D&D 5E OK WotC, I've had just about enough of this...

[steeldragons]

If the Alice in Wonderland tidbits are true and they're rebooting the Dungeonland/Land Behind the Magic Mirror modules, that would be very cool.

 

[Reynard]

If the Alice in Wonderland tidbits are true and they're rebooting the Dungeonland/Land Behind the Magic Mirror modules, that would be very cool.

This seems like an extremely niche module for so early in the edition cycle, especially if it is a full 2-hardcover adventure path. It seems like an Eberron AP with associated splat/setting book would appeal to a broader audience, or even a reboot of the original Ravenloft (as an AP, not necessarily the Domains of Dread).

 

[Sailor Moon]

And yet here we are, all waiting and talking about what they might do next.


They avoid a repeat of 2011 when they have to cancel four products (one released free online) and delay two other products. Plus they avoid undue excitement, such as the Ravenloft community being let down after the planned campaign product for that setting was cancelled due to 4e being reevaluated.


Talking lots doesn't mean they have lots of products either. Many companies are silent about development and plans until the big release. Apple never really talks about what they have in the pipe until a few months before it's in stores.

Thing is, being silent results in rumours and speculation and if you are silent long enough, people begin to believe those rumours and speculation.

When comparing Apple and Hasbro, you aren't comparing two things that are anywhere close to being like for like.

 

[SkidAce]

Being silent will hurt the company in the end, especially at this point. People aren't going to sit there and twiddle their thumbs waiting on WoTc to act. It's a bit arrogant of them to think that.

My folks are not twiddling our thumbs waiting for product, we are playing the game and having a blast.

 

[Reynard]

My folks are not twiddling our thumbs waiting for product, we are playing the game and having a blast.

I totally understand the desire to have new shiny stuff to read and/or play, and I get that a regular release schedule helps keep the game visible in both the retail and online spaces. But, SkidAce has the right of it here: once we have those three core books, we do not need WotC (or any 3rd party) ever again. In fact, if you have been playing any RPG for any length of time, you don't "need" WotC at all.

 

[steeldragons]

This seems like an extremely niche module for so early in the edition cycle, especially if it is a full 2-hardcover adventure path. It seems like an Eberron AP with associated splat/setting book would appeal to a broader audience, or even a reboot of the original Ravenloft (as an AP, not necessarily the Domains of Dread).

Well, the modules are levels 9-12 (the two of them), so obviously it would require a bit of "teasing out" to make an adventure path (to get from 1-9 at minimum)

I just really like the idea as an alternative to...We did Here's Caves of Chaos...again. (and it was very well received). Then we did Tiamat again but maybe it's different this time cuz its not Dragonlance. Here's Temple of Elemental Evil...again. Here's Against the Giants...again. and honestly, I could care less about Here's Eberron or Ravenloft...again.

It's not necessarily so much "niche" as "not repetitive."

It would be an adventure that's, well, just an adventure [path]. Doesn't have to take two books. One book of the adventure [path], the other is players/DM/monster/setting book about something else completely.

But if they have to go together, could certainly be used in conjunction with a Greyhawk setting sourcebook, a Land of Faerie ["Feywild"] sourcebook, a secondary "More Monsters" sourcebook...if that's what you're looking for.

Hell, if they got really creative they could have the whole "adventure path" basically being "romping through demi-planes." So there's the Dungeonland stuff, throw in Beyond the Crystal Cave [which could handle the low levels but would still need something to jump from 3-4ish to 9-10ish] and Ravenloft stuff: "Here's an adventure going through the positive energy/fae style border plane, the other going through the negative/shadow style border plane, and this other place is just plain weird/no one knows what's going on." Faerie & Ravenloft get a setting/PC options sourcebook. Done.

Fun fact that I never knew, according to wikipedia, the images on the covers of the original modules Dungeonland & Land Beyond the Magic Mirror actually are scenes depicted from encounters in the other module. Allegedly, on purpose to lend to the sense of whimsy and weirdness of the adventures. Never noticed or knew that. Fun stuff.

 

[Mercurius]

My folks are not twiddling our thumbs waiting for product, we are playing the game and having a blast.

I'm wondering who is, or who you are claiming to be, twiddling their thumbs waiting for product. You realize, I hope, that playing the game and wanting some idea of what is down the pike as far as new product goes aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[Reynard]

I'm wondering who is, or who you are claiming to be, twiddling their thumbs waiting for product. You realize, I hope, that playing the game and wanting some idea of what is down the pike as far as new product goes aren't mutually exclusive.

SkidAce was quoting [MENTION=6776331]Sailor Moon[/MENTION].

 

[ColinChapman]

I wouldn't expect much, if any, news until Mearls returns from paternity leave anyway. Dude has far more important concerns just now than geeks clamouring for their next fix.

Jargogle

 

[CapnZapp]

This seems like an extremely niche module for so early in the edition cycle, especially if it is a full 2-hardcover adventure path. It seems like an Eberron AP with associated splat/setting book would appeal to a broader audience, or even a reboot of the original Ravenloft (as an AP, not necessarily the Domains of Dread).

Or Birthright!...

Look, the idea of spamming the market with several products is that the rpg market is extremely splintered. Not everyone is going to pick up Elemental Evil just because that's the only product on offer.

I realize there's truth behind not competing with yourself, but I really understand this thread. The dearth of product info is ridiculous!

Compare to previous editions, and by this time we would AT LEAST have product announcements for...

Fighter's Handbook
(and by implication, ten more Handbooks, one for each class)
A major campaign guide (like the beloved and extremely ambitious FRCS), with the promise of at least three deliciously crunchy guidebooks to come
Half a dozen adventures, each taking us two or three levels.
Various sundry merchandizing add-ons; books, dice, figures and all that unneeded crap they so desperately want roleplayers to buy, despite how you only need an adventure and some dice, once you've bought the three core rulebooks...

Not saying this discussion is wrong.

But it's sure odd to read posts pretending they don't see the issue, claiming everything is just fine. When the product throughput obviously is a MASSIVE change compared to previous editions.

Why aren't anyone talking about the obvious: the fact that Hasbro simply isn't committing nearly the same resources to D&D as in bygone days?

I mean, the conclusion I'm tempted to draw is, despite 5e being a clear success, it seems the era of pnp rpgs are over, when the market leader is a dozen guys trickling out three modules a year.

WotC simply isn't what everybody thinks it is.