What is THE NEXT BIG THING?

[Aaron L]

I want to say one word to you. Just one word.



Are you listening?



Plastics . . .

No no no, it's clearly SLICED BREAD.

 

[broghammerj]

Finally, how about something really good to promote D&D to the public, like a good D&D movie, or a D&D cartoon that can appeal to both kids & adults (hey, if Batman: TAS, Superman, and JL can do it...). Have promotional material to along with it--a special D&D minis set featuring characters from the movie/cartoon, a sourcebook for the movie/cartoon, etc. And (though this may be unpopular with some), definitely have it all set in Greyhawk--that way, the default D&D materials can easily work for new players who're drawn in by the movie/cartoon.

I agree with your idea but disagree with the subject. Dragonlance had a huge following when I was in junior high. In my mind it's the next closest thing to LOTR. That's why my epic animated motion picture Dragonlance series with DND tagged on the title, IMHO would make money. Now that LOTR mania has died down, I am not sure it would be so successful. Maybe when the Hobbit is released would be a good time to put that out.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I agree with your idea but disagree with the subject. Dragonlance had a huge following when I was in junior high. In my mind it's the next closest thing to LOTR. That's why my epic animated motion picture Dragonlance series with DND tagged on the title, IMHO would make money. Now that LOTR mania has died down, I am not sure it would be so successful. Maybe when the Hobbit is released would be a good time to put that out.

I wonder about that. Hmm! Whenever the subject of fantasy novels, even non-gamer people have mentioned enjoying the first Dragonlance trilogy.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Hey guys!

Been think a little more about this, what about the full integration of the boardgame/miniatures/cards in a format not dissimilar to HeroQuest.

Instead of a Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide and so forth they bring out a number of boxed sets loosely based on different themes.

e.g.

#1 (Red Box): Jungle & Volcano-Temple theme (Kobolds, Lizard Men, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Fire Elementals etc.)...Isle of Dread?

#2 (Blue Box): Swamp & Sunken Caverns theme (Aberrations, Mind Flayers, Beholder, Water Elementals etc.)

#3 (Green Box): Forest & Tower theme (Tendriculos, Orcs, Ogres, Owlbear, Green Dragon etc.)

#4 (Black Box): Ruins & Tomb theme (Skeletons, Vampires, Zombie Dragon, Lich etc.)...Tomb of Horrors?

#5 (White Box): Glacier & Castle theme (Winter Wolves, Yeti, Rhemorhaz, Frost Giants, Ice Elemental etc.)

#6 (Gold Box): Desert & Pyramid theme (Blue Dragon, Mummies, Sphinx, Djinni, etc.)...Desert of Desolation?

Anyway, you get the idea.

I'm thinking about $60 per box.

Each box would have 4 PC minis, 4 NPC minis and maybe 30-40 other assorted minis (perhaps 1 huge, 2-3 large and the rest medium, small or tiny). They could also have 6 (12" x 12") cardboard tiles (with some wall and door pieces), 24 class and equipment cards for each character, and maybe 24 event cards. They would have a rulebook, an adventure book and the necessary dice.

Any of these boxes could act as the basic game, though each will have a different mix of PC minis (in terms of class and race), different class, equipment and event cards.

These basic boxes cover low-mid levels (effectively up to level 12). All of the theme sets would have a slightly smaller companion set (maybe $40) touching upon high-level/epic gaming.

So Companion Box #1 might go to Fire Giant Mines and the Plane of Fire. It could have the likes of Fire Giants, Iron Golems, Efreeti, Pit Fiends and generally more powerful monsters.

So instead of bringing out Monster Manual 1, 2, 3, Manual of the Planes, Oriental Adventures and so forth. Wizards of the Coast would bring out a different boxed set based around those themes every other month.

A Gray boxed set could be for the Astral Plane (fighting against Githyanki etc.)...the Companion set could be against the Lich Queen of the Githyanki.

A Purple boxed set could for the Undercaverns of the Drow...the Companion Boxed Set could be the Queen of the Demonweb Pits.

A Silver boxed set might have something akin to Expedition to the Barrier Peaks with a sort of Swords & Sorcery vs. Sci-fi flavour.

Each set would add new PC classes and races, new skill cards, new magic items, new spells.

Any thoughts?

The basic concept is excellent. The $60 price point is not.

By pricing it so high, you're basically relegating it to game and hobby stores, and the end result would be lower sales and lower profits than if you were to sell it for $40 ($25 or $30 for supplementary sets) in toy stores.

Looking at the components involved, you have:

Miniatures. Assume plastic prepainted minis, ala D&D Minis. Now let's say you have two starter sets worth - that's about 24 minis (6 PCs, 1 boss, 17 mooks of various types?). In D&D Minis terms, only the boss monster would be a rare; the mooks and PCs would be commons and uncommons anyway. Also, they'd all be the same miniatures, so you could do this cheaper than two actual starters.

Books. The books shouldn't cost too much to print; it's in a box, the rules short be short and simple, so you don't have to do a hardcover. Author costs are going to be negligible on any mass-market product. Probably two booklets should do it, one for the rules and one for the included adventure, neither significantly longer than the booklet that comes with every D&D Minis starter.

A board. I have no idea how much a nice board costs.

Cards. Minor costs for a company that could do something on this scale.

Basically, the only thing that could push it out of the range of 'two D&D Minis starters' is the board.

 

[caudor]

Mixing D&D with card games? Yuck.

I pretty much like the game the way it is. What I don't like is the amount of preparation time needed for a few hours play.

What could fix that? A descent electronic utility for gaming -- with sources. Don't get me wrong; I think using computer tools should be optional. I just want to use the power of computers to take much of the grunt work out of preparation. Keep the imagination, but cut down on the math.

The next big thing? Making the game much easier to prepare/play without dumbing it down.

 

[broghammerj]

I wonder about that. Hmm! Whenever the subject of fantasy novels, even non-gamer people have mentioned enjoying the first Dragonlance trilogy.

I thought it was well read outside of fantasy circles by non-gamers as well. I think animated cartoon would do well because you can put really high fantasy elements into play without the concern of crappy CGI.

It turns out someone had a similar idea as me. I guess there is an offical Dragonlance animated movie coming out:

http://www.dragonlance-movie.com/

My only hope is that they make it gritty and not too campy. Anyways, I think this could really spark interest in DND and make it more mainstream. LOTR and Harry Potter have made fantasy more mainstream.

 

[Morgan Stormane]

I envision a board that you fold out. The board is a computer platform game. You plug your character cartridges in and a voice issues forth from the platform giving the background for the adventure. The adventure is presented in scenes (much like a cpu game) but with 3d holographics. Your character is presented in miniature.

The platform runs the game and you see monsters attack your character with output of the battle presented on your character card. The platform does all battle calculations instantly and only performs a round of combat once all of the players have put their inputs in their character cards.

The platform comes with a couple of introductory scenarios and others are sold by the company to plug into the platform. Custom scenarios could be created on a card by those with the time, energy, and know-how to do so.

The Character card records events that have occured to the character in the adventure and rejects that particular character card from the given adventure in the future.

No DM. No prep time. Pure adventure with a satisfying 3d experience.

It also saves the face-to-face aspect of the game, but one is not required to play with a certain group - as long as your character is an appropriate level you are good to go.

Would it be as good as D&D to me? Not really, but it's closer and I think it could be quite popular.

I have to go w/ Pogre here...at least with his concept. I'd like to see the ability for this to be translated either to a similar remote unit or to a plain PC monitor (2D) for those over the internet that can't attend in person.

I especially like the idea that each player would be able to input their actions and then the system renders it in a 3D holograph once everyone is finished. It would retain the personal impact the current initiative system has and combine it with the "we-go" system that Battlefront has in it's "Combat Mission" games.

The idea could be extended to things like the Dungeon "adventure paths" where you pay a subscription for a full campaign to be used. It also would be extendable by the players to incorporate new PrC's or base classes & feats. The nice thing about tabletop D&D is that it's easy to say "I'm going to Power Attack the troll for 5 pts". It's hard in a CRPG, say NWN2, to actually click on the Power Attack button in a timely manner...

Anyway, Pogre's idea most closely resembles my own and I'd pay for subscription services to do it.

 

[scourger]

The next big thing? Making the game much easier to prepare/play without dumbing it down.

Right on.

 

[Shadowslayer]

Hey guys!

Been think a little more about this, what about the full integration of the boardgame/miniatures/cards in a format not dissimilar to HeroQuest.

Instead of a Players Handbook, Dungeon Masters Guide and so forth they bring out a number of boxed sets loosely based on different themes.
<snip>
Anyway, you get the idea.

I'm thinking about $60 per box.

Each box would have 4 PC minis, 4 NPC minis and maybe 30-40 other assorted minis (perhaps 1 huge, 2-3 large and the rest medium, small or tiny). They could also have 6 (12" x 12") cardboard tiles (with some wall and door pieces), 24 class and equipment cards for each character, and maybe 24 event cards. They would have a rulebook, an adventure book and the necessary dice.

Any of these boxes could act as the basic game, though each will have a different mix of PC minis (in terms of class and race), different class, equipment and event cards.

These basic boxes cover low-mid levels (effectively up to level 12). All of the theme sets would have a slightly smaller companion set (maybe $40) touching upon high-level/epic gaming.

So Companion Box #1 might go to Fire Giant Mines and the Plane of Fire. It could have the likes of Fire Giants, Iron Golems, Efreeti, Pit Fiends and generally more powerful monsters.

So instead of bringing out Monster Manual 1, 2, 3, Manual of the Planes, Oriental Adventures and so forth. Wizards of the Coast would bring out a different boxed set based around those themes every other month.

<snip>

Each set would add new PC classes and races, new skill cards, new magic items, new spells.

Any thoughts?

That all sounds pretty nifty, actually. Although I could see a few less minis than what you're saying. (Gotta keem em coming back for DDM boosters) What you describe is like HeroQuest on steroids. I like it.

As far as it goes, I'd go along big time with this "Making the game much easier to prepare/play without dumbing it down." idea. But I personally wouldn't want it to hinge on needing to use a computer to accomplish. YMMV.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

I agree with your idea but disagree with the subject. Dragonlance had a huge following when I was in junior high. In my mind it's the next closest thing to LOTR. That's why my epic animated motion picture Dragonlance series with DND tagged on the title, IMHO would make money. Now that LOTR mania has died down, I am not sure it would be so successful. Maybe when the Hobbit is released would be a good time to put that out.

First, I didn't know about the Dragonlance animated movie before posting that. So, there's some hope on that front.

However, there's always the (slight) chance that even the animated Dragonlance movie may not do well (even though it's good). Or worse, the (very extremely slim) chance that it'll totally suck.

Second, as popular as Dragonlance is (and FR for that matter), it has backstory. A lot of backstory. A relatively recently given amount of backstory that would have the fans up in arms if it were swept under the rug (unlike big name characters in comics, IMHO, since many of them have a HUGE amount of backstory developed over decades). It'd be nice to see Dragonlance & some FR storylines (Crystal Shard, Azure Bonds, etc.) on screen, but except for a few minor changes, we all know where the story will be going on this.

Granted, I think that the DL movies, done well, can serve as a great starting point for a big boost for D&D. But where DL is now compared to where it started from is a huge difference. And that could be a bit of a hindrance, IMHO.

Also, the thing I'd really want to see is a movie/tv show (I'm leaning more toward TV show) that gives a huge boost in the arm for core D&D/Greyhawk (since that's the default setting). Something that can easily integrate into the core stuff, and not have a lot of backstory/sourcebooks to impede interested potential players from jumping into the setting. Something that a person can see & say "I want to play one of those!" and they can easily be able to using the core rulebooks--there shouldn't be a repeat of the Spellfire/saurial/"new Macguffin" phenomena that cropped up in AD&D-FR.

I mean, there's a lot of good brand naming scattered throughout just the core books. Think of how badass it'd be for the heroes to encounter Mordenkainen & other members of the Circle of Eight, or have them seek out a legendary adventurer who survived the legendary Tomb of Horrors. Heck, how about having the adventurers having to fight/survive Warduke!

The DL movie is a good start, but I think something closer to core D&D would be really helpful.