D&D 5E So, 5e OGL

[Kramodlog]

I wonder if by using different subcontractors to make their APs WotC won't be able to build in-house experience with APs like Paizo has. In others words, they won't learn from their errors and successes to make better products because other people will always write the AP.

At Paizo they made a lot of adventures for Dungeon mag and wrote The Shackled City AP before arriving at Age of Worm and Rise of the Rune Lord. If they feel confortable doing an experimental AP like Hell's Vengeance (where PCs will be evil), it is in part because of the expertice they accumulated over the years.

 

[Parmandur]

I wonder if by using different subcontractors to make their APs WotC won't be able to build in-house experience with APs like Paizo has. In others words, they won't learn from their errors and successes to make better products because other people will always write the AP.



At Paizo they made a lot of adventures for Dungeon mag and wrote The Shackled City AP before arriving at Age of Worm and Rise of the Rune Lord. If they feel confortable doing an experimental AP like Hell's Vengeance (where PCs will be evil), it is in part because of the expertice they accumulated over the years.

You make a good point, for sure. But based on what has been said above, WOTC is being very hands on in this process, so something will develop. And the institutional experience of the contractors, like Green Ronin, can mean a lot.

 

[Kramodlog]

You make a good point, for sure. But based on what has been said above, WOTC is being very hands on in this process, so something will develop. And the institutional experience of the contractors, like Green Ronin, can mean a lot.

Are you sure WotC is very hands on? Storywise, I have no doubt about that, but the post that showed who does what showed that contractors do a lot. It also shows a potentially complexe relation between WotC and the contractor. That can lead to confusion.

Also, APs are another beast altogether. Even people with experience (e.g. Paizo) can produce below average material.

 

[Parmandur]

Are you sure WotC is very hands on? Storywise, I have no doubt about that, but the post that showed who does what showed that contractors do a lot. It also shows a potentially complexe relation between WotC and the contractor. That can lead to confusion.



Also, APs are another beast altogether. Even people with experience (e.g. Paizo) can produce below average material.

Based on what Baker and Baur have said, yes, in regards to feedback, particularly play testing. It is a different kind of institutional knowledge, for sure, but not nothing.

 

[Kramodlog]

Based on what Baker and Baur have said, yes, in regards to feedback, particularly play testing. It is a different kind of institutional knowledge, for sure, but not nothing.

Have they said anything? I was a bit surprised how Baker did very little promotion for PotA. Not sure if Baur did more for Tiamat's fun adventure.

 

[Parmandur]

Have they said anything? I was a bit surprised how Baker did very little promotion for PotA. Not sure if Baur did more for Tiamat's fun adventure.

See the AMA, fourth story on the front page.

 

[Parmandur]

Have they said anything? I was a bit surprised how Baker did very little promotion for PotA. Not sure if Baur did more for Tiamat's fun adventure.

Also, per Baker's blog, he thinks Chris Perkins should have top billing for the amount of work he did on Princes of the Apocalypse.

 

[delericho]

Also, per Baker's blog, he thinks Chris Perkins should have top billing for the amount of work he did on Princes of the Apocalypse.

Which goes some way to explain why it seems to be so well received...

 

[Kramodlog]

See the AMA, fourth story on the front page.

Didn't the Baur AMA happen a few months after the launch of Tiamat's fun adventure? Was it done at Morrus or WotC's initiative?

And again, no Baker promo for PotA. Sort of weird.

 

[Kramodlog]

Also, per Baker's blog, he thinks Chris Perkins should have top billing for the amount of work he did on Princes of the Apocalypse.

But what sort work did he do? Working on the fluff isn't like designing the encounters.