D&D 5E Mike Mearls explaining his view of D&D and how it should be merchandize

[BryonD]

Shrug. doesn't matter. If people want "D&D shirts" the Hasbro has that. It isn't greed to sell shirts any more than it is greed to sell games.
They are not selling you a game because they want you happy. They are selling you a game because making you happy is the way they get you to voluntarily give them money.
Nothing wrong with voluntary.


I certainly don't think they are looking at shirts to benefit the game. If anything, it is quite the opposite.
I'm not certain that it will work.

But being critical of a strategy because you don't think it will work is one thing. But suggesting that there is anything wrong with them choosing what business they will voluntarily engage in, and what business they won't is quite another. And nothing more on that from me. Thanks

 

[bmfrosty]

I don't think D&D shirts is the idea. I think the idea is an evergreen product *and* leveraging the brand recognition so that they can do movies. If the movies are successes, then the brand is strengthened. More money goes into supporting the tabletop game.

 

[Irennan]

But being critical of a strategy because you don't think it will work is one thing. But suggesting that there is anything wrong with them choosing what business they will voluntarily engage in, and what business they won't is quite another. And nothing more on that from me. Thanks

In my post I've said that this is just speculation and that until we get to see how things fold out, we can just do that, speculate. I've also said that I'm not judging them, because making money is what corporates are for, but that if they indeed choose to neglect the game for gadgets, then it means that they don't really care about nurturing it. Not sure where you are seeing me suggesting that there's something wrong with them.

 

[Trickster Spirit]

I don't think D&D shirts is the idea. I think the idea is an evergreen product *and* leveraging the brand recognition so that they can do movies. If the movies are successes, then the brand is strengthened. More money goes into supporting the tabletop game.

Precisely. I think (or at least hope) that the plan is that in 2035, you could walk into a Target or a Walmart and find the 5th Edition Player's Handbook on the shelf, next to the Monster Manual and DMG. People keep downplaying the wall of books as an issue, but we're talking about shelf-space at places like Target or Walmart here, not hobby stores! You want parents to think "Hey, my kid goes nuts over that cartoon, might as well get them the game!", walk up and grab a box set or hardcover for their kids and walk to the checkout lane with zero confusion.

Keeping that in mind, I wouldn't have any problems with them never releasing a player's option hardcover ever again, just give us free PDFs like they are for PotA and bring back Dungeon and Dragon and I'm all set. 10 years from now the most newcomers should have to put up with is a MM II or III and maybe an Unearthed Arcana.

 

[BryonD]

I don't think D&D shirts is the idea. I think the idea is an evergreen product *and* leveraging the brand recognition so that they can do movies. If the movies are successes, then the brand is strengthened. More money goes into supporting the tabletop game.

Yeah, I think "shirts" is just a placeholder name for "stuff that ain't tabletop D&D".

But I don't see any evidence that they are thinking the way you lay it out here. It seems to be much more a plan of touch the TTRPG an absolute minimum needed to keep it established and focus the energy on supporting the other markets.

 

[BryonD]

In my post I've said that this is just speculation and that until we get to see how things fold out, we can just do that, speculate. I've also said that I'm not judging them, because making money is what corporates are for, but that if they indeed choose to neglect the game for gadgets, then it means that they don't really care about nurturing it. Not sure where you are seeing me suggesting that there's something wrong with them.

My apologies. I didn't catch that you were calling them greedy in the good way.

 

[Irennan]

My apologies. I didn't catch that you were calling them greedy in the good way.

Most corporates care about maximum profit above anything else, so yeah: being ''greedy'' -so to speak- is quite norm for them.

 

[bmfrosty]

Yeah, I think "shirts" is just a placeholder name for "stuff that ain't tabletop D&D".

But I don't see any evidence that they are thinking the way you lay it out here. It seems to be much more a plan of touch the TTRPG an absolute minimum needed to keep it established and focus the energy on supporting the other markets.

There's some inference on my part. I don't know that they're making money on D&D as a brand right now. My impression is that they're break even right now on the brand. Some years are good. Some years are not.

My assumption, given that they're trying to regain the film rights to the brand - http://deadline.com/2014/09/dungeon...-sequel-lawsuit-warner-bros-universal-835320/ - is that if they manage to do so, they'll try and put on a production in line with any of the big sci-fi or fantasy summer blockbusters.

If they manage this, and if it's successful. It turns into merchandising. Think about the merchandising for Iron Man, or LOTR, or the Hobbit. Or Transformers. Battleship?

I think the core product - the TTG - would get more attention. It may stick to the same type of release schedule, but at the same time, the increased sales would help cement it in to permanency. It ensures that the TTG continues even if it does have financial problems as long as the brand continues to prosper.

 

[BryonD]

Most corporates care about maximum profit above anything else, so yeah: being ''greedy'' -so to speak- is quite norm for them.

that's cool, as long as you are not "judging them" or anything......

 

[BryonD]

I think the core product - the TTG - would get more attention. It may stick to the same type of release schedule, but at the same time, the increased sales would help cement it in to permanency. It ensures that the TTG continues even if it does have financial problems as long as the brand continues to prosper.

I'm sure there would be some degree of positive feedback if this worked out. Big if, of course.

But even then, based on how they are talking, the focus of the feedback would be the sequel.
They would see ignoring the game and making a "blockbuster" a far better place for their energy.