WotC has ended support for Living Forgotten Realms (and the RPGA, too)

[MerricB]

As I heard it described, they have essentially killed official support for Organized Play of 4E other than for D&D Encounters, on a going forward basis.

It's a bit complicated. Here are a couple of RPGA reports from Chris Tulach that might help:
Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Rolling Into 2011)
Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page - Article (Summer News)

And this blog entry:
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As I recall, they're also going to be starting up a new series of "expert play" in-store adventures later this year, but I can't remember where I read the reference!

Cheers!

 

[Steel_Wind]

It's a bit complicated. Here are a couple of RPGA reports from Chris Tulach that might help:

I heard about that at the time. The difference which emerged from the past weekend was that the RPGA #s were no longer being asked for at all at DundraCon, either.

And I guess the same thing happened in Colorado, too.

In other words, it appeared to be "Game Over" for the RPGA.

The whole community-run spin seems exactly that. What it really means is that there are no more professionally designed/written modules coming to LFR at all and have not been for a long time, I guess. I had understood that there was still going to be something released to them by WotC - but look like... no.

So WotC pulls the plug and stops spending a nickel on organized play, outside of D&D Encounters?

*sigh*

 

[Hussar]

This seems like a very bad idea. Organized play is, in my mind, a major draw to the hobby.

 

[MerricB]

This seems like a very bad idea. Organized play is, in my mind, a major draw to the hobby.

Organised Play isn't stopping though. The D&D Encounters season is ongoing, and there'll be a new program starting in September this year.

Meanwhile, Living Forgotten Realms is currently being more "hands off" for so far as how Wizards are running it, with responsibility delegated to the Global Adminstrators (who, I believe, are paid by Wizards - they are certainly "under contract" from the LFR campaign guide released last month). It's worth visiting its new website: Living Forgotten Realms and seeing what's there.

Cheers!

 

[Dannager]

So WotC pulls the plug and stops spending a nickel on organized play, outside of D&D Encounters?

*sigh*

WotC has ramped up D&D Encounters season after season, and they're rolling out a new organized play program soon. So, no. Your entire posting history in this thread has been nothing but posting what you called "overblown alarmism" and then following it up with something that comes perilously close to concern trolling.

Also, the comparison to Pathfinder Society is hilarious.

 

[Steel_Wind]

WotC has ramped up D&D Encounters season after season, and they're rolling out a new organized play program soon. So, no.

"Season after season" huh?

You are referring to the same in-store program for new players that was commenced a little over one year ago, at the beginning of February, 2010?

The second fourth "season" of which began last week?

It is, indeed, comforting to discover the deep roots and long-lasting traditions in the very corpus of the game that goes along with D&D Encounters in the whole one year of its existence.

So WotC pulls the plug and stops spending a nickel on organized play, outside of D&D Encounters?

To which you respond:

So, no.

You say this, notwithstanding the fact they pulled the plug on LFR in June of 2010, have released no new material for LFR since then. And as for the past 8 months? They have done nothing for organized play outside of D&D Encounters -- which they *just* this past week have started up again with season two "four"? On the best case scenario, they plan to do nothing further for organized play for at least the next seven months, too.

And yet you say with sincere truthiness: "So, no."

Well. How about an alternative characterization, based upon the actual evidence. How about we do that, instead?

I would submit that the words, "So, yes", would be a far closer approximation to that always inconvenient truth.

[And yes, clearly, I'm all about the trolling here on ENWorld.]

[Edit: I sit corrected]

 

[Dannager]

"Season after season" huh?

You are referring to the same in-store program for new players that was commenced a little over one year ago, at the beginning of February, 2010?

The second season of which began last week?

D&D Encounters began its fourth season, March of the Phantom Brigade, last week. Again, I get the feeling you may be speaking from a place of rather incomplete knowledge, here.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the organized play convention programs they run. PAXEast (just on the horizon) ought to have a number of interesting events run by WotC.

 

[Janx]

How about some facts for those of us following along at home?

When did Encounters start?

What edition is Encounters?

Is Encounters published/promoted under the RPGA branding?


when did LFR stop?

What edition is LFR?

Is LFR published/promoted under the RPGA branding?


I can't say if the RPGA helps promote D&D. I suppose it can't hurt. But nobody I know playes in it. My main group of friends don't play in game shops. And since we didn't upgrade to 4e, we haven't spent a dime on D&D in years.

If people like me and my friends are in the majority of D&D consumers (unconsuming at that), will spending money on the RPGA help? Would it be worth more to entice us to upgrade (thus buying product again).

 

[Wicht]

Also, the comparison to Pathfinder Society is hilarious.

I get the feeling this is meant as snark, but you don't actually explain what you mean well enough and so I find myself wondering why you think that comparing LFR to PS is hilarious. Care to explain?

 

[Nagol]

How about some facts for those of us following along at home?

When did Encounters start?

What edition is Encounters?

Is Encounters published/promoted under the RPGA branding?

Jan 2010

4e, mainly essentials in the last season and next season, if I understand correctly.

I don't think there was a explicit tie to RPGA. The games were sponsored directly by WotC.

when did LFR stop?

What edition is LFR?

Is LFR published/promoted under the RPGA branding?

Dec 2010 it was moved away from WotC to the player community

4e.

Yes.