Why D&D Is Better Than World of Warcraft

[Najo]

Beyond that, there really needs to be a concerted effort to train new DMs.

Aside from STREAMLINED rules (not "lite" rules) This is one of the most important elements right here. Personally, I thinking WOTC should offer DMs sanctioning, give them points for running adventures in game stores, school clubs and conventions. The points lead to getting special rewards and material that cannot be gained any other way. Cool swag. DMs should get ranked on the website by player report cards that are sent in from each event. Put some cool long term and short term carrots out there for too, and things that encourage itermediate to veteran players to become sanctioned DMs.

The sanctioned DMs benefit from newly registered players and many different players rotating through their games. There could be values attached to the level of the event too. Conventions being the big score. Basically, something similar to the value, ranking and reward system that Magic the Gathering uses, but focused on the DMs more. They could also offer DMing classes or webinars, these could give the DM points too or increase his ranking somehow. This would solve alot of the issues with creating DMs, keeping them, and encouraging them to become better and go out and recruit new players with their games.

There also needs to be some serious work on growing the IMAGE of the game.
D&D needs a touch of, though it burns my tongue to say it, Hollywood.

Agree. Two bad movies and a low budget cartoon based on Dragonlance is not so good. Especailly in todays age when everything tied to IP is getting made into a movie that is cool-geek. Look what Transformers just did All kinds of awesome there. Props to Dreamworks, Hasbro and Michael Bay. Not to mention the good work all the actors did. I am a huge Transformer buff, and I loved the comedy and human element more than the rest of the movie. Sam's mom was the best! Anyrate, D&D needs to cool up and come out with a 'on the edge' fantasy movie done in the same vein as Transformers (and G.I.Joe potentially) will be.

I still have nightmares about the first D&D movie....terrible, terrible waking nightmares ... bleh

BTW, it is worth watching the DVD's extra stuff on the D&D movie if you are interested in seeing why it went to hell (aside from budget cuts). That director is the kind of individual that gives D&D players a bad name. As in, mazes and monsters 2, based on him as the main character, sort of bad name.

 

[Najo]

I sincerely hope that DDI is done right and isn't created as a cheap money grab (see v-minis being arbitrarily restricted and priced ridiculously, for no other reason than that the physical minis are distributed that way). If they don't screw it up, and make it ridiculously restrictive (say, requiring every player to own the same minis, forcing you to buy minis in booster packs, forcing you to buy duplicates...) it should be a really good step forward.

This is a major part of boosting the D&D market. Imagine (if done right) being able to get in a pick up game at any time of the day over the internet. Each DM acting essentially as a mini server. Could be really inspiring to play with people in that fashion. There needs to be a way to keep DMs playing convention style with open tables as opposed to finding a nice group and locking down all the time though. That is going to be the trick. The closed group (i.e. playing with specific friends each time) no longer helps the hobby's immediate growth, but closed group is 99% the preferred style of play.

 

[The Little Raven]

I sincerely hope that DDI is done right and isn't created as a cheap money grab (see v-minis being arbitrarily restricted and priced ridiculously, for no other reason than that the physical minis are distributed that way). If they don't screw it up, and make it ridiculously restrictive (say, requiring every player to own the same minis, forcing you to buy minis in booster packs, forcing you to buy duplicates...) it should be a really good step forward.

They've already said that randomized packs of virtual miniatures are not going to happen, so please drop it from further arguments.

 

[HeinorNY]

Why doesn't WotC simply create a DDM online game, pretty much like Magic Online? I'd play it, I think.

 

[Raloc]

They've already said that randomized packs of virtual miniatures are not going to happen, so please drop it from further arguments.

I did ask farther up the thread, but got no response. It's a relief to hear it.

 

[Scribble]

There needs to be a way to keep DMs playing convention style with open tables as opposed to finding a nice group and locking down all the time though. That is going to be the trick. The closed group (i.e. playing with specific friends each time) no longer helps the hobby's immediate growth, but closed group is 99% the preferred style of play.

There should be both.

WOTC should look into (and I'm willing to bet they are) promoting "game days" online. Liuke D&D Experience et al, but more often.

 

[Raloc]

One thing I think they should have is an official game meetup site, such as the (unofficial) one for Neverwinter Nights.