Stage 1: Basic Set information and Price! (and other D&D info from GAMA)

[MerricB]

D&D Basic Game - $24.95
September 2004
10-1/2" x 11-1/2" x 2-1/2" boxed set
Contents:
- two 8 page full color starter rulebooks
- 4 double-sided boardlike map tiles
- 16 miniatures
- character cards
- advanced rulebook
- dice

(Consider, an entry pack of 16 minis retails for $19.95, this seems a steal).

Cheers!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Definitely a steal! I was hoping it'd be like this...only thing is...are the miniatures going to be randomized or not? I've seen people mentioning things both ways...

 

[Mark]

I'd pick up a copy just for the minis and the dice... )

 

[MerricB]

I'll continue transcribing the slides from GAMA (through GamingReport) here as regards the basic set and player acquisition strategy - it'll be easier for everyone rather than downloading the images.


Stage I Goal: Acquire New Players
Acquisition Marketing: Try!
* Purchase Basic Game or Starter Set

Stage I Consumer:
* Profile
- Interested in D&D (6.1 million "potential" players)
* Migration Goals:
- introduce the basic concepts of the D&D brand
- teach roleplaying concepts
- enter D&D with a playable character
* Products
- D&D Basic game
- D&D Miniatures Starter Set
- Young Reader Novels

Roleplaying: the D&D Basic Game
* The ideal product to introduce new players to roleplaying
* Gently guides new players from their expectations of a "normal" board game into D&D's more unusual concepts
* Product content, component quality, and price point comparable to mainstream board games
* A no-compromises acquisition product

D&D Miniatures
* Miniatures are a brand-extension
- Provide a new way to play
- Provide RPG accessories
* D&D Miniatures will always be
- playable out of the box
- iconic D&D characters and monsters
- linked with other D&D products
* D&D Miniatures will always provide
- fast, competitive play with miniatures
- ready to use D&D monsters and characters

D&D Miniatures Starter Set
* Provides everything needed to get started
- 40-page rule book
- 16 figures
- battlegrid map
- d20
- damage counters
* Entry point for potential players
- competitive play
- familiar-looking experience
- introduces d20 rules system


More soon!

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

Definitely a steal! I was hoping it'd be like this...only thing is...are the miniatures going to be randomized or not? I've seen people mentioning things both ways...

I don't know - but given Rob Heinsoo recently mentioned that the Black Dragon would be appearing in a non-random product, I would guess that this is the one. Non-random miniatures, but with a Black Dragon!

Cheers!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I don't know - but given Rob Heinsoo recently mentioned that the Black Dragon would be appearing in a non-random product, I would guess that this is the one. Non-random miniatures, but with a Black Dragon!

Cheers!

So not the best thing to buy over and over again like the Entry Packs, but if you need a hoard of Black Dragons.....

 

[MerricB]

Young Reader Novels

* Draw tweens into fantasy
* Readers energised by Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings films
* Mirrorstone Books - new imprint
* Knights of the Silver Dragon
- entry level, ages 8-12
- Hardy Boys meets LotR in the dungeon
* Dragonlance: the New Adventures
- ages 10-12
- recurring teenage cast of adventurers

Young Reader Novels

* Knights of the Silver Dragon
- Secrets of the Spiritkeeper (August)
- Riddle in Stone (August)
- $5.99, digest size, 192 pages
- readers can become Knights themselves

* Dragonlance: the New Adventures
- Temple of the Dragonslayer (July)
- The Dying Kingdom (July)
- $5.99, digest size, 256 pages

Acquisition Marketing: Capture Tweens and Teens
* Large-scale mainstream marketing push
* Year-long PR campaign to build awareness and modify negative brand perceptions
* Turn potential players into active customers
- game demos at Worldwide D&D Game Day
- interactive web demo supported by 3 waves of print and online advertising
- over 47 million impressions


More soon!

 

[Flyspeck23]

Great news!

I actually considered buying the D&D boardgame (40+ unpainted miniatures, but not very detailed) for the occasional game at the pub, but this game sounds like a winner.

Are there some more informations on the actual game? I guess it'll use the same rules as the D&D miniature game, but what about the player characters, magic items and such?

 

[MerricB]

Right - that's the Stage I slides done, bar the graphs, etc. Now for Stage II!

Cheers!

 

[johnsemlak]

I'm bumping this scoop up for those who missed it. Thanks for the info Merric