What Do YOU Want The Future of TTRPGs To Look Like?


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I'd stated a few times that the big things I was looking for for WOTC to be good stewards of the larger hobby were:

  • D&D 2024 core books published physically (so we can keep them forever)
  • Support for multiple VTTs (Roll20, Foundry, and Fantasy Grounds)
  • A 5.2 SRD
  • A good starter set

I think they're accomplishing all of these.

I've heard you talk about these (and your "candles" metaphor) often on your podcast. I'm no anti-WotC zealot - I do DM a 5e campaign fortnightly (albeit I admit I'd prefer 2nd Edn in my dreamworld!) - but I think it's interesting that three of these are either partially or wholly involuntary on their part:
  • Physical books. This edition was never, ever going to be digital-only. No major publisher is going down that route, yet. They wouldn't leave that much money on the table (regardless of which narrative on 2024 sales volumes one listens to). There's no credit for them on this one: it's like saying Ford gets credit for not showcasing an all-fusion powered lineup in 2025.
  • Support for multiple VTTs. Again, sure, but this is because their alternative - Sigil - was failing. If they had thought it feasible, then of course they would have supported only their own: I would, in their position! As an engineering director at a product-org tech company I am quite confident that they've known that this was at best a highly risky gamble for at least 24 months.
  • Lo, a 5.2 SRD is born unto us. This is the position most forced on them of all. Saying that this makes them good guardians of D&D is like saying "fair play to Mussolini: he didn't annex Greece in 1941!" No, but the fat, incompetent gimp did give it his best shot.
  • The starter set. I've not seen the content, just the form, but the form does look inventive and nicely simplified. Will it be a second* Phandelver? We'll see. But the physical learning tools and gimmicks look good.

*Third, in fact, with number two having been an impressively poorly-executed product given that they started with gold and ended up with pewter.
 


The future's here: with the Discord app groups can play anytime anywhere. GMs have access to all materials, images, music, players have their sheets and everyone has any kind of dice or playing cards wanted or needed.

Tabletop has evolved.
 

Until we get full on holodeck from Star Trek so we can do some serious LARPing, i'm good with what we have. I would like pdf versions of books that are pure tech manuals. No fancy art or prose. Just rules, searchable and with good bookmarks and hyperlinks (fe, if text is referencing Magic missile, klicking on Magic missile leads you to spell description). That would make game play easier. I'm F2F player only, so online tools are ok, but i don't really care about them. Sure, character builder with option to export character in editable pdf would be cool.
 

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