D&D 5E Why is WoTc still pushing AP's when the majority of gamers want something else?

[Corpsetaker]

According to a Wizards survey, most people run their games using homebrew. Now this can mean anything from using an established setting but giving it your own stamp, or using a completely made up world.

Now Wizards always claimed they were using the surveys to give people what they want but it seems what people want doesn't align with that Wizards wants. When people say they run most of their games using homebrew then you would think they would be jumping to make more regional books, non setting books, and more DM's aids. I think this has been a product of the surveys all along but that's another topic.

So Wizards, we have told you what we want and how we run our games and yet you still try and shove AP's down our throats.

Why?

 

[happyhermit]

Why is Corpsetaker still constantly making these obnoxious nerd-rage threads when the majority of forumites want something else?

Your initial premise is nonsensical. The amount of people who run homebrew says nothing about the demand for "adventures", nor even the demand for other products. I run homebrew, prior to 5e I had purchased almost no modules or adventures but I am VERY happy with LMOP, SKT and CoS. My demand for other products like setting materials is extremely low, after all I run homebrew. I could use a few more monsters so I got Volo's and love it.

I don't really want anything else right now, especially a big book of crunch, but others do so eventually it will come, probably in a form palatable to most.

"Shove APs down our throats"

 

[CapnZapp]

So Wizards, we have told you what we want and how we run our games and yet you still try and shove AP's down our throats.

Why?

I believe this is because different people want different regions.

"An adventure path" and "a regional supplement" might sound equivalent, but likely isn't. While the first can be one single product many people buy, the latter likely has to be a whole series of products in order to attract as many customers.

Wizards has identified a product enough customers will buy, and is supplying that product. The time for specialist, narrow or niche support has passed (at least in print; online is another matter). I believe this includes previous-edition products such as "Shining South" or "Silver Marches" or "Serpent Kingdoms".

Or, indeed, even "Birthright", "Blackmoor" or "Dark Sun", but here I wouldn't rule official print support out completely.

 

[Oofta]

Hmm. Last time I checked, if you don't want to buy an AP you don't have to.

If people weren't interested in AP's, they wouldn't buy them. If they weren't selling, they wouldn't be produced.

Wait a minute I think I hear the WOTC police at my door here to tell me I haven't been purchasing my quota ...

 

[Corpsetaker]

Why is Corpsetaker still constantly making these obnoxious nerd-rage threads when the majority of forumites want something else?

Your initial premise is nonsensical. The amount of people who run homebrew says nothing about the demand for "adventures", nor even the demand for other products. I run homebrew, prior to 5e I had purchased almost no modules or adventures but I am VERY happy with LMOP, SKT and CoS. My demand for other products like setting materials is extremely low, after all I run homebrew. I could use a few more monsters so I got Volo's and love it.

I don't really want anything else right now, especially a big book of crunch, but others do so eventually it will come, probably in a form palatable to most.

"Shove APs down our throats"

This is a forum dedicated to RPG's. This is not a forum that only acknowledges positive things about RPG's. It is called a discussion forum for a reason.

The amount of people who do run homebrew has everything to do with it. Most people who run homebrew also run homebrew adventures and not AP's. People want to make up their own stories whether it's trough an established setting or one they made up. It's been about Wizards agenda all along because the moment the people's wants don't coincide with Wizard's direct then we see Wizards going in the same direction they planned on going.

Also, who said anything about wanting a big book of crunch? It's funny how this is the default response to people asking for something different. It's like that's the only argument you have.

 

[Corpsetaker]

Hmm. Last time I checked, if you don't want to buy an AP you don't have to.

If people weren't interested in AP's, they wouldn't buy them. If they weren't selling, they wouldn't be produced.

Wait a minute I think I hear the WOTC police at my door here to tell me I haven't been purchasing my quota ...

Actually, when it's the only product out there people will buy it because it may have a few bits they want, or they collect D&D books. Most people would rather have something than nothing.

 

[Oofta]

Actually, when it's the only product out there people will buy it because it may have a few bits they want, or they collect D&D books. Most people would rather have something than nothing.

Well, looking at my recent D&D related purchases I see Volo's Guide to the Realms (fun fluff with some new monsters) and a Kobold Press Tome of Monsters.

Nary an AP in sight. Don't get me wrong, I'd love a Monster Manual expansion with higher level monsters. Once I'm done with my current campaign I may pick up Ravenloft and run my group through it because it would be kind of nice to take a break from running my own campaign world.

But nobody is "forcing" anything down my throat. Last time I checked, WOTC is a business and needs to make a profit in order to survive. I'd rather have the occasional Volo's Guide and 3rd party books than a glut of product thrown out there just to meet some artificial "demand".

I am really happy they didn't pull some of the shenanigans they did with 4E like not including all dragon types in the first Monster Manual or throwing ever more mediocre content at us. Do you really want another book with the equivalent of the Shard Mind?

 

[happyhermit]

This is a forum dedicated to RPG's. This is not a forum that only acknowledges positive things about RPG's. It is called a discussion forum for a reason.

Thank you, Captain Obvious, we seem to all agree on this.

The amount of people who do run homebrew has everything to do with it. Most people who run homebrew also run homebrew adventures and not AP's. People want to make up their own stories whether it's trough an established setting or one they made up. It's been about Wizards agenda all along because the moment the people's wants don't coincide with Wizard's direct then we see Wizards going in the same direction they planned on going.

Agenda? Try long term plan, and many of us are extremely happy with them actually having one other than the default "MORE BOOKS". Let me try to explain where your reasoning is wrong.

"Most people who run homebrew also run homebrew adventures and not AP's"

Is pure conjecture AFAIK. Even if it is true it does not tell us whether or not buy they will buy APs (or be happy with them), it also doesn't mean that they will buy some hypothetical product like "regional books".

"People want to make up their own stories whether it's trough an established setting or one they made up."

Yes, and they are doing so and will continue to do so.

Also, who said anything about wanting a big book of crunch? It's funny how this is the default response to people asking for something different. It's like that's the only argument you have.

Uhm, I did? Rather than suggesting that it's the only argument I have, and that I am the same as everyone else who shares a similar opinion on one thing, perhaps you could consider what I actually wrote as I did your post.

I run homebrew almost exclusively. There is a "major mechanical expansion" in the works. I don't really want a "major mechanical expansion" and worry that it will result in as much harm as good. On the other hand I have 0 ill will towards any adventures, they can do essentially no harm to the game for me and yet several have been amazing for me.

Judging by the teams past performance I will not be surprised if I get excited or at least not worried by that book by the time we learn the details. They might even make setting materials that I would buy, but solid adventures are a no-brainer at this point.

 

[cmad1977]

Bored now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ath-kethin]

WotC (Mike Mearls) has repeatedly said that sales are higher on 5e products than they were or have been for products in earlier editions. That fact seems to belie your belief that a "majority" want something else.

If another product type was in greater demand, WotC would publish it. Why does WotC keep publishing APs? They keep selling well. It's not a mystery.