NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ace" data-source="post: 6534815" data-attributes="member: 944">Quite interesting. Thanks. I think its making some strange assumptions though, that D&D players are far more techie and heavily computer aided than they really are and that of course they can get the money they'd spend on steam to be spent on apps? We certainly have tablets and smartphones and laptops galore but they rarely get used and having an app is not better, its actually worse than a sheet of paper in term of utility. We don't really need the official app to make a character sheet and print it out . I think is people play D&D to be around other people and to not be on the computer so much. It does compete with cards to some degree or at least in did a decade ago but I'm not so sure that is the case now. Anecdotes are not evidence of course but in my gaming circle (a dozen or so with seven regulars) no one is playing any of the collectible card games. The economy has taken such a hit that they regular card churn is just too expensive and provides much  lower value than video games. They still buy computer games but its a one time $20 purchase with hundreds of hours of possible play. A trading card game can be fun but its an ongoing expense and a hassle to find players. Another anecdote, we just got a new FLGS and they carry mostly miniature war games, The people I've seen buying and playing in store were playing Star Wars minis  although I suspect that's a fad and it will be replaced with something else, warmachine or whatever is hot in a few months. At least though the money you spent has some artistic value, you can collect X wings or the Falcon or re-purpose miniatures for D&D . You cant resell, re-purpose   or reuse apps Now I  kind of agree that D&D competes with the computer for time but I really don't think that it is the same market or hobby or that anyone really needs a ton of software or will buy it. WOTC would IMNSHO be much smarter in releasing a traditional mix of adventures and splat books in print and later PDF. And I think Mearls  is right and wrong on splat books. A lot of them don't get used but people actually enjoy reading about them and daydreaming about options and such. They may never play X,Y,or Zed splat but that doesn't matter, This sells books and the excitement moves product or at least that's the conventional wisdom My fear  is that this push for "bigger money" monetizing  software and selling IP  and ignoring the tabletop hobby will simply put D&D into a coma. Even with brand recognition, without new releases, the urge to  play is smaller and expensive adventures which sell one per group if that aren't going to cut it. A lot of people like to DIY for their own game worlds and whatever stuff  WOTC has this week may not cut it, Splat books OTOH are more adaptable.That said I might be wrong and if so, hope they make a bundle. They just won't bet getting my money.</blockquote>

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