|
While reading the 4th edition Marketing thread, I had an epiphany.
It seems with the way they've been marketing D&D they're trying to get rid of existing customers. Many people have commented on how it feels like WotC just doesn't want our money anymore.
They don't.
You see, they've been accused of trying to release 4th edition as a simple moneygrab. Release multiple supplements that are basically identical to the ones we have for 3.5 at $35 a pop, and the money rolls in.
So, the effort to convince people not to spend their money is to show that they aren't just in it for the money. They're actually releasing 4th edition just for themselves, and they want to prove that they're really gamers at heart by making sure that they've made it clear that they don't want you to play.
Unless, they just have no respect for their customers and think that they'll take limitless abuse and still keep playing D&D because they have nothing else to do on a Friday night.
Yeah, whiney players suck - especially the ones that have been buying tons of product over the years. OUT WITH 'EM!
WotC should only market to players that will drool over their every word. Cuz those people are the true fans!
Down with negative WotC opinions!
-Edit: Wait, what are we talking about? ;)
|
Or Unless they think they can dump all their players and get better ones, ones who don't cry cause WotC is a company that pushes out a edition or a revision every half decade or so, who don't cry when they try to change things the lots of people have genuine problems with, and who don't cry that the big bad company is destroying everything that is inherantly dnd.
Just to point out the flaw in your reasoning.
L
How did you point out any flaw in his reasoning... you actually seemed to support it by also pointing out that it seems to be their goal to get rid of all of their current customers... :)
I think DeadDmwalking is on to something here. Maybe they will limit the number of copies that go to print, you know just enough for their offices/cubicle arrangement. They will then pass them around, autograph them, and then wave it in our face, saying "Hey I have one of "x" number of the game and it's autographed by the entire staff" and somehow they think it will increase the value.
Either that or they will put out collector's copies which come autographed and have that ever important "author's reason for making up this rule" printed into it.
Or maybe their collector's copies will have different covers.
Or maybe every 4th edtion book (except one) will say 4th edition....the other will say 4th edition "enhanced" on it (it can't say 4.5 because they said there wouldn't be any, and they are far to reputable to change their minds or otherwise do anything sinister.
Or maybe they thought everyone will burn their 3.5 books upon the 4th edition announcement, release 4th edition, and 6 months later say they want to buy all 3.5 books as a consolation gift, thinking that there will be so few left that the 3.5 will become the collector's item.
|
|
I think DeadDmwalking is on to something here. Maybe they will limit the number of copies that go to print, you know just enough for their offices/cubicle arrangement. They will then pass them around, autograph them, and then wave it in our face, saying "Hey I have one of "x" number of the game and it's autographed by the entire staff" and somehow they think it will increase the value.
Either that or they will put out collector's copies which come autographed and have that ever important "author's reason for making up this rule" printed into it.
Or maybe their collector's copies will have different covers.
Or maybe every 4th edtion book (except one) will say 4th edition....the other will say 4th edition "enhanced" on it (it can't say 4.5 because they said there wouldn't be any, and they are far to reputable to change their minds or otherwise do anything sinister.
Or maybe they thought everyone will burn their 3.5 books upon the 4th edition announcement, release 4th edition, and 6 months later say they want to buy all 3.5 books as a consolation gift, thinking that there will be so few left that the 3.5 will become the collector's item.
Your speculations amuse me, given the various ways you've worked values into it. I hereby dub you an honorary dragon.
Thank You!
Hmmm I can't help feeling they started out trying to develop 4e and then forgot the first setting they have planned to use their new system is the Forgotten Realms...
From what I've heard about the previews they've released even if the info isn't confirmed as I can only rely on whats been said on Enworld and wizard community (you can chip in here though) makes it sound like they should have created their own campaign setting for 2008 and have faerun for 2009 and eberron for 2010 to give them enough time to adjust their new edition.
Dragonborn, tieflings... I know I'm finding pathfinder a little dark but at least I can read that paizo's releases and can adjust whatever I feel necessary, I can't see why 4e should be that different.
Maybe its just me, but am I missing something here?
I thought it was odd that they didn't create a 4th edition world as well. The only four reasons I can think of that they didn't do this is that....
1. They didn't wanted to fracture the gaming community with more than two worlds because they thought it would hurt sales. The problem with this idea is that they also said they were going to support a new game world each year. I took this to mean that at best, there would be a new world book each year, but little else. For example, first they would cover Forgotten Realms and Ebberon, then after that, some other game world would get a nod...you know 1 sourcebook, then business as usual with the big two.
2. They were given a deadline of some kind and didn't have time to develop a 4th edition world. This is what it feels like.
3. They are going to create a 4th edition world and they want to have the time to put a lot of work into it so it is being delayed. Another reason to delay it is to get the kinks out of 4th edition, and then publish the new world.
4. Publish Forgotten Realms and Ebberon before your big 4th edition world. The arguement for this may be that by publishing it first all the disgruntled fans of the other two might jump ship and the sales of FR and Ebberon would take a dive. This way they buy FR and Ebberon first, then folks see a new world and say "Hey I gotta have that too" and they buy more than one world.
Of coarse this is entirely speculation and based on zero facts. There may or may not be arguements for each. Just thoughts....
Heh... You think THIS is bad, check out the Games Workshop boards - they change the rules every five years like frickin' CLOCKWORK... Not only do you need to buy new books, but new (and increasingly expensive) miniatures every frickin' time because your old list is now 90% unusable... :(
I feel your pain, Brother! [glances over at $5,000 Khorne Daemon Army not played with in over three years]
Of coarse this is entirely speculation and based on zero facts. There may or may not be arguements for each. Just thoughts....
We can only speculate on the facts they give us. Fortunately, if you aren't converting to 4th Edition, it really doesn't matter what they do or their reasoning for it.
It's just something to talk about. Have to do something since I can't sleep right now.
I thought it was odd that they didn't create a 4th edition world as well. The only four reasons I can think of that they didn't do this is that....
...
3. They are going to create a 4th edition world and they want to have the time to put a lot of work into it so it is being delayed. Another reason to delay it is to get the kinks out of 4th edition, and then publish the new world.
...
Didn't they wait until 3.0 had been released, and then have the big competition to see who would get to write the 3.0 campaign setting, with the winning setting being Eberron? It makes a certain sense that they would do this for 4.0 as well.
My wild, off-the-cuff suggestion for how they could market 4.0 books, in keeping with their other marketing strategies, would be to sell starter sets, which would have a random assortment of the core books, plus a couple of splat books, modules, terrain tiles, and a rare campaign setting, and then publish booster packs which leave out the core rule books and give you a chance to pick up the ultra-rare Greyhawk campaign setting or Farmer with Pig miniature. I figure, $100 for the starter set, $50 for a booster pack, and they'd just be flying off the shelves.
|
|
I feel your pain, Brother! [glances over at $5,000 Khorne Daemon Army not played with in over three years]Heh... You think THIS is bad, check out the Games Workshop boards - they change the rules every five years like frickin' CLOCKWORK... Not only do you need to buy new books, but new (and increasingly expensive) miniatures every frickin' time because your old list is now 90% unusable... :(
And that, friends, is why whenever someone suggests Games Workshop games to me I laugh at them.
I have had sleeping difficulties for years. And yes I'm afraid of clowns as well. Your not a clown are you?
While I understand the reasoning behind the thread, I get a chuckle from it. Imagine the conversation.
WOTC Emp A: "Cool. A new edition. Finally we'll be able to fire all those whiners from older editions."
WOTC Emp B: "Yeah, but how do we sort them out while getting new players?"
WOTC Emp A: "Got it. Let's post some vague rules and snippets until they start b@#@*ing on the Internet. As soon as we see any current customer who doesn't like our new direction, go with it!"
WOTC Emp B: "Great idea. Write that down and put it in a memo to Slaviscek. He can show it to Hasborg. They love it when we tick off part of the customer base!"
;)
If you are unable to come to terms with your own opinion of Mike and whether or not he is a clown, it could be a sign of severe emotional distress, or worse, a loss of spiritual conviction. I offer my services of religious consultation in this matter, dontations to the temple of Istus are appreciated but not required.
|
|
If you are unable to come to terms with your own opinion of Mike and whether or not he is a clown, it could be a sign of severe emotional distress, or worse, a loss of spiritual conviction. I offer my services of religious consultation in this matter, dontations to the temple of Istus are appreciated but not required.
Oh, I'm perfectly at peace with it. I just have enough respect for Mike to spare him from my oft-sarcastic commentary. For now, at least.
Do you guys game together?
|
|
Do you guys game together?
This is one of those 'I wish' things, particularly since it might also be a chance with the people who make Paizo tick.
No, I just harass him on these board, briefly shared an MMORPG with him, and if I can ever determine who he is in Guild Wars I'll know him there as well, since I share that particular obsession.
I know very little about computer games, ok truth is, I don't know anything except the few games that come on my computer. I stick with roleplaying games, started out with D&D in 9th grade and after college, got interested in Top Secret/S.I. also dabbled with a few other games in between (play 2-4 times each type of thing.) Gravitated back to D&D over the years, went back and forth from my own world to Greyhawk, eventually stuck with Greyhawk. Got restarted with D&D when WOTC announced that 3rd edition was coming out. The campaign I DM for started in the last 9 months or so of 2nd edition, then we converted characters to 3rd edition (which of coarse became 3.5). Still playing the same characters.
My Top Secret/S.I. is kinda my baby. I have spent years rewriting the Top Secret/S.I. game trying to make it what I wanted. D&D I pretty much play as is, with a few house rules. Changed the XP advancement rate considerably though.
It all makes sense now! That must be their plan! I know they succeeded with me.
I have had sleeping difficulties for years. And yes I'm afraid of clowns as well. Your not a clown are you?
Clowns do not exist *wipes white make-up off face and hides the red nose and huge shoes* Stop calling me Pagliaccio, people!
I thought it was odd that they didn't create a 4th edition world as well.
But they do: It's called Forgotten Realms.
That's just for the RPGA since they can't keep dragging Greyhawk around if they want fully cut any connection to Gary. Just watch, now that FR is the main living world for the RPGA it will steadily receive less and less content until they are ready to can it for 5th edition (joking, kind of).
As new studies show Americans (young and old) are reading less and less so it's important to move away from the printed word and back to miniatures play because that can be explained with pretty pictures. In order to keep the Jimmy Cricket conscience off their backs they need to find a way to dump the oldbies who remember the game before this major change in format. Just imagine the outrage when they release the pictographic 6th Edition D&D pop-up books. They're just planning ahead is all.
As new studies show Americans (young and old) are reading less and less so it's important to move away from the printed word and back to miniatures play because that can be explained with pretty pictures.
When we smart gamers become the minority and therefore no longer a viable target market for those who want to make the big buck, you know that the game's in trouble.
KaeYoss
I think we already reached that point.
Oh my god! I have to subtract damage taken from my hit point total? That's too hard! What do I look like, an Elementary School Genius?
Bruce Cordell says he's working on Keep on the Shadowfell; an adventure for 4e.
The name reminds me of Keep on the Borderlands from waaaaay back when. Not complaining, not whining, just noticing and conjecturing.
He's also working on The Temple of Inclement Weather with bonus adventure The Village of Elmo.(A village of Teiflings.)