D&D 4E WotC and 4E Communication Feedback

[ShinHakkaider]

I understand. The part I do not understand is your "I have made my decison already" part.

How is that any different from the people who have said that they have already made their decision TO switch to 4E? Are they just as misguided?

Anyway, I'm one of those people that for the most part will not be switching over to 4E. I'm still very interested in 3.5 and plan on running a 3.5 game with the thousands of dollars of 3E /3.5 material that I have on my shelves and on my computers.

One thing that I feel needs to be clearly communicated at some point down the line is whether or not we'll be able to use our 3E books with 4E. If so, great it won't be that much of a loss. If not, say so in no uncertain terms. Andy Collins during the video podcast inferred that it makes no sense to convert a character from 3E to 4E. They're just that different. What I want to know is what about adventures? Dungeon Magazine adventures, Expedition to Castle Greyhawk, etc. What about books like the Complete Series or Tome of Magic / Battle? Will I still be able to use a 3E statted monster vs. 4E characters. These are the sort of thing that may be the deciding factor in making someone like me (and I'm certain a fair number of others, maybe not on this board where people seem to be overwhelmingly in favor of a new edition and willing to set heretics on fire ) actually consider picking up the 4E rules to at least see what it's all about as opposed to my position now, which is that 4E is going to invalidate all of the 3E product.

*and yes, I know no one is going to come over to my house and take all of my 3E product. That's not what this is about, so in advance, save it for someone else who hasnt figured that part out yet.

I was originally excited about the DDI and was fully willing to pay up to $15 a month for it's usage. Now if its going to only support 4E game play then that would be a no. If it would support 3E as well you'd still have someone like me as a subscriber even though I would have very little use for a 4E DUNGEON / DRAGON Magazine. These are the type of things that I feel need to be communicated CLEARLY and DEFINITIVELY at some point. Not too soon after your crew knows, the potential customers should know.

Just because right now I'm strongly opposed to switching to 4E doesn't mean that somewhere down the line you guys (meaning WOTC) might not say something or present something that would make me reconsider my point. Granted thousands of dollars of product is going to be a STRONG incentive to stay 3E, but it doesn't mean that there's NOTHING that will convince me or those like me.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I was originally excited about the DDI and was fully willing to pay up to $15 a month for it's usage. Now if its going to only support 4E game play then that would be a no. If it would support 3E as well you'd still have someone like me as a subscriber even though I would have very little use for a 4E DUNGEON / DRAGON Magazine. These are the type of things that I feel need to be communicated CLEARLY and DEFINITIVELY at some point. Not too soon after your crew knows, the potential customers should know.

I think that's something you just shouldn't expect.

Even IF Dragon and Dungeon were still in print form, they'd move on to the new edition. They didn't support 2e when 3e came out, why would we expect any difference now? And I don't think moving them into a digital version would change that.

Now, the virtual game table of the D&DI support is a good question. Will you be able to run 3e games with it? Or are the 4e rules just hardwired in?

 

[Mokona]

Since Wizards probably makes between $7.50 and $12 for that $30 book

It depends on what you intend by "makes". Book manufacturers of all stripes only get about 50% of MSRP from wholesalers and distributors. So Wizards of the Coast receives approximately $15 in cash for each $29.95 book sold.

However, Wizards (like all publishers) then has to pay kickbacks (disguised as marketing and returns) to book store chains like Barnes & Noble. Also, they pay for the cost of printing, binding, and shipping the books. R&D staff or freelancers get paid to write the books. Finally, marketing expenses and staff support the release of new products with ads, GenCon stuff, organized play, etc.

Your estimated range of profit from $7.50 to $12 per book is probably too high.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Also, I dont understand how anyone who has read the material about the DDI can think that the DDI is mandatory to play 4E. If there are going to be hardcopies of the rules then I'm thinking you can play the game with the hardcopy rules.

That's just me though, I could be absolutely wrong. If they are going to make the DDI mandatory in the future then that's when you stop playing D&D 4E, but right now? I don't think that's what they're doing.

 

[Plane Sailing]

There was a whole bunch of stuff that was sorta 'concerned about DI', so I've split it off into its own thread.

This should be a reminder to keep *this* thread on topic. Thanks

 

[Kristian Serrano]

Mike, I have been very actively listening to the D&D and Gamer Radio Zero podcasts as well as paying careful attention to the YouTube videos from GenCon. On top of that I have been trying to keep up with the WotC Staff blogs and the general 4e forums both here and on the WotC forums. I'd like to think that my understanding of 4e and the D&DI is pretty clear and thorough, but I'm sure there's so much information I am missing as well as others, which brought a serious problem to my attention.

WotC desperately needs a single source for distributing or collating all things related to 4e, and there is no such source. Instead, we are all scrambling around the web trying to find whatever we can. Additionally, while the podcasts are nice to listen to, they are not the best method for delivering the details of what WotC has planned for the D&DI.

For example, the only mentioning I've seen or heard of a price for the online activation fee for e-copies of books indicated that it would probably be $1. Don't ask me where or when I heard or saw that, because I can't remember, and I doubt many others know about that estimated cost as well.

Here are my suggestions:
1. Create an official D&D 4e site.
2. Include links to all of the videos and podcasts that contain information about 4e. Include bulleted lists of key topics covered in each podcast and YouTube video.
3. Provide a link to an FAQ that answers all questions pertaining to 4e. Make it a shared file that all of the staff can add to. If a significant number of forum users ask a question, and a WotC staff member answers it with a significant peice of information, that staff member should add it to the document. If someone asks a question that has already been answered, refer them to that document.
4. Add links to the staff blogs, specifically those that discuss 4e. Some of them are just about travelling or general GenCon bits. Too bad these aren't in a true blog system with tags that can be applied to each post.
5. Encourage staff to post their comments and opinions about the changes in 4e on an official WotC blog rather than personal blogs. As an example, Keith Baker's blog shared some insights on 4e and Eberron and I only came across it by chance. I think it's something he should have posted somewhere on WotC's site for everyone to find it.

Whether or not you do any or all of these, there needs to be a central "go to" resource for all information related to 4e.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I think that's something you just shouldn't expect.

Even IF Dragon and Dungeon were still in print form, they'd move on to the new edition. They didn't support 2e when 3e came out, why would we expect any difference now? And I don't think moving them into a digital version would change that.

Now, the virtual game table of the D&DI support is a good question. Will you be able to run 3e games with it? Or are the 4e rules just hardwired in?

Yeah, sorry I thought I was being clear here. I know that DUNGEON / DRAGON Magazines are going over to 4E. What I was saying was in spite of that I would be willing to pay for the DDI if the virtual desktop portion still supported 3E game play.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

 

[Kristian Serrano]

For example, the only mentioning I've seen or heard of a price for the online activation fee for e-copies of books indicated that it would probably be $1. Don't ask me where or when I heard or saw that, because I can't remember, and I doubt many others know about that estimated cost as well.

Oh wait, I found it. It was in Randy's Blog. See? Disparate sources!

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Yeah, sorry I thought I was being clear here. I know that DUNGEON / DRAGON Magazines are going over to 4E. What I was saying was in spite of that I would be willing to pay for the DDI if the virtual desktop portion still supported 3E game play.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Ah, right.

Reading it again, I can see that. My fault on a misreading, there. Looks like we both have the same question at the end, though.

 

[Kristian Serrano]

Yeah, sorry I thought I was being clear here. I know that DUNGEON / DRAGON Magazines are going over to 4E. What I was saying was in spite of that I would be willing to pay for the DDI if the virtual desktop portion still supported 3E game play.

As far as I know, the game table is "dumb" meaning that it doesn't govern any rules. As such, no one would be stopping you from playing with 3e rules.