WotC's new direction for D&D

[Xeviat]

This month, WotC announced a new direction for D&D. They aren't making a new edition or a new game (though they are making a GamaWorld rpg with random cards and a few D&D board games), but they are trying out a new way to attract and involve new players. They feel that the general consensus is that the game is difficult to pick up, especially if everyone at your table is new to it. I'm inclined to agree, though my group was largely unfamiliar with PnP RPGs when we first started playing 3E.

Now, I cannot link the article specifically, because it is a D&DInsider exclusive article. I'm sure eventually it will be publicly announced. But here's the general points, and the new product line:

WotC is creating the "Dungeons and Dragons Essentials" line, a product line of 10 books that they say will "form the core of the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game experience moving forward". It seems to be designed to allow groups to take an incremental approach to learning the game. It also seems a bit more expensive, since each book is 20 bucks (color trade paperback). But the organization of the books does seem nice, and will allow groups to buy fewer books together.

First are the two base books. The "Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game" is a new starter set, with ...

... a player's book that uses a solitaire pick-a-path process to create a character, a Dungeon Master's book with basic 4th Edition game rules and a group adventure, a set of dice, a poster map, cardstock tokens for characters and monsters, and power cards.

The second book is the "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Compendium", which is something I might even pick up just for the simplicity of having a paperback book with all the rules in the game. They say it will be "presented in logical order", which would be nice; I find myself searching through the DMG and PHB for specific tables sometimes even with the simplicity of 4E.

Then there's going to be two player books, each with a different mixture of classes and races. One features more traditional races and classes, the other features less traditional ones. They will apparently also have new class builds, which will make old players consider picking them up (or at least paying for D&DI so they can get the compendium). There will also be a number of DM books, one with more adventures, maps, and advice, another with monsters and tokens for all the featured monsters (I hope the minions and standard monsters will have multiple tokens so encounter building is easier). They finish it off with more dungeon tiles and dice.

It seems interesting. If they can grow the player base, that will be good. They're also probably looking for a higher profit margin.

What do you all think?

[Elemental_Elf]

(Sorry I'm sitting in my car waiting t go to my class so the best I can offer is a series of unconnected statements concerning my feelings on this topic).

I could write a 5 page paper about the pros and cons of 4E over 3.5 but I won't go into that.

From a layman's standpoint, 4E is too complicated. It robbed the simplicity of 3.5's class table and abilities and substituted in class powers that look suspiciously like algebra.

The problem with 4E, to be honest, it wants it's cake and eat it too. The system tried to appeal both to old gamers and to brand new ones and the product doesn't really thrill either.

IF WotC wanted new gamers it should have morphed D&D into something like the Dragon Age p&p - it's very simple, entertaining and has loads of room for expansion.

I'm very interested to see how WotC decides to change 4E. I hope it's for the better because outside of Star Wars my group has very much turned away from WotC products. Maybe this new direction will convince my players to give 4E another shot (because I like the system but they despise it).  

P.S. This does sound like a huge money grab by WotC but Green Ronin is doing the same thing with Dragon Age. Each box costs $30 and contains all the info you need for 5 level chunks. So all 4 boxes (released over the course of a year) will run you $120 compared to the $90 of D&D or the $40-60 that most third party systems run.

BUT maybe going for a lower introductory price will spur on more sales. I know I've decided not to purchase books because $30 was a bit much. If these new books have the quality of the old 3.0 soft cover supplements, then I'd say these will probably be a hit.

[Xeviat]

See, my only complaint about 4E as a system is that too much is coming out too fast. I love the new power system, but I would have preferred something more modular that didn't require 20 pages per class. So I'm with you there. But, character building is simply selecting powers from what you like, and power choices are really only like 2 at-wills, 3 encounters, and 3 dailies once you're into paragon tier, so I don't find that too difficult.

It doesn't look like they're changing the system in anyway, just its presentation. The lower price point should help with new players, and I will like seeing softcover 20 dollar supplements instead of 35 dollar ones; I haven't bought a 4E splat-book at all, just the PHBs.

[Superfluous Crow]

Hmm, on a slightly derailing note, how is the Dragon Age RPG?
And on a slightly more related note, it sounds like a good idea for new players (it's not like the old timers who can already handle the rules have to pick up all the new books). Does seem like an awful lot of books still though...

[Xeviat]

8 books instead of 3; yeah, it's a bit much. Costs more to get them all, but cheaper to get each individually.

[Elemental_Elf]

See, my only complaint about 4E as a system is that too much is coming out too fast.

WotC wants to release a book a month... But let's face it, that mentality ruined 3.5. I'm glad to see they're shifting gears.

I love the new power system, but I would have preferred something more modular that didn't require 20 pages per class. So I'm with you there. But, character building is simply selecting powers from what you like, and power choices are really only like 2 at-wills, 3 encounters, and 3 dailies once you're into paragon tier, so I don't find that too difficult.

Oh what I meant was that each power has variables included in it (i.e. 'Hit: 3W + Dex damage'). To most people that looks like middle school math and it alienates them. I don't really have a problem with the Power System as a whole, I actually like it but, it does make the class section kind of a dull read, i.e. just a bunch of listed powers (which alienates casual fans).

It doesn't look like they're changing the system in anyway, just its presentation. The lower price point should help with new players, and I will like seeing softcover 20 dollar supplements instead of 35 dollar ones; I haven't bought a 4E splat-book at all, just the PHBs.

Well I'd be happy to see some redesign on the presentation. Hopefully they'll spruse it up a bit and give it some life.

Also, I'm a bit shocked you haven't purchased more books, given how you are a resident supporter of the system. Perhaps that in and of itself, is an indictment to WotC's business model.

Hmm, on a slightly derailing note, how is the Dragon Age RPG?

[spoiler=Answer]Very, very simple. Base line, You use 3d6 to hit a target DC. All damage uses d6's. In fact all you need are three 6-sided dice, with one of them being a different color. The different color die (called your Dragon Die) represents how well you succeeded/failed (mostly it's for guiding your roleplaying). Further, if you are attacking and 2 of your dice come up with the same number, then you gain a number of stunt points equal to the number on your Dragon Die (stunt points are essentially critical hits that allow you to do cool stuff like push the target back, do extra damage, disarm, etc.). The game also has a basic skills system that feels like D&D. Further, the classes are very easy with a handful of cool powers (more will come as supplements are released). Your race also dictates which classes you can choose (no Dwarf Mages!) and gives you some cool bonuses.

All in all, I enjoy it very much. [/spoiler]

And on a slightly more related note, it sounds like a good idea for new players (it's not like the old timers who can already handle the rules have to pick up all the new books). Does seem like an awful lot of books still though...

I think the trend is for less up front cost, more long term cost.

[Mason]

WotC is creating the "Dungeons and Dragons Essentials" line, a product line of 10 books that they say will "form the core of the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game experience moving forward".

  I will never buy another WoTC product. Seriously. F them man. Cheap products.
EDIT: On second thought the dungeon tiles are well worth the money.

[Elemental_Elf]

I will never buy another WoTC product. Seriously. F them man. Cheap products.
EDIT: On second thought the dungeon tiles are well worth the money.

Cheap? How?

[Stargate525]

I'm sorry, but ten books as a core is ridiculous. Core, for me, are the books I lug to my sessions every time. Ten of those is simply insane.

[Elemental_Elf]

I'm sorry, but ten books as a core is ridiculous. Core, for me, are the books I lug to my sessions every time. Ten of those is simply insane.

They'll be tiny little books, you could probably punch 3 holes in them and keep them in a binder. :)

[Kindling]

I have absolutely 0 experience with 4E so far, so I can't really comment on the rules side of things, but I have to say this seems to me to just be a moneymaking scheme.
They may have a fair point about the game being hard to pick up for new players, but then again many of the main precepts of pen and paper RPGs are hard to pick up in themselves. If they really wanted a newbie-friendly game they would publish something very rules-lite, a separate line from DnD (although possibly containing some of the ideas of DnD so people could "progress" from one to the other) as paring DnD down and stripping out the mass of core mechanics that have been ingrained over the years until it was truly newbie-friendly would essentially make it an altogether different game - at least in terms of crunch -  in any case.
So, I think the main objective with this move is probably "hey, we can sell ten core books instead of 3" but that may just be my cynicism talking...

[Xeviat]

It's only 8 books, not ten. It's 10 products, but one is dungeon tiles and one is dice. Also, most of the products come with "extras", like maps, monster tokens, and that sort of thing.

The starter box set is rules-lite, though.

It is definitely "sell more for less". It's good calculus.

[Elemental_Elf]

The Monster Vault- New Monster Manual filled with Iconic Monsters. 256-page book of monsters

Player Essentials: Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms - Designed for the cleric, the druid, the paladin, the ranger, and the warlock. 352 Page Count

Player Essentials: Heroes of the Fallen Lands - the cleric, the fighter, the ranger, the rogue, and the wizard. 352 Page Count

Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game - Designed for 1'"5 players, this boxed game contains everything needed to start playing the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game. 32-page book for players, 64-page book for Dungeon Masters

Dungeon Master's Kit - This deluxe box contains rules and advice to help Dungeon Masters run games for adventurers of levels 1'"30. 256-page book of rules and advice for Dungeon Masters

[Xeviat]

wow, 1 player can play the D&DFRG? Sweet!

[Elemental_Elf]

wow, 1 player can play the D&DFRG? Sweet!

Yeah I thought that was pretty weird but, it makes a whole lot of sense if you're looking to expand the market. Right now my group is down to 3 people (including me) and I think that's the general truth. It's hard to get 5 adults to get together on a weekly basis BUT 2 or 3? That's much, much easier.