What do you think WotC should be making?

[drothgery]

Hi Folks,

This is a spin-off of Psion's "WotC's in a rough patch" thread.

What roleplaying products do you think WotC should be producing over the next year or so from a business point of view? Note well that that this doesn't mean what you yourself want them to make nor does it mean 4.0 (not that that's going to stop several of you from saying it). Essentially what RPG products do think they should produce to achieve the most profit?

Hmm... they should be making a Harry Potter RPG, but Rowling won't let them (not only would it be insanely popular, it'd be great for attracting younger players). Failing that, how about a 3.5 Rules Cyclopedia - fighter (possibly with pre-selected bonus feats), cleric, rogue, and sorcerer out to level 10; limitted selection of feats and spells (cut out a lot of the tactical combat options, too); critical DMG stuff; and some monsters in one book - aimed at new players and sold through toy and bookstore channels.

I think that doing a one-shot Greyhawk Campaing Setting or Dark Sun Campaign Setting or Arabian Adventures/Al-Qadim might do well in the short run (especially if done well), but WotC would really prefer people to play in FR or Eberron and they don't want to be in the business of supporting too many settings.

Contnue fleshing out Eberron -- region books on eastern and western Khorvaire, and Sarlona for psionics-lovers, and pretty much everything exept Xen'drik are the obvious ones to go along with what we already know about. And do enough FR books to keep the fans happy.

The PHB II is probably going to be a big seller, but I'm hard-pressed to think of another general D&D book that would pick up a wide audience.

I'd like a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic era book, and it might even be quite profitable if WotC launches it concurrently with KotoR 3 (assuming that's in the works).

 

[Greg K]

At this point, I want
1) a variant PHB that incorporates the Medium Save progression, class based defense designed to work *with* armor, Armor as DR, either WP/VP or damage save, and action points. Classes, spells, equipment, and combat would all be modified to work with these new mechanics. Ideally, crits would incorporate the amount by which you successfully struck your opponent.

With the addition of class based defense, armor as DR , and action points, the level of magic items would be toned down. Furthermore, to prevent spellcasters from just sitting back and creating items, the dangers of creating magic items as per 1e and 2e would be reinstated.

Finally, all the "kewl" weapons designed specifically for 3.X core books would be replaced with actual armor and weapons found in both 1e and 2e, but currently only found in 3.x supplements rather than the core rules

edit: The book would also collect all the domains.

2) a variant MM that incorporates the Medium Save progression, class based defense designed to work *with* armor, Armor as DR, either WP/VP or damage save, and action points. Monsters specifically designed for the 3.X Monster Manual would be removed and replaced with those 1e and 2e monsters currently statted in various WOTC products provided that the monsters were not specifically created for Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Kara-Tur, Planescape, or Ravenloft. Creatures created specifically for Planescape would be collected in one book dealing with the planes. Monsters created specifically for Ravenloft would appear in a book on horror campaigns. As for the other setting specific monsters they belong in their own settiing specific products.


3) One product that goes through the various 2e Complete Books Handbooks and other 2e products and does balanced variant classes (as per the 3.0 PHB/p.94, 3.5 PHB, and Unearthed Arcana) for the various 2e kits. In some instance a new class would created to ensure a balanced concept.
Edit: If a previously published base class from a non-core book covers a kit, it would be reprinted in this book.

With these three books, I get what I consider my ideal 3e (with the exception of wanting a replacement for the Vancian magic system). I get the streamlined mechanics that I feel are superior to those of previous editions. I get the additional d20 mechanics that I wanted and did not get in core 3.X, and still manage to avoid the supposedly "kewl" stuff that actually turns me off to most 3.X material from WOTC.

 

[Wraith Form]

DM's advice books about how to create adventures. NOT "dungeon crawl only" adventures....I'm talking about city, wilderness, mystery / whodunnit, puzzle, etc.

And related--more adventures (what the grognards call modules). Supposedly WotC is making 'em, but I want 'em in my grubby little paws ASAP.

 

[Testament]

More in the genre series, like
Heroes of The Throne (can you say Birthright?)
Heroes of Mystery (this'd be a must have for Eberron!)
Heroes of Drama

That sort of thing would be a seller, I reckon. Heck, I know I'd be buying the first two!

 

[Sunderstone]

Greyhawk HC Campaign Setting
Planescape 3.5 or even a "Sigil" HC - which could fit generically as well.

 

[Aaron L]

They should be makimg tacos... ??

 

[BaldHero]

I dont think they should spend any more time printing material for settings they have put behind them. Greyhawk, DarkSun,etc. They would be using up time and effort they could use to bolster current products. The new flagship so to speak. Keep the fresh new setting for D&D moving along by putting out books that add details most DMs dont have the time to make up, without making decisions that change the campaigns storyline.
A text on how to make the most out of city adventures, a book about cultures, etc.
d20 Future should definately use the existing StarDrive campaign setting that came wrapped up in Alternity. It was pretty well done, and was generic enough to be marketable i thought.
As far as other stuff, i would kill for the ability to purchase individual minis from their mini line. A dozen orks in one package, or perhaps an orc warband made up of various orc warriors? Drow hunting parties etc. That would be pretty damned handy. No so random.
L.

 

[Pants]

More Monster books (MMIV, FFII, etc.). I loves the monsters.

More 'Prestigious' Monster Books, maybe a fey book, a fiend book, a giant book, or an elemental book.

A Greyhawk Book

A Dark Sun Book

A Planescape Book

A Revised Epic Book

An Eberron 'Lords of Evil' Book detailing the Quori, the Lords of Dust, the Blood of Vol, Emerald Claw, the Aurum, and the Daelkyr, plus whatever other evil organizations exist in Eberron.

An Eberron book on the Eldeen Reaches, the Shadow Marches, the Demon Wastes, Droaam, and Darguun.

 

[diaglo]

What roleplaying products do you think WotC should be producing over the next year or so from a business point of view?

OD&D(1974) products.

 

[mcrow]

I would like to see 3.5 versions of all the classic D&D settings (Greyhawk, Spelljammer, and Darksun)