What if 5e is a board game?

[malkav666]

Before I get started I would just like to say this is not a hate thread. Just some from left field thoughts. I know I have seen trash talk stating 4e is like a boardgame. But here is where I ask:

Its that a really a bad thing?

What if if 5e releases as a board game? Often I think of what my purchasing habits would have been if 4e had been released as a board game. From the looks of the WOTC D&D support, a LOT of their supplements would support a board game version of the system very well. So humor me by reading my made up description of WOTC's D&D brand supporting a board game as the central release of the franchise.

Core Game: Consists of enough tiles, scenarios, characters, and monsters for many many sessions. Most groups just to pick up and play immediately. This would come with pre-printed characters that could be customized (just like the characters in the Ravenloft game currently). It would also contain information on linking scenarios and running small campaigns. I am thinking that the highest level characters would get to in the core set is level 2-4.

Major updates (2-3 times a year): These would be boxed sets with new tiles, characters, monsters, treasures, and scenarios, and possibly new rules concepts (like new types of challenges) for those scenarios. These sets would have enough material to be run by themselves so that WOTC could serve customers that only wanted a single board game. But they would contain some reference on using the new toys with the core set (perhaps mixing and matching character options or adding the new content to an existing core campaign).

Supplementary: (monthly via DDI & 1-3 times a year in print) The core board game could be supported with advanced options for making custom characters and scenarios via print release and DDI. Or perhaps rules for expanding characters to higher levels? New scenarios could be released via DDI. And they could double up on the value of any art being made for the tabletop game by digitizing the art and using it for the VTT. Aside from supporting player options supplements could also include adventures and campaigns, (possibly including custom tiles, tokens, etc) I think what would be most important in developing this material is compatibility with the core game. Meaning could I get a few randoms at my FLGS and give them the pre-made characters from the core and play them at a table with advanced characters and scenarios and not have the players playing the core toons feel completely underpowered.

Many of WOTC's other lines of RPG related products could easily be made to support a board game core as well as maintaining their use for general consumption:

Dungeon tiles: This is a no brainer. WOTC could include a few 1-2 page scenarios on handouts with each pack. The only issue I see is that dungeon tiles are not currently interlocking (although for some of the sets I wish they were) and the board game tiles would most likely be interlocking.

Character Power Cards: This seems like a good fit as well. You could make cards to expand the options of characters. Heck while we are on that topic, they could add treasure cards, challenge cards, or whatever other types of cards the core game uses to the packs.

Minatures: I know WOTC canned painted minis. But imagine if they came with stat cards for use in the core board game. I know they came with stats for the mini standalone and eventually 4e stats. But they do lend themselves well to supporting a board game release. They could even release new pre-made characters in miniature form with a few cards detailing their powers.

I think its very doable. I know for me personally the whole 4e roll out and presentation didn't really do it for me. I keep finding myself wondering what if the Ravenloft board game had been released first and the PHB second as a way of adding options to that game. Would I still be buying releases to upgrade that experience?

In my case that answer is likely yes. I LOVE the two D&D boardgames based on 4e (adventure system). They are very easy to pick up and play and IMO ripe for expansion. I am sure there are many 4e fans that would dislike the idea, heck I am not even sure if it is a good idea. But it seemed interesting enough to at least discuss. And in my case its a D&D product that would get WOTC some of my dollars for something other than tiles and MTG.

As it stands now 4e seems like it is dancing with very gamist concepts. What I am wondering is what would happen if they took those gamist concepts and made a board game and then added all the other bells and whistles later in support of that release?

What are your thoughts?

love,

malkav

 

[Umbran]

So far, I've not seen having lots of hardware bits adding much to the tabletop RPG experience, for my players. So, if they go with a board and lots of gewgaws, I'm unlikely to play the game much.

 

[Morrus]

If 5E is a board game, role-playing-game players will play something else. Boardgamers might play it, though.

 

[malkav666]

So far, I've not seen having lots of hardware bits adding much to the tabletop RPG experience, for my players. So, if they go with a board and lots of gewgaws, I'm unlikely to play the game much.

What If the board game was just the core release, and TTRPG play per norm could occur without the hardware with the supplementary material?

Would you be so turned off by the board game being at the heart of the release schedule that you would still avoid the game?

love,

malkav

 

[Greg K]

Yes, a board game at the core would turn me off and so I would avoid it. I dislike board games- they leave me bored.

 

[Jimlock]

What if the game is already a board game?

 

[john112364]

What If the board game was just the core release, and TTRPG play per norm could occur without the hardware with the supplementary material?

Would you be so turned off by the board game being at the heart of the release schedule that you would still avoid the game?

love,

malkav

I think it would depend on how well it played without the hardware. If you need the hardware to play the game then it's a boardgame and not an RPG.
If you can play equally well with or without then that would be interesting to say the least.
If I had to buy the hardware just to get the core rules that would likely be a deal breaker. Something like that would be fairly expensive. The books go for, what, $35USD and Conquest of Nerath is going for $80USD. That would be more than I would want to put out at once.
If I had the option of buying the core rules separate then I wouldn't mind at all. It could very well grow the hobby by bringing in new blood.
I have to admit, my first reaction was "That's ridiculous!" But as I was typing I started to think that this is an interesting idea.

 

[AeroDm]

I think 5e will likely contain many elements (or support for many elements) that are similar to board games. It will not, however, be a board game. Things like tiles, miniatures, and power cards are useful for providing rules to players in a timely fashion to when those rules are needed. As a bonus, they are hard to download. They do not, however, make it a board game.

I'll be interested to see if these elements net add or net detract from the game. My gut says me they will (so long as optional) net add.

 

[Bedrockgames]

I do remember them releasing something kind of like this as a starter set sometime during 3E. But I think the idea was to transition non rpg players into the hobby by using a more familiar format. My guess is transitioning completely into boardgame would result in people finding another game. I think most of us play D&D in its various forms because it is an RPG, not because we want it to be more of a board game.

What I think they are doing now is smart though. I played Castle Ravenloft and it was incredible (and I am a die-hard 2E ravenloft fan who doesn't play 4E). Their other board games look like they might be enjoyable as well, so I may buy them. But I don't use board games to replace role playing, I use them to take a break from role playing when I need something quick to set up where people can relax and talk about other things (since it can be harder to have involved discussions during D&D). I hope they continue with a strong boardgame line; I just don't expect them to transition D&D into a boardgame.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

A straight boardgame would not be played by the majority if rgp'ers, at least not as an rpg. Unless the game tranisioned seamlessy to more traditional rpg then it is not likely to be a flier.