D&D 5E Scoopa doopa doop! Legends & Lore in the loop! (6/9/14)

[TwoSix]

That's not what he said though.

He said, "The locations and encounter scenarios introduced in that adventure have stood the test of time, with DMs still using them to run games today. "

That paragraph wasn't even referring to instructional videos. The instructional videos are not a necessary element for this set, just an additional one. The videos are simply a demo of what's already explained in the material...useful, but not necessary.

Considering in 20 years half the world's electrical output will be going to power server farms to support our zettabytes of Youtube cat videos, I'm sure they can find room for a few instructional videos on how to play old-school D&D.

 

[DDNFan]

I dunno. www.tsr.com still works. And it's been 15 years now since that was a thing.

So is myspace.com, but good luck trying to reach anyone you used to know there, let alone one of their dope tracks. IPs change hands, D&D could be sold off, who knows.

My point was that URLs are transient. Domain names less so, but companies, especially RPG companies, do go under, bought out, split up, or dissolve or change focus. I wouldn't even expect the 4th ed character builder to be accessible from their site in a couple years time as it becomes unprofitable for them to do so. And hosting videos on your own server is a good way to have it crash on launch day. Have you ever launched a huge product online? I bet they'll put it on YouTube instead. But then you're back to the old "will youtube be around in ten years?" Fifteen? Twenty?

I'm happy with the Starter Set not having throwaway materials in it, but I consider URLs to be throwaway junk that I don't expect to be valid for long. I'm just too experienced with the internet to assume things will stay put. Quite to the contrary, it's practically a given that they won't.

The less online tie-ins for D&D 5th the better. Having some tutorial videos online is fine, but the core product shouldn't rely on those to help newbs understand how to play the game. Back in my day, we didn't have no youtubes to learn how to DM, we figured it out. It's kind of silly to think that newcomers can't figure it out either. Most of the time you learn to DM from someone who already knows how. That's kind of the whole point, to interact with human beings face to face and have fun, share knowledge and kick some goblin butt.

 

[Zoombaba]

Youtube instructional videos are a big part of kids' lives these days. A lot of my 17-18 year old students will use Khan Academy to make sense of their homework, especially math. My 12-year old son learned to play Back in Black on the ukelele. This is definitely a thing. This is meeting the younger generation in their comfort zone, not the other way around.

 

[Snapdragyn]

Obviously a Salt-n-Pepa bonus track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vaN01VLYSQ

Considering in 20 years half the world's electrical output will be going to power server farms to support our zettabytes of Youtube cat videos, I'm sure they can find room for a few instructional videos on how to play old-school D&D.

Please cease and desist from making two XP-worthy posts in a row. The XP system does not allow proper credit for this.

 

[RedShirtNo5.1]

Back in my day,

we din't have print. Or light. We had to feel out the cuneiform marks in the clay tablets that we were carrying uphill in a snowstorm in the darkness. If you got the rules wrong, Gary Gygax would sacrifice you at the top of a ziggurat. And we liked it that way.

 

[DDNFan]

Youtube instructional videos are a big part of kids' lives these days. A lot of my 17-18 year old students will use Khan Academy to make sense of their homework, especially math. My 12-year old son learned to play Back in Black on the ukelele. This is definitely a thing. This is meeting the younger generation in their comfort zone, not the other way around.

Good point, I didn't think of it that way.

 

[I'm A Banana]

My point was that URLs are transient.

It's true.

And so are starter sets.

I know mearls was all "We want this to have a place on your shelf and to be used again and again!", but the next D&D starter set for 6e is only about 10 years away, you know. Maybe the 5e set will be referenced still at that time, but 6e will launch with new how-to's and new characters and new adventures and all of the material and video developed for 5e won't be necessary.

All things pass away with time, even those books on your bookshelf. The URLs are no less permanent than they are, really.

 

[Agamon]

I always thought the younger generations had less patience than us old timers....

When a buddy of mine asked if I wanted to try the Mice & Mystics board game, I agreed. But instead of learning and teaching the rules, he had us sit in front of his laptop and watch the video the gamemaker's company made to teach the game. A 3rd of the way through I was ready to claw my eyes out. "Why couldn't you read the rules and briefly explain them before we play, like we normally do?" "This is more thorough." I'll say it was.

That said, this isn't a bad idea. As long as they expect the GM (or player) to watch it on his own time, rather than everyone gathered around the screen.

 

[Ruzak]

we din't have print. Or light. We had to feel out the cuneiform marks in the clay tablets that we were carrying uphill in a snowstorm in the darkness. If you got the rules wrong, Gary Gygax would sacrifice you at the top of a ziggurat. And we liked it that way.

I still have my old cave painting DMG.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

I'll be keeping a close eye on the info coming out in these columns. Even though I have no need for a starter set, an adventure inspired by Keep on the Borderlands definitely has caught my interest. (Now if it had been inspired by Hommlet/Moat, with village, it'd be a no-brainer!)