Four conclusions I will draw:
1) D&D 4th is done
2) D&D based boardgames are doing well
3) More D&D boardgames will continue to come out
4) A new D&D version will come, a new direction, and headed by different folks
I think a streamlined "old school" version that ties to board gaming seems likely.
To highlight from a comment post I made:
If I were running it I would go back to a 3 step brand presentation for D&D using historical elements:
1) Basic D&D would be board game based like Dungeon: introduce character classes as game pieces, monster lexicon, and simple d20 systems.
2) Expert D&D would also be board game based like HeroQuest and Ravenloft. Now get into BASIC character creation and adventure creation, add the notion of different dice doing different things.
3) Advanced D&D is a full blown RPG building on each of the previous steps.
If you have read and followed my missives before this, you saw it coming, if not? Well why not?
7 comments:
Thanks for keeping me in the loop about this stuff.
Sad news for sure, but perhaps they will steer the ship on a new and better course.
Personally, I suspect the first three are correct but number four seems unlikely from a business point of view, given points one to three ;) I think D&D will continue as a "brand" for WoTC, but simply to peddle more boardgames, computer games, novels etc
@Mr. A. Flea here is where I will disagree. The success of Pathfinder means there is a market and many of the (1 to 3) will not immediately appeal to this market. In fact board game versions could lead MORE folks into that market. So if I were in charge here is what I'd do to resurrect the brand and RPG crowd
1) Basic D&D were simple board games ala Dungeon and HeroQuest.
2) Expert D&D were Ravenloft board game, Drizzt Board Game
3) Advanced D&D is the full RPG experience
Now you have stepping stones, using historical branded elements and a plan to keep people in your brand from youth up to adult and each has value and caché.
@Fenway5 That would be a clever business move. Who knows if they'll do it though, based on some of their strategies from the past few years.
We will have to wait and see.
As little interest these days as I have to WoTC, I think it's useful for the hobby, as a whole, to have a large, corporate face to act as an easily recognisable "gateway" for newbies and stop our hobby just turning into an ever shrinking ouroboros.
@Stuart-my plan plays to Hasbro's established strength (boardgames) gets D&D branded games placed in mass market again (Target, Walmart, TRU)creates more recognition and oomph for the brand and grows a new generation of gamers.
@ Mr A. Flea- agreed and getting the "gamers' out of the concept/ desgin will help. Right now its lawyers writing laws for other lawyers...and if you are no a lawyer don't bother. We have seen where that leads, and its not a land of green backs.
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