WotC's New Player Strategies - Thoughts?

[WizarDru]

According to the information at Gaming Report, we've got some solid views of what WotC's planning on doing to bring in new gamers to the hobby.

Among other things, they're starting a new print brand called Mirrorstone to print some young reader fiction, specifically going after tweens and young teens (one with a Hardy Boys-like approach, the other a Dragonlance-lite).

They're releasing a D&D Basic Roleplaying box set, which was widely discussed as the new 'red box'. Here's a relevant picture of the cover and details.

They're targeting crossover materials between D&D minis and the RPG, to cross-market whenever possible.

And they're launching a large 30th anniversary advertising campaign (including MTV promos, apparently) to specifically get attention and address negative associations with the game.

I'm glad to see this, frankly. It shows that WotC recognizes that they need to keep growing the hobby to keep business coming in, and that a new edition isn't going to be a sustainable solution for the long haul. It'd be nice if the Silver Dragon books had at least one good female character in it, though.

More players can only be good for the hobby, and making Eberron the 'core' D&D setting and supporting it strongly might help in the brand recognition. The trick, and WotC's focus, seems to be in migrating people who sample into people who stay, and people who branch out.

I'd like to be cynical about it, and all....but darn it, it makes me happy.

What do you think?

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

I agree. I think their proposed approach is pretty solid. As as said in the other thread, maybe we'll finally start seeing some advertisements. That would be a huge step forward. That, and make sure they get the basic set on Wal-Mart shelves.

 

[Frostmarrow]

I believe that in order to make D&D popular with more people they need to focus more on the social aspect of RPGs than on the number crunching. I imagine that if they did away with the skill system and introduced something more like a system (or protocol) of debate (with softer rules) they could really reach out and touch people. They would of course need to keep the tactical side of the game (with due number crunching, dice and miniatures) but the interactivity between players and DM ought to be encouraged more.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

<<wipes away a manly tear>>

I'm... so... happy...

 

[WizarDru]

I believe that in order to make D&D popular with more people they need to focus more on the social aspect of RPGs than on the number crunching. I imagine that if they did away with the skill system and introduced something more like a system (or protocol) of debate (with softer rules) they could really reach out and touch people. They would of course need to keep the tactical side of the game (with due number crunching, dice and miniatures) but the interactivity between players and DM ought to be encouraged more.

In other words, Everyway with more mechanics? I don't think that would work terribly well.

IME, players who are brought on board and have a good experience tend to stay in the hobby...if they can be brought in to begin with. AD&D didn't scare kids away from the game, and it's number systems including discussion on the bell curve and the nature of randomness.

That's why the 'basic' set appeals to me. It's a 'hey! let's play!" kind of experience that gently guids new players into the experience, and hopefully highlights the positives of the game. The 'Red Box' holds a lot of sentimental value to many of us older gamers, as it was the gateway drug into the hobby. If WotC can make D&D more mainstream, and clear away many of the negative perceptions, it could be huge.

Remember, this is a nation that has been playing Pokemon, Magic:the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh! and now Duel Masters. I have a nephew who plays Magic...he's just a stone's throw from the game, as it is. This is the kind of thing that could drag him right into it. Being able to share the hobby with my kids would be awesome, too.

 

[JPL]

MTV ads. Oh, dear.

I'm guessing this commercial will include some of the nicest-looking female gamers you've ever seen, and nary a fat bearded guy to be found...

 

[Frostmarrow]

In response to WizarDru:

Your nephew would join anyway.

-I'm talking about the rest of your family.

 

[Henry]

MTV ads. Oh, dear.

I'm guessing this commercial will include some of the nicest-looking female gamers you've ever seen, and nary a fat bearded guy to be found...

And the problem with this is... ?

I like the plan - in particular if they stick with advertising the points on slide 13:

-Social Interaction
-Quality time with friends
-Home-based entertainment

In addition of course to "being cool."

If I see a Dungeons and Dragons ad on MTV I'm going to lose bladder control. A TV ad? Good Lord. I could forsee ads that stress the point that Joe, Sheila, and Les from the office are off slaying dragons, cutting up and having a good time on a Friday Night - it'd be cool to actually show the fun that people can have (like they do with the Ads for games like Trivial Pursuit right now, or the games like Balderdash or Pictionary in the past).

 

[Creamsteak]

MTV? Oh... on that I disapprove. Are they naive? The channels that would be best to advertise to are Cartoon Network, Tech TV, and Comedy Central.

 

[JPL]

And the problem with this is... ?

Asks the guy with a fat bearded man for an icon.

I just don't want to set the bar too high here. It will cause too much of a shock to the new players when they see that first table of real-life gamers...