D&D (2024) What is positive?

[Zardnaar]

Trying to change the narrative from what? What is it exactly that you think they game designers are trying to do?

What I see is game designers trying their best to explain what their goals and expectations are for the new "version" of the game. They don't want to call it a new "edition" because in the past new editions of D&D where not compatible with older editions. They designers have been telling us over and over again, that their intention is that 5e adventures and supplements will work with the new version. Calling it a new edition would actually cause more confusion and lead to people making incorrect assumptions about the game.

WotC/Hasbro doesn't actually care what version of D&D the game someone is playing. Just that they are playing D&D. D&D is fundamentally a ridiculously cheap hobby. My current D&D group has probably bought under a dozen book between them over the 5 years we have played.

If the new D&D movie is successful it will easily make more money than every D&D book ever sold. All editions ever, combined.

Only way it would do that is rack in 2 billion and that's debable on all the previous editions combined.

I have my suspicions about the movie the key clue is March release.

 

[codo]

You don't think they want people to buy their new corebooks?

And the movie looks pretty good, but that's very much putting their eggs in one basket if they're counting on it.

I am sure the designers would like it if everyone buys their new books. They are working hard on the new rules, and I am sure they are proud of them. They don't however, need everyone to like or buy the new books. I know one of the designers, I think it was Crawford, has repeatedly said that they know they can't please everyone, and ultimately don't care if you are playing 5e, and older edition, or even a different game system completely. The important thing is that you are playing rpgs in the first place. Ultimately the actual book sales are chump change, the real money is in movies, toys, and video games.

Only way it would do that is rack in 2 billion and that's debable on all the previous editions combined.

I have my suspicions about the movie the key clue is March release.

So one D&D movie being being as popular as Spiderman: No way Home, could arguably make more money than every D&D book sold in fifty years? I am not saying it will, but it is certainly possible. The movie looks fun, and that owlbear is awfully cute. You never know.

 

[Zardnaar]

I am sure the designers would like it if everyone buys their new books. They are working hard on the new rules, and I am sure they are proud of them. They don't however, need everyone to like or buy the new books. I know one of the designers, I think it was Crawford, has repeatedly said that they know they can't please everyone, and ultimately don't care if you are playing 5e, and older edition, or even a different game system completely. The important thing is that you are playing rpgs in the first place. Ultimately the actual book sales are chump change, the real money is in movies, toys, and video games.


So one D&D movie being being as popular as Spiderman: No way Home, could arguably make more money than every D&D book sold in fifty years? I am not saying it will, but it is certainly possible. The movie looks fun, and that owlbear is awfully cute. You never know.

D&D broke one or two billion dollars a few years back I can't remember the exact number. If it's the latter number the D&D movie has 0 chance.

 

[codo]

D&D broke one or two billion dollars a few years back I can't remember the exact number. If it's the latter number the D&D movie has 0 chance.

The exact details don't mater. It was just an example I pulled out of my ass to show how insignificant the amount of money the game books actually bring in to a company the size of Hasbro.

The fact that a movie could bring in more money than every game book ever, shows why they don't ultimately care if you are playing 5e, 1D&D, or even a completely different rpg. They just care that you care enough about D&D to buy a ticket to the new movie... and maybe a stuffed owlbear, oooh, and those new D&D lego sets look pretty cool... and maybe I will buy one of the new Funco Pops... but just one.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The exact details don't mater. It was just an example I pulled out of my ass to show how insignificant the amount of money the game books actually bring in to a company the size of Hasbro.

The fact that a movie could bring in more money than every game book ever, shows why they don't ultimately care if you are playing 5e, 1D&D, or even a completely different rpg. They just care that you care enough about D&D to buy a ticket to the new movie... and maybe a stuffed owlbear, oooh, and those new D&D lego sets look pretty cool... and maybe I will buy one of the new Funco Pops... but just one.

I think Perkins may be ok with people engaging in D&D however they want, but the corporation he works for definitely wants you to buy their new books.

 

[Zardnaar]

The exact details don't mater. It was just an example I pulled out of my ass to show how insignificant the amount of money the game books actually bring in to a company the size of Hasbro.

The fact that a movie could bring in more money than every game book ever, shows why they don't ultimately care if you are playing 5e, 1D&D, or even a completely different rpg. They just care that you care enough about D&D to buy a ticket to the new movie... and maybe a stuffed owlbear, oooh, and those new D&D lego sets look pretty cool... and maybe I will buy one of the new Funco Pops... but just one.

Remember D&D Kreo?

So yeah good luck with that.

 

[codo]

I think Perkins may be ok with people engaging in D&D however they want, but the corporation he works for definitely wants you to buy their new books.

Sure "the corporation" wants you to buy their new books. (Ignoring the philosophical implications in discussing what a corporation "wants".)
"They" also understand that you can never make a product that will please everyone. They make the best book they can that they think will appeal to the most people and brings in the largest number of new people.

It is much more important to them that you identify as a D&D player and that you buy D&D stuff (Movies, Books, Videogames, Toys, etc.), than it is that you play the most currant version. It wouldn't surprise me if they expect 95%+ of their revenue to come from non-game sources.

 

[codo]

Remember D&D Kreo?

So yeah good luck with that.

Vaguely. It's kind of amazing how much D&D's status has risen in the last decade isn't it. 10 years ago the best we got was knock-off legos. Now the decade old core rule books are crack the top 10 in amazon of all books! My sister was out at a bar a couple of weekends ago and she ran into a bunch of college girls, with their books, sitting in a booth leveling up their characters. Dungeons and Dragons is Actually Cool!

D&D is cool, what a world! So, yes I think the D&D movie might do a bit better than you think. Not to mention it actually looks like a lot of fun.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Sure "the corporation" wants you to buy their new books. (Ignoring the philosophical implications in discussing what a corporation "wants".)
"They" also understand that you can never make a product that will please everyone. They make the best book they can that they think will appeal to the most people and brings in the largest number of new people.

It is much more important to them that you identify as a D&D player and that you buy D&D stuff (Movies, Books, Videogames, Toys, etc.), than it is that you play the most currant version. It wouldn't surprise me if they expect 95%+ of their revenue to come from non-game sources.

When has that ever happened?

 

[codo]

When has that ever happened?

It hasn't happened yet, but that is the strategy. Ask me again in six months.