D&D 5E My Ideal Release Schedule

[delericho]

So the problem is not the actual release schedule, which I highly suspect will be 1 product every 2 months.

I'll be surprised if it's as much as that. My current guess is that the remainder of 2015 will see three RPG products: the adventure this month, plus the two volumes associated with the next storyline, whatever that may be.

Though I guess they might surprise us with some official dice or something. I'm not sure I'd count those.

You just want more communication.

I also want more communication. Most importantly, I want good communication - if and when there's a book coming, the first I hear about it should be from a WotC release (well, actually, ENWorld reporting on a WotC release, since I get my news here). It's not good that we hear about the PHB release date and price point from a B&N leak, or have details of a supplement including the cover art leaked and then pulled. And, as BryonD says up-thread, that WotC then tried to use the line that it wasn't officially announced just makes it worse. I'm actually quite hopeful here: the recruitment of a Communications Manager suggests that they know there's a problem and are taking steps. We'll see.

In terms of the actual release schedule itself, I want one thing from WotC that isn't currently coming: restart the magazines. Electronic form is fine.

 

[Shiroiken]

Surely there is some sort of medium between the ideal situation BryonD was talking about above and the minimal effort WOTC is attempting now?
There is always room for improvement. With the possible exception of the surveys, I don't see WOTc even making an effort.

Probably, but the question becomes the return on investment. Unless WotC feels the return on investment is good enough, they are unlikely to spend the resources. I'm not saying this is what I want (personally, I don't care because I'm unlikely to buy much beyond the core books), only what I think is the best use of resources for the company.

This is why the surveys are actually a huge improvement! I was surprised and quite pleased that they are continuing to take feedback, even after the release of the core rulebooks. This will hopefully improve the quality (and sales) of non-core products.

 

[Shiroiken]

I'll be surprised if it's as much as that. My current guess is that the remainder of 2015 will see three RPG products: the adventure this month, plus the two volumes associated with the next storyline, whatever that may be.

Though I guess they might surprise us with some official dice or something. I'm not sure I'd count those.

That's why I used the term "product" instead of book. I included the DM screen in my original 7 in 8 months, which I assume you wouldn't count either. In terms of books, I would agree 4 per year is likely.

I also want more communication. Most importantly, I want good communication - if and when there's a book coming, the first I hear about it should be from a WotC release (well, actually, ENWorld reporting on a WotC release, since I get my news here). It's not good that we hear about the PHB release date and price point from a B&N leak, or have details of a supplement including the cover art leaked and then pulled. And, as BryonD says up-thread, that WotC then tried to use the line that it wasn't officially announced just makes it worse. I'm actually quite hopeful here: the recruitment of a Communications Manager suggests that they know there's a problem and are taking steps. We'll see.

I understand, but I don't agree. I'm sure they don't want those leaks either, in order to prevent the disappointment you received. Especially since they're doing the surveys, they may make changes to keep things in the direction people want them to go. This may mean that products change or are cancelled, so announcing too far ahead means a greater likelihood of error.

With the potential of a Communications Manager, perhaps things will improve. I hope so, but I fear that your level of expectation might be too high.

In terms of the actual release schedule itself, I want one thing from WotC that isn't currently coming: restart the magazines. Electronic form is fine.

To restart the magazines would likely require them to create a new division and hire people to run it. They may not be ready to do this (yet). Another option (and better IMO) would be to license it out to another company, pushing all the responsibility onto them.I too would like to see the return of Dragon Magazine (Dungeon was always kinda *eh* for me).

 

[delericho]

That's why I used the term "product" instead of book. I included the DM screen in my original 7 in 8 months, which I assume you wouldn't count either.

Indeed, I noted the nuance. For that reason I would count a DM's screen although I, personally, have no use for it. But I wouldn't include dice, any more than I would include an official "D&D pencil" or similar, because those would literally just be a bog standard item with the D&D logo stamped on it.

I understand, but I don't agree. I'm sure they don't want those leaks either, in order to prevent the disappointment you received.

Oh, I'm sure they don't want the leaks. But they're a fact of life that WotC must deal with in some way (even if that "dealing with" amounts to ignoring them). Their distributors (and B&N and Amazon) require them to provide data a certain distance ahead of time, and some of that data will be entered into databases and may accidentally go live. So WotC can't prevent the leaks, which means that their choices are two: pro-actively present the data ahead of a leak, or have their thunder stolen.

IMO, they've chosen the wrong approach.

With the potential of a Communications Manager, perhaps things will improve. I hope so, but I fear that your level of expectation might be too high.

I don't buy that. Other companies and organisations manage to communicate effectively, including WotC back in 2006. So it can be done, all that's needed is for them to actually do it.

(And "other companies" isn't code for 'Paizo'. As I've said repeatedly, Paizo and WotC are different companies operating under different pressures, so I'm well aware that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other.)

To restart the magazines would likely require them to create a new division and hire people to run it. They may not be ready to do this (yet).

Honestly, at this point I doubt we'll ever see the magazines back in any form, and the longer they go without the more convinced of that I become. (And the same is true of the OGL, FWIW.) But, for me, those magazines are the big loss from this edition, and are the single element that would take us from a too-sparce release schedule to a good level - and would do so in a manner WotC could actually deliver, since they don't have the staff to produce another three hardback books a year and want to avoid supplement bloat anyway.

 

[Halivar]

Well, it's been 3 whole months, so we've pretty much played the game out and exhausted every possible story line with the core books. I, for one, have played every class to 20... twice. Also, we don't really want to play unless we think WotC is super hyped about our home game. ;P

 

[neobolts]

I would like to see:
-Modules as often as they would like.
-At least 1 setting or thoughful crunchy book a year (such as Manual of the Planes, Psionics Handbook).

I would like a gameplan from WotC. Paizo puts a frickin' annual catalog of offerings in with your shipment when you buy direct from them. I don't need that many releases, but the difference is night and day. Paizo PR machine is kicking butt... if I didn't prefer the lighter touch of the 5e rules, it would be very hard for WotC to hold my attention.

 

[BryonD]

In a perfect world, yes. Not gonna happen. Ever.

They are too far behind the 8-ball to try and establish said pattern (as seen by the general hate for WotC you can find on the internet). Spending time (and thus money) on such a futile effort is a waste of resources that will hurt the company (and thus the game). I suspect that WotC feels the same, which is why they're working as they are.

Paizo does it. WotC can.

They don't need perfection. There will be some complaints no matter what.
But they can do better and it would be beneficial.