You're the Head of WOTC. Now What?

[SolitonMan]

So many good ideas here (and a few, hmm, let's say "over the top" ).

The only thing I'd add that I haven't seen explicitly so far is that I'd leverage the IP from the acquisition of Last Unicorn Games and have the design team create a campaign setting based on the card game Heresy: Kingdom Come.

 

[amnuxoll]

I know what I'd do and I'll bet you a donut they are already doing it. This schism in the "edition wars" means that they are losing half their potential income. What's needed (from WotC's perspective) is a D&D 5e that combines the best of 4e with 3.5e to try to win back that audience. Also, 4e is already on PHB3 and Martial Power 2. Sales of supplements are on the decline. Time for a new edition! I predict we'll see it in 2011.

:AMN:

 

[Edgewood]

Man, if I was the head of WOTC I would be reading this thread because there are some pretty good ideas here.

 

[El Mahdi]

deleted

 

[Stormonu]

I know what I'd do and I'll bet you a donut they are already doing it. This schism in the "edition wars" means that they are losing half their potential income. What's needed (from WotC's perspective) is a D&D 5e that combines the best of 4e with 3.5e to try to win back that audience. Also, 4e is already on PHB3 and Martial Power 2. Sales of supplements are on the decline. Time for a new edition! I predict we'll see it in 2011.

:AMN:

Unfortunately, a new edition would only further splinter the customer base. They'd be far better advised to simply make the core books for older versions available again. If someone wants something from a "newer" version, they'll just yoink it into their own game.

I wonder if we'll see a "bundle set" of PHB I, II, and III around Christmas this year, like they did with the PHB I/II bundle.

 

[chronoplasm]

Unfortunately, a new edition would only further splinter the customer base.

Not if they make it reverse compatible with previous editions.
If I were working on 5E, monster stat-blocks and PC powers from 4E would be useable. They might not be entirely balanced, and some things might require some simple conversion, but the option to use them would be available.

 

[Dannager]

I know what I'd do and I'll bet you a donut they are already doing it. This schism in the "edition wars" means that they are losing half their potential income. What's needed (from WotC's perspective) is a D&D 5e that combines the best of 4e with 3.5e to try to win back that audience. Also, 4e is already on PHB3 and Martial Power 2. Sales of supplements are on the decline. Time for a new edition! I predict we'll see it in 2011.

:AMN:

This assumes that the "schism" is a 50-50 split, and that a "combination" edition would provide a significant remedy. I don't think either of these things is anything close to true.

 

[dvorak]

Imagine if you have just been handed the position of CEO of WOTC. In it's current state what would you change? What would you keep? Is there anything you would abandon and what new direction would you take?

This sounds like one of those series of questions they ask contestants at a beauty contest.

We can all project our viewpoint until the cows comes home however it does not matter until we the consumer spend (or don't spend) the all mighty Dollar, Pound, Euro, Yen, Yuan or whatever on a company's product(s).

You can go to enworld.org/forum/blogs/dvorak and post a comment on my blog.

 

[ggroy]

I know what I'd do and I'll bet you a donut they are already doing it. This schism in the "edition wars" means that they are losing half their potential income. What's needed (from WotC's perspective) is a D&D 5e that combines the best of 4e with 3.5e to try to win back that audience. Also, 4e is already on PHB3 and Martial Power 2. Sales of supplements are on the decline. Time for a new edition! I predict we'll see it in 2011.

The other option is Hasbro taking D&D off the market entirely, and shelving the IP for a number of years (or as long as a generation).