D&D (2024) WotC Announces 3rd Party Creator Partners

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This content will be coming to the D&D Beyond marketplace--the selected publishers are The Griffon's Saddlebag, MCDM, Ghostfire Gaming, Dungeon Dudes, Hit Point Press, Kobold Press, and Free League. Generally, these are creators who have achieved million-dollar Kickstarters with 5E compatible products.

Notably, this also includes the official Lord of the Rings roleplaying game from Free League, who also produce The One Ring, the non-D&D version of the game. WotC will be selling the official D&D compatible Lord of the Rings TTRPG on its primary platform. Back in 1992, TSR (the then-owners of D&D) nearly acquired the rights to JRR Tolkien's work, and then passed on it, then-CEO Lorraine Williams saying it was "not worth our while".

 

[occam]

This is the 5e version, so it will likely be the same character sheet.

Given the differences between TLotRR and standard D&D, using the existing DDB character sheet would make for a very awkward fit. This is one of the key things I'll be interested in seeing: will DDB implement a custom character sheet for TLotRR, with appropriate terms, languages, weapons/armour, etc.? If they can do that, it really opens up a lot more options for alternative rules, at least in the 5e space.

Shoot. I was planning to stick with AiME for Middle-earth 5e, as there are some things I like about it a bit more, but character creation and a character sheet in DDB could get me to reconsider...

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

This is the 5e version, so it will likely be the same character sheet.

It's has extra skills over the basic 5e one and IIRC exhaustion works differently and you also need to track your shadow points and Doom state. If it's forced to use the regular 5e character sheet, it'll feel clunky!

 

[UngainlyTitan]

Speculation, or was that announced?

(Note: I have not read further than this in the thread) but the Steam Store strategy seem to me to be very sensible one for WoTC to pursue. Other than Roll20/Drivethru has anyone else the pockets to do this?

 

[Morrus]

Shoot. I was planning to stick with AiME for Middle-earth 5e, as there are some things I like about it a bit more, but character creation and a character sheet in DDB could get me to reconsider...

And this is how WotC didn't need to break the OGL in the end. The carrot achieves the exact same goal as the stick, but with rapturous applause.

 

[Parmandur]

And this is how WotC didn't need to break the OGL in the end. The carrot achieves the same goal as the stick, but with rapturous applause.

They won.

And so did we.

 

[Blue]

The BIG advantage OneBookShelf has over WotC/Hasbro is that OneBookShelf has a longer track record and imho a better track record. If I had the choice between OneBookShelf (DTRPG) and WotC/Hasbro (DDB), I would go with OneBookShelf.

They don't sell the same thing, so that's pretty moot.

If you want PDFs, at PDF prices, you go to OBS. If you want material for non-D&D type RPGs, right now go to OBS. If you want to download it and own it forever, you go to OBS. If you want digital material like maps you can use directly or integrate into your choice of VTT, you go OBS. If you want D&D, you can't go to OBS.

If you want an integrated character sheet, encounter builder, or other tools, eventually a full VTT, with tool tips, and a searchable compendium, at a price reflective of that additional functionality, for D&D and D&D-like games, you go to DnDBeyond.

They currently have no overlap in what they sell, so you can't actually make a choice.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

It's certainly a better way to go than their previous approach to the rest of the industry. And yeah, likely to be both successful and lucrative. As big as OneBookShelf is, it can't really compete with Hasbro money.

As long as they remain viable as an alternative service/shop that is all that ie really needed for some health competition.

 

[Blue]

Given the differences between TLotRR and standard D&D, using the existing DDB character sheet would make for a very awkward fit. This is one of the key things I'll be interested in seeing: will DDB implement a custom character sheet for TLotRR, with appropriate terms, languages, weapons/armour, etc.? If they can do that, it really opens up a lot more options for alternative rules, at least in the 5e space.

Shoot. I was planning to stick with AiME for Middle-earth 5e, as there are some things I like about it a bit more, but character creation and a character sheet in DDB could get me to reconsider...

You can put languages, equipment, and things like that on a character sheet now. Just like we currently have 2024 classes and legacy subclasses, I assume they would have TLotRR classes, languages, equipment, etc.

It's has extra skills over the basic 5e one and IIRC exhaustion works differently and you also need to track your shadow points and Doom state. If it's forced to use the regular 5e character sheet, it'll feel clunky!

Same for skills as I mentioned above.

And right now there are tons of classes and subclasses in 5e that need to track custom numbers, like Ki points and Bardic Inspiration uses and Martial Adept dice, so I assume there's a way to display and track Shadow Points and Doom State as well.

 

[mamba]

And this is how WotC didn't need to break the OGL in the end. The carrot achieves the exact same goal as the stick, but with rapturous applause.

It always was the better strategy...

 

[Zaukrie]

Haven't we had this conversation over and over?