D&D 5E (2014) The RPG or the Brand?

[weldon]

They really don't. Have you seen Michael Bay's movies?

They have a lot of explosions; I'll give them that. Strong narrative and developed characters? Not a chance!

WotC has narrative and characters up the wazoo.

I'm not going to argue that the Transformers movies were examples of good narrative or good characters, just that the characters are at the center of that whole brand. Optimus Prime, et al. There is a narrative that defines good guys and bad guys and sets the stage.

Hollywood bought the movie rights because of the characters, and the nostalgia attached to them.

There are lots of D&D characters from 40 years of games and books, but do any of them work for building the brand?

 

[Morrus]

There are lots of D&D characters from 40 years of games and books, but do any of them work for building the brand?

With luck and marketing, yes. I feel like I said that!

 

[TarionzCousin]

I've not seen any of the movies through....

You are completely missing out!

The D&D movies are awesome in that they make one appreciate how good the Lord of the Rings trilogy is.

 

[weldon]

With luck and marketing, yes. I feel like I said that!

You did say that. I was just hoping that you might elaborate.

 

[Mark CMG]

I'm often surprised that WotC/Hasbro didn't make a slimmer core RPG engine then build D&D on it, then acquire licenses like Conan, Harry Potter, LotR, etc and build RPGs for them up from the same core engine. Using properties like that which have a larger following, some notion of RPGs but not tons of cross over, are IMO the most likely way to build the hobbyand the brand in tandem. They may have missed their chance or they might just be in a position to get some of those licenses in these waning times for the properties while they can strike their best deal for each. And, in case it springs to mind for some, I do not think making a TTRPG from a CRPG property is a way to grow the hobby significantly. So things like Ultimate seem like a non-starter to me (as cool as some might find the idea) while the success of Star Wars as an RPG (and overall tabletop gaming crossover) seem like just what I would expect from those I have mentioned. It would be interesting to find out how many SW fans came to the RPG without prior RPG experience, and more broadly to tabletop gaming without prior tabletop gaming experience (beyond family games).

 

[painted_klown]

I'm often surprised that WotC/Hasbro didn't make a slimmer core RPG engine then build D&D on it, then acquire licenses like Conan, Harry Potter, LotR, etc and build RPGs for them up from the same core engine. Using properties like that which have a larger following, some notion of RPGs but not tons of cross over, are IMO the most likely way to build the hobbyand the brand in tandem. They may have missed their chance or they might just be in a position to get some of those licenses in these waning times for the properties while they can strike their best deal for each. And, in case it springs to mind for some, I do not think making a TTRPG from a CRPG property is a way to grow the hobby significantly. So things like Ultimate seem like a non-starter to me (as cool as some might find the idea) while the success of Star Wars as an RPG (and overall tabletop gaming crossover) seem like just what I would expect from those I have mentioned. It would be interesting to find out how many SW fans came to the RPG without prior RPG experience, and more broadly to tabletop gaming without prior tabletop gaming experience (beyond family games).

You raise an excellent point IMO. I know a LOT of star wars fans, but none of them play the RPG because of it. To be honest, I didn't even know there was an official star wars rpg unitl I got into rpg games.

On the other hand, D&D is known as an rpg, first and foremost. I think that alone should garner some new fans of the game, if the movie/toy/videogame/etc products become popular enough.

Personally, I feel a successful movie would attract more new players than the toys or video game would (mostly because younger kids interested in toys may not understand the rules and the video gamers I know are generally video gamers first, everything else second).

I think WOTC did a very smart thing by making the core rules available for free. It makes it MUCH easier to convince people to play when you can tell them they need not pay any money. Just get the free (and legal) PDF file from the official website and show up at the table with a precursory understanding of the game.

 

[Gecko85]

Seems to me WotC is doing a fine job of revitalizing the brand of D&D. As of last night when I checked, the PHB was #100 on the Amazon Book Sales list. That's #100 out of all books they sell, regardless of type. Children's books, novels, cookbooks, diet books, medical books, you name it. 100 out of *all* books sold. (DMG and MM aren't too far behind.) And the core books, plus the DM Screen, Starter Set, and HotDQ completely own the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section. I'd be willing to bet a D&D book hasn't cracked the top 100 in a very long time until now.

 

[variant]

They need to bring back Spellfire in some form. I got into it because it was D&D, I kept playing it because it was far superior to the competitor.

 

[weldon]

I'm often surprised that WotC/Hasbro didn't make a slimmer core RPG engine then build D&D on it, then acquire licenses like Conan, Harry Potter, LotR, etc and build RPGs for them up from the same core engine.

I suspect Hasbro operates on the assumption that there's a lot more money in owning the brand than in making accessory products for someone else's brand.

Personally, I feel a successful movie would attract more new players than the toys or video game would (mostly because younger kids interested in toys may not understand the rules and the video gamers I know are generally video gamers first, everything else second).

This is kinda how I see it working too. Something like the Marvel Universe where the movies make a bazillion dollars which keeps the comic business healthy so they can hire great writers and artists to create interesting characters and stories that turn into billion dollar movie properties.

Seems to me WotC is doing a fine job of revitalizing the brand of D&D. As of last night when I checked, the PHB was #100 on the Amazon Book Sales list.

Now how do they build on the success of the books to increase the overall brand? Can it be more than core rulebooks?

 

[Mark CMG]

I suspect Hasbro operates on the assumption that there's a lot more money in owning the brand than in making accessory products for someone else's brand.

Oh, they'd still own the D&D brand and they'd be coupling it with many other strong brands through such a licensing scheme, as with Star Wars (e.g. Harry Potter RPG using the D&D game engine, etc.).