5E format of first products

[Legendarius]

This has been touched on some in a few of the other threads but specifically I am curious what people think will be the format of D&D 5E when it first hits the store shelves, or what their ideal format is.

Will there just be a single boxed set, perhaps of the lower levels, as with the old D&D Basic sets or the Dragon Age RPG?

Will there be the traditional three book set - PHB, DMG, MM?

Will there be a single core rulebook like Pathfinder?

Will they have a low cost intro/basic box and then the full game in a hardback book?

Will there be an initial string of modules like Sunless Citadel for 3E or Keep on the Shadowfell for 4E?

Will there be a 5E essentials concept, perhaps with releases of dungeon tiles sets again or perhaps miniatures?

As an aside to that, what online support via the DDI will (or should) be available at release?

L

[JoelF847]

I'm not saying this is likely, but it could also be an all electronic version, with no physical rulebooks - whether that's PDFs or other single file type (ePub, etc.) or if all books will be sold as DDI datasets only or something, it's a possibility.

It would have the pro of wizards having much higher margins, by cutting out the middle man, similar to how Paizo sells direct to many of their customers, but the cons of killing local game store presence, so I'd say as an exclusive format, it's unlikely.

[Matthew Trent]

@Joel847 seems unlikely in that WotC currently sells 0 pdfs.

[Matthew Koelbl]

JoelF847 wrote:

I'm not saying this is likely, but it could also be an all electronic version, with no physical rulebooks - whether that's PDFs or other single file type (ePub, etc.) or if all books will be sold as DDI datasets only or something, it's a possibility.

It would have the pro of wizards having much higher margins, by cutting out the middle man, similar to how Paizo sells direct to many of their customers, but the cons of killing local game store presence, so I'd say as an exclusive format, it's unlikely.

One of the few things they've said thus far is that they are pretty committed to ensuring that D&D remains, first and foremost, a tabletop RPG. I'm hopeful they will have plenty of digital support and options, but it does not sound like you will need any e-access to acquire books or play the game.

[Matthew Koelbl]

What I'm hoping for, personally, is a product line like the following:

1) A cheap, softcover intro book, ala the Gamma World rulebook, that is short and concise and lets you sit down and dive right into playing. <$10
2) A more sizable DM/adventure kit/box set, which would basically give you a bunch of accessories, maps, minis/tokens, adventures, etc. ~$30-40
3) The classic 3 hardcovers: A player's book, which is basically full of options and customizability; a DM's book, which gives them both a bunch of existing traps/challenges/monsters/items/etc, along with the tools to make their own; and a Monster book, which has lots of monsters as well as detailed story content and background for them. ~$30 each.
4) Finally, electronic support, present from the start, synched up much more fluidly with releases, and without many of the bugs that have caused issues for DDI in its current state. $??

[Robert Hawkshaw]

if they are really serious about some of the modular/customizable comments they have made, then some sort of database of rules combined with the ability to make a pdf / print on demand product will be key.

For example, I decide to dm a game, I log into my DDI account, build my rule set using their database, and download the pdf to my tablet. My players log into their DDI accounts, join my campaign and can also download my rules set and build their characters using the online character builder that matches my rules.

I can build and run any style of game I like (OD&D, 3.5, 4.0 or a hybrid), can make my houserules available to players easily, and WOTC gets my money every month through DDI regardless of the edition I like.

If that is tied to a VTT that works, and some sort of game finding system and content sharing - eg I can get adventures or adventure paths from 3PP on the VTT and have them toggle rules on and off, and I'm a customer for life.

How that works with adventures, I don't know. Likewise with the big money makers that core rulebooks represent.

[Chuck Wright]

There will be three hardcovers - The DMG, the PB and an MM.

[Legendarius]

Robert Hawkshaw wrote:

...
For example, I decide to dm a game, I log into my DDI account, build my rule set using their database, and download the pdf to my tablet. My players log into their DDI accounts, join my campaign and can also download my rules set and build their characters using the online character builder that matches my rules.
...

I think that's a great idea. And to go one step further, if I can use some kind of online campaign builder that lets me do things like add the world map, deities, and other background info, and then turn around and send the combined rule set and campaign to print on demand I could make my own custom D&D players guide.

L