WOTC's 3-5 year plan

[Zerovoid]

My guess is we'll see some games like Heroquest or Battle Masters with the DnD logo stuck on them. These could probably do well at mass market retailers, and have some amount of compatibility with real DnD.

 

[herald]

Interesting idea about D20 future.

Dragonstar certainly has opened the door on that one.

Given what I have heard from Erik M. on the boards I would assume that there would be problems giving or selling Greyhawk back to G. Gygax. But I could be very wrong about that.

 

[Rune]

My guess is we'll see some games like Heroquest or Battle Masters with the DnD logo stuck on them. These could probably do well at mass market retailers, and have some amount of compatibility with real DnD.

Those are both great ideas!

 

[Vanye]

Re: 3-5 year plan

4) Iconic/Fiend action figures. Done by McFarlane. Half-serious on this one but a Drizzt action figure would sell very well, that's for sure.

Or how about the 7 Sisters action figures?

 

[Wolfen Priest]

The idea of one new setting a year consisting of a only one or two books is a good idea, keep it.

At first I totally agreed with you. But, isn't this the kind of strategy that helped put TSR under? Let's see, Birthright, Spelljammer, Planescape, Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Hollow World, Al-Qa(fricken)dim, etc. etc.

 

[Mouseferatu]

At first I totally agreed with you. But, isn't this the kind of strategy that helped put TSR under? Let's see, Birthright, Spelljammer, Planescape, Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Hollow World, Al-Qa(fricken)dim, etc. etc.

Actually, I believe TSR's mistake was to put out too many settings and then trying to support all of them indefinitely (or at least long-term). If WotC were to put out a new setting every year or two, with only a single book (or maybe a cap at two or three), their lines wouldn't be competing with each other. And then, if one or two proved exceptionally popular, they could bring it back and expand it when they knew for sure there was a market.

I don't think this is a bad idea at all, really.

*Refrains from commenting on your Al-Qadim comment, given that AQ was one of the best 2nd edition settings ever envisioned.*

 

[jaldaen]

At first I totally agreed with you. But, isn't this the kind of strategy that helped put TSR under? Let's see, Birthright, Spelljammer, Planescape, Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Hollow World, Al-Qa(fricken)dim, etc. etc.

They did much more than 1 or 2 books for each of these... ah I see... someone already beat me to this... I agree with mouseferatu ;-)

Jaldaen

 

[Aaron L]

I believe Wolfen Priests Al-Qa(fricken)dim was an exclamation of joy and love of the setting.

And what drove TSR under was trying to sell FR stuff while they were also trying to sell DL stuff while they were also trying to sell Birthright stuff, etc. If they did it one at a time I think it would work.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I believe Wolfen Priests Al-Qa(fricken)dim was an exclamation of joy and love of the setting.

Ah. Well, if that's the case, then I humbly apologize for almost commenting.

 

[chengarino]

Settings and Alignment Books

At first I totally agreed with you. But, isn't this the kind of strategy that helped put TSR under? Let's see, Birthright, Spelljammer, Planescape, Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Hollow World, Al-Qa(fricken)dim, etc. etc.

Maybe they do a setting book a year. And, do a good job at it. I like the two setting books: Oriental Adventures and Forgotten Realms. Both are thick, crunchy, with plenty of stories to make the data meaningful.

Then, license the rest of the material to other publishers and live off the license fees. Much like what they did with Oriental Adventures. I don't know how well they did with Rogukan campaign with AEG. Maybe WoTC retains some 'editing' rights, but let the smaller publisher 'live and die' with the campaign.

I think there are two other 'series' of books WoTC will be doing (or testing):
1) Alignment Books: Books of Vile Darkness (evil) and Monte Cook mentioned that when he pitched it, it also pitched a book for 'good' characters/NPCs.
2) Mature Theme Books: much of it will depend on how BoVD does.

tim