitally? Or will they treat them the same way as Volo's and make them 'legacy' products digitally and physically?
D&D General Kobold Press Going Down a Dark Road
- Thread starter jerryrice4949
- Start date
Hussar
Legend
For the record, I also opened this thread originally, as I thought it was implied that we were getting a dark, edgier version of the game and was excited at the prospect.
I should be compensated for being baited in such a manner.
I just figured it was a pun on blah flag. Silly me.
Scribe
Legend
Victims of false advertising, the whole bunch of us.
Marc Radle
Hero
Folks, I think this is just a case of misreading the FAQ.
1 - the current 5E Players Handbook, Monster Manual and DM's Guide will not continue to be in print once the new version, or edition, or whatever it is being called is released. The PDFs might remain available from WotC, or they may not.
2 - of course those 3 books will still be available in stores as long as their current stock remains, but they will be more and more difficult to buy over time, and eventually those hardcovers will be very tough to find
3 - Wizards seems to taking a more digital, subscription-based model. There is no indication that they will not still sell the books in physical format, but they are absolutely going more heavily with the digital, subscription-based model
The point of the FAQ is simply to say that the new Project Black Flag books will be produced in beautiful hard cover, as well as PDFs, and there will be no subscription-based model.
Messaging is a difficult game sometimes, but there is definitely no attempt to mislead in that FAQ, I promise
1 - the current 5E Players Handbook, Monster Manual and DM's Guide will not continue to be in print once the new version, or edition, or whatever it is being called is released. The PDFs might remain available from WotC, or they may not.
2 - of course those 3 books will still be available in stores as long as their current stock remains, but they will be more and more difficult to buy over time, and eventually those hardcovers will be very tough to find
3 - Wizards seems to taking a more digital, subscription-based model. There is no indication that they will not still sell the books in physical format, but they are absolutely going more heavily with the digital, subscription-based model
The point of the FAQ is simply to say that the new Project Black Flag books will be produced in beautiful hard cover, as well as PDFs, and there will be no subscription-based model.
Messaging is a difficult game sometimes, but there is definitely no attempt to mislead in that FAQ, I promise
mamba
Hero
I guess it helped that TSR was fighting against bankruptcy and was unable to push out a new edition
Also, 2e had revised core books in 1995 along with the Player Options books. That is as much of a refresh as 5e is getting now. So either 2e was shorter than 5e or 5e is still in the running to become the longest running edition with the 1D refresh
jerryrice4949
Hero
Marc I have a lot of respect for you and will take you at your word but I also think that is an incredibly imprecise and sloppy FAQ which is a little surprising from a publishing company.Folks, I think this is just a case of misreading the FAQ.
1 - the current 5E Players Handbook, Monster Manual and DM's Guide will not continue to be in print once the new version, or edition, or whatever it is being called is released. The PDFs might remain available from WotC, or they may not.
2 - of course those 3 books will still be available in stores as long as their current stock remains, but they will be more and more difficult to buy over time, and eventually those hardcovers will be very tough to find
3 - Wizards seems to taking a more digital, subscription-based model. There is no indication that they will not still sell the books in physical format, but they are absolutely going more heavily with the digital, subscription-based model
The point of the FAQ is simply to say that the new Project Black Flag books will be produced in beautiful hard cover, as well as PDFs, and there will be no subscription-based model.
Messaging is a difficult game sometimes, but there is definitely no attempt to mislead in that FAQ, I promise
mamba
Hero
what PDFs? Do they sell them somewhere?
Marc Radle
Hero
I really appreciate you saying that, thank you!
And, fair enough on the messaging - we are always open to feedback and we're always striving to be as clear as possible.
Marc Radle
Hero
Parmandur
Book-Friend
I'm a big fan of Kobold Press stuff, and of WotC: for marketing and communication purposes, comparisons like thst in the FAQ are off-putting. I am interested in Black Flag, but I'm also going to get OneD&D books when they come out (and it has confirmed thst books aren't being phased out). Emphasizing compatibility versus differences would be a wiser path, I think.Folks, I think this is just a case of misreading the FAQ.
1 - the current 5E Players Handbook, Monster Manual and DM's Guide will not continue to be in print once the new version, or edition, or whatever it is being called is released. The PDFs might remain available from WotC, or they may not.
2 - of course those 3 books will still be available in stores as long as their current stock remains, but they will be more and more difficult to buy over time, and eventually those hardcovers will be very tough to find
3 - Wizards seems to taking a more digital, subscription-based model. There is no indication that they will not still sell the books in physical format, but they are absolutely going more heavily with the digital, subscription-based model
The point of the FAQ is simply to say that the new Project Black Flag books will be produced in beautiful hard cover, as well as PDFs, and there will be no subscription-based model.
Messaging is a difficult game sometimes, but there is definitely no attempt to mislead in that FAQ, I promise
Alzrius
The EN World kitten
No, I have to disagree here. The "revised" 2E Core Rules changed the layout, the artwork, and the trade dress, but didn't change the rules in any capacity. They were exactly the same in every regard, without exception. That's not going to be the case for 1D&D, which seems like it will at least be a ".5" change (and despite the marketing to the contrary, I'm still not sure it won't be a full-on 6E).
mamba
Hero
but the player options did
Alzrius
The EN World kitten
The "Option" books were supplements, optional books not part of the Core Rules; they're something you'd compare to Tasha's or Xanathar's, not any sort of edition revision.
mamba
Hero
I don't know, they are optional, but they do more than introduce new subclasses.
"This chapter introduces the PLAYER'S OPTION combat system, an advanced set of skirmish rules designed to add detail and flavor to battles in an AD&D game. The combat rules from the Player's Handbook and DUNGEON MASTERS Guide have been expanded and streamlined to create more active, exciting battles."
"This chapter presents several new combat actions, restructures the AD&D initiative system, and introduces retreats, fatigue, and critical events."
So I guess it is somewhere in between, thanks to being optional
Clint_L
Hero
I think the Kobold Press statement is misleading in two distinct ways:
1. By implying that WotC is abandoning 5e. WotC has directly stated that "OneD&D is 5e." All the playlets materials released thus far are for 5e.
2. By implying that WotC is abandoning print books, when they explicitly are not.
Kobold Press is not exactly lying, but they are definitely cherry picking and presenting certain facts without mentioning others in a way that is obviously designed to encourage readers to draw untruthful conclusions. It's shady as hell, and I want to point out that Kobold Press did not design 5e, so them trying to lay claim to it like this is kind of gross. And makes me more sympathetic to why WotC considered killing the OGL.
1. By implying that WotC is abandoning 5e. WotC has directly stated that "OneD&D is 5e." All the playlets materials released thus far are for 5e.
2. By implying that WotC is abandoning print books, when they explicitly are not.
Kobold Press is not exactly lying, but they are definitely cherry picking and presenting certain facts without mentioning others in a way that is obviously designed to encourage readers to draw untruthful conclusions. It's shady as hell, and I want to point out that Kobold Press did not design 5e, so them trying to lay claim to it like this is kind of gross. And makes me more sympathetic to why WotC considered killing the OGL.
Micah Sweet
Level Up & OSR Enthusiast
WotC 5e is the 2014 books to me. OneD&D is no more that than any other version of 5e is. WotC 5.5 maybe, at best.
Micah Sweet
Level Up & OSR Enthusiast
It wouldn't surprise me if WotC really pushed digital at the expense of physical books. Not completely, of course, but to me it looks like WotC would really prefer everybody just use DnD Beyond for everything. They just can't pull that trigger just yet.
Micah Sweet
Level Up & OSR Enthusiast
It certainly implies that WotC wants to. And I think that's quite true.
Similar Threads
