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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jrowland" data-source="post: 7653538" data-attributes="member: 94389">Umbran has really nailed it. Its the Cost/Benefit ratio to entertainment. We have SO many choices for entertainment (and my $$) that I have to make choices as to which one gets the time and the money.I am a MMO fan as well as  TTRPG fan. In MMOs, there has been a general trend of so-called "dumbing down" that I think is more a reflection of the same thing Mearls is saying: The older MMOs (EQ I am looking at you) required a LOT of time before you even got to a place where you and friends could group up and kill stuff. But as entertainment became more accesible, as the variety expanded, spending 2 hours prepping for a Raid in EQ then 2 hours dieing, rezing, corpse-running had(has) a hard time competing with WoW where you log in, group up, hit the queue and pop your in killing stuff and having fun with less headache. (before anyone tries to argue, I like the old school challenge as well, and my MMO days are gone, the new stuff is unsatisfying - its the trend I am talking about, whether you like it or not)TTRPGs have the same issue. When I was 13 prep time was minimal...I didn't know better and my players didn't either. 3rd edition nearly broke me as a DM...prep time was WORK that competed with my fun time. 4E was a breath of fresh air in that regard, despite its flaws. Pathfinder did the right thing with the OGL and the 3E engine by doing most of the prep for you.Mearls is right, both systems are trying to compete for your time and money, but they are not necessarily competing with each other. Pathfinder succeeds becasue it has done much of the prep for you. D&D Next might/will succeed if it makes DM prep quick and painless.The publishing model has always focused on players: There are more players, therefore more potential sales. I've always felt that model was flawed. DMs are where the focus is needed, and pathfinder has that fixed publishing model. If 4E failed (arguable, I know) then it was because of trying to push sales to players and having little DM support.I think D&D 5E is sticking with the "player-centric" model, but moving the brand into other venues: Board Games such as Lords of Waterdeep eg. I think it can be successful. 5E will live or die on the backs of DMs. I 5E supports DMs, it will succeed. Ease of play is one approach. Ease of Customization (modules) will be another DM-centric factor. And quality adventures will be the another. Time will tell.</blockquote>

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