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<blockquote data-quote="RyanD" data-source="post: 3474223" data-attributes="member: 3312"><p>No, that's an unrelated topic. By "new game" I mean "a whole new game platform, unlike anything we've seen before".</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Yes. I think that WotC is moving pieces on the chessboard in preparation for a 4th Edition announcement, and I expect that there will be a big electronic component of whatever that announcement is.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Missed the list. Can someone post a link?</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Trust me when I say that WotC could bypass distribution tomorrow without much internal disruption. They already sell directly to more stores than there are hobby game stores so logistically they already have the necessary capability. Through the Premiere Store Program they have several years experience in selling in small volumes and dealing with independent retailers. Continued use of the 3-tier system by Wizards is due to factors beyond "necessity".</p><p></p><p>I do not expect that the future of D&D is as an all electronic product, or even as a product that is primarily distributed electronically.</p><p></p><p>I believe in a hybrid future, where the core delivery is still a printed rulebook, and a game played on a tabletop using dice.</p><p></p><p>One roadmap for hybridizing with an electronic component reads like this:</p><p></p><p>1) Add on-line tools for character & monster creation accessible for a subscription fee</p><p></p><p>2) Add on-line tools for campaign management (magic items, NPCs, persistent "objects" of consequence (titles, land, relationships, etc.))</p><p></p><p>3) Deliver a stand-alone (or internet connected) service that "runs the monsters" for DMs (maximizing their lethality and ensuring that the diverse powers & abilities are put to the best use).</p><p></p><p>4) Deliver a stand-alone (or internet connected) service that manages the world environment (weather, time tracking, trade & commerce, international relations, actions of major NPCs, etc.)</p><p></p><p>5) Deliver a stand-alone (or internet connected) AI DM which can run a game by itself without human intervention. </p><p></p><p>There are various other tools that can be added along this path to add value. An on-line "dungeon creator" that could produce a final output that matched the standard D&D look & feel would be nice. A character portrait generator would be nice. A system to allow players to upload & exchange adventure content with peer-reviewed ratings & rankings would be nice.</p><p></p><p>The more you think about ways to add digital value to the D&D game, the more ideas you're likely to come up with. Once you break the box of "D&D means paper books" you start coming up with all sorts of interesting things you can do outside that box.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>No.</p><p></p><p>If anything, the MMORPG business is a regression on the RPG model. The state of the art for online games is less flexible and far less interesting from a design & play standpoint than the tabletop environment. However, the MMORPG games are showing us by contrast what parts of the tabletop experience are dragging down interest in the format and leaving potential players out of the network. The time commitment, rules knowledge, and speed of play of the current tabletop games are negatives which need to be addressed. The system by which groups form and sustain themselves needs external support -- we need to stop leaving it up to chance.</p><p></p><p>The people at WotC certainly recognize these things. Most of the core R&D team have been working on D&D for years - often decades. They are aware that most people segment along clear lines of distinction -- people who like miniatures wargames rarely like RPGs. People who like competitive CCGs rarely like RPGs. Trying to make an RPG that appeals to those people is almost certainly doomed to failure.</p><p></p><p>Ryan</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RyanD, post: 3474223, member: 3312"] No, that's an unrelated topic. By "new game" I mean "a whole new game platform, unlike anything we've seen before". Yes. I think that WotC is moving pieces on the chessboard in preparation for a 4th Edition announcement, and I expect that there will be a big electronic component of whatever that announcement is. Missed the list. Can someone post a link? Trust me when I say that WotC could bypass distribution tomorrow without much internal disruption. They already sell directly to more stores than there are hobby game stores so logistically they already have the necessary capability. Through the Premiere Store Program they have several years experience in selling in small volumes and dealing with independent retailers. Continued use of the 3-tier system by Wizards is due to factors beyond "necessity". I do not expect that the future of D&D is as an all electronic product, or even as a product that is primarily distributed electronically. I believe in a hybrid future, where the core delivery is still a printed rulebook, and a game played on a tabletop using dice. One roadmap for hybridizing with an electronic component reads like this: 1) Add on-line tools for character & monster creation accessible for a subscription fee 2) Add on-line tools for campaign management (magic items, NPCs, persistent "objects" of consequence (titles, land, relationships, etc.)) 3) Deliver a stand-alone (or internet connected) service that "runs the monsters" for DMs (maximizing their lethality and ensuring that the diverse powers & abilities are put to the best use). 4) Deliver a stand-alone (or internet connected) service that manages the world environment (weather, time tracking, trade & commerce, international relations, actions of major NPCs, etc.) 5) Deliver a stand-alone (or internet connected) AI DM which can run a game by itself without human intervention. There are various other tools that can be added along this path to add value. An on-line "dungeon creator" that could produce a final output that matched the standard D&D look & feel would be nice. A character portrait generator would be nice. A system to allow players to upload & exchange adventure content with peer-reviewed ratings & rankings would be nice. The more you think about ways to add digital value to the D&D game, the more ideas you're likely to come up with. Once you break the box of "D&D means paper books" you start coming up with all sorts of interesting things you can do outside that box. No. If anything, the MMORPG business is a regression on the RPG model. The state of the art for online games is less flexible and far less interesting from a design & play standpoint than the tabletop environment. However, the MMORPG games are showing us by contrast what parts of the tabletop experience are dragging down interest in the format and leaving potential players out of the network. The time commitment, rules knowledge, and speed of play of the current tabletop games are negatives which need to be addressed. The system by which groups form and sustain themselves needs external support -- we need to stop leaving it up to chance. The people at WotC certainly recognize these things. Most of the core R&D team have been working on D&D for years - often decades. They are aware that most people segment along clear lines of distinction -- people who like miniatures wargames rarely like RPGs. People who like competitive CCGs rarely like RPGs. Trying to make an RPG that appeals to those people is almost certainly doomed to failure. Ryan [/QUOTE]
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