Quote from: Warboss Squee;1057190I could do that. But then I'd have to gouge out my eyes with a melon baller and pour bleach into the sockets.

And I've got a bowling tournament this weekend, so I'm to busy.

Good priorities. Bowling is always a good time.

This is getting ridiculous, what's next a D&D woodburning set?

Quote from: RPGPundit;1057168Yes, exactly. The Survey absolutely confirms what I'd been suggesting about WoTC aiming to change D&D from a hobby to a Lifestyle Brand.

So what? It doesn't change the game for the people playing it. Nobody is going to make you buy that stuff.

Isn't this just "Grrrrrrr, people like things I don't like" nerdfury?

Quote from: Haffrung;1057265So what? It doesn't change the game for the people playing it. Nobody is going to make you buy that stuff.

Isn't this just "Grrrrrrr, people like things I don't like" nerdfury?

It matters if the focus changes from making games that are fun to play to making shit that's not a game and just crapping out worthless gaming product because the "deplorables" that still play the game expect it.

Quote from: happyhermit;1057241This is getting ridiculous, what's next a D&D woodburning set?

That's stupid.

Now if it were for -Advanced- D&D and -official-, it'd be a brilliant idea!

Seriously though, I had a trip down memory lane with this.  Granted, that isn't a TSR book, but WotC could do something similar.  A series of art books -could- actually help draw new people into the hobby.

Quote from: KingCheops;1057267It matters if the focus changes from making games that are fun to play to making shit that's not a game and just crapping out worthless gaming product because the "deplorables" that still play the game expect it.

What do you mean by changing the focus? It's not as though they're going to rope in the 5E design team and adventure writers to design and market coffee mugs.

Quote from: Haffrung;1057274What do you mean by changing the focus? It's not as though they're going to rope in the 5E design team and adventure writers to design and market coffee mugs.

Do you understand how business works?  Or do you need me to spell it out for you?

Quote from: Haffrung;1057274What do you mean by changing the focus? It's not as though they're going to rope in the 5E design team and adventure writers to design and market coffee mugs.

This.

If anything - they would become LESS worried about the actual 5e books being profitable, as simply maintaining the brand could be profitable via said mugs/t-shirts/dental floss.

If they can make good $ with the peripherals, so long as the books themselves break even they'll keep them going.

Quote from: san dee jota;1057272That's stupid.

Now if it were for -Advanced- D&D and -official-, it'd be a brilliant idea!

Back in the days before the fall, when all was good in the world, TSR stood for the unsullied purity of the D&D ttrpg, and only licensed; video games, pens, cartoons, toys, hats, novels, pencil cases, etc.

Quote from: san dee jota;1057272Seriously though, I had a trip down memory lane with this.  Granted, that isn't a TSR book, but WotC could do something similar.  A series of art books -could- actually help draw new people into the hobby.

It tries to cover the complete history, so includes a lot of modern stuff, but in a similar vein I am seriously considering the Art and Arcana book coming out soon. Just saw that with a pre-order they are giving away a print, but it only only applies to Americans, which leaves me out. Still, looks well produced.

Quote from: Charon's Little Helper;1057282This.

If anything - they would become LESS worried about the actual 5e books being profitable, as simply maintaining the brand could be profitable via said mugs/t-shirts/dental floss.

If they can make good $ with the peripherals, so long as the books themselves break even they'll keep them going.

https://www.investopedia.com/university/capital-budgeting/

Quote from: KingCheops;1057288

https://www.investopedia.com/university/capital-budgeting/

I don't know what you're referencing. I work in finance - I know how budgeting works.

It's not uncommon for companies to have flagship products which make little/no money if their sales inherently promote the sales of high margin products.

For a gaming reference everyone knows - at release most new video game consoles actually lose $. But - selling them is still beneficial because it (quite obviously) promotes the sale of their games.

If WoTC is able to make stupid $ by selling random D&D branded stuff, they're going to want to keep the brand relevant/popular even if that project in and of itself makes little to no $. That isn't to say that they wouldn't RATHER it also make a solid profit, just that it would be worth doing anyway to support the brand, even if not quite as causal as console > game.

Your example is no good.

Let's modify it a little bit.  Nintendo makes accessories for the Nintendo Switch.  For instance I bought a Legend of Zelda carrying case for my Switch because well fuck yeah.  How many Zelda fans are buying these carry cases without buying both the console and the game?  The console maybe loses money but they get a couple of sales out of it (game, carry case).  Are there lots of people who purchase console branded gear without actually owning/playing the console?

How many people who buy a D&D mug are going to buy the PHB?  Mugs are useful in and of themselves.  What's the tipping point where people who don't play the TTRPG become more important as customers than those who do play the TTRPG?  This survey assumed you DIDN'T currently play the game and was gauging interest in NON-GAME related products.  This is a test of whether the brand is more important than the game.  LOTS of people are being exposed to D&D without being exposed to playing the TTRPG.

PS:  I have considered using my carrying case to hold SD cards in addition to my Switch games so it would have value outside of console gaming.  I also own a Zelda mug.  But I likely wouldn't have purchased either if I wasn't a fan of playing the games since childhood.

Quote from: happyhermit;1057241This is getting ridiculous, what's next a D&D woodburning set?

We have D&D branded miniature paint sets. Is this some sign that it's the end of the TTRPG as we know it?

Quote from: Ras Algethi;1057308We have D&D branded miniature paint sets. Is this some sign that it's the end of the TTRPG as we know it?

Absolutely, this is not like in the 80's when TSR was selling D&D branded paint sets, and needlepoint, this is... Different!

Quote from: KingCheops;1057307How many people who buy a D&D mug are going to buy the PHB?

It's more a question of how many people who bought the PHB will also buy a D&D mug. If they're just selling mugs, the only advantage to making them D&D mugs vs non-D&D mugs is that they can sell more of the former to D&D players.

I might buy a mug with certain artwork from OD&D; not because the artwork is good but from nostalgia. Without the game or its artwork, a D&D mug might be seen as "Damaged & Defective" or "(Accidental) Death & Dismemberment" and I think either would be a harder sell. If the artwork is just random fantasy art and not specifically from D&D books, then again there's no advantage to the mug being D&D or not D&D.

QuoteThis survey assumed you DIDN'T currently play the game and was gauging interest in NON-GAME related products.

It asked me if I played the game, so I don't think the first part is correct. Some of the questions might have been to inform game direction, like about settings. But I'd much prefer that internet surveys NOT determine the content of future game books, whether or not it's limited to actual players or just to people who buy D&D mugs.