After This Report, it's All-or-Nothing for WotC on the VTT

RPGPundit · July 25, 2024, 05:13:46 PM

The latest quarterly report from Hasbro makes it very clear why WotC will be going all or nothing on the VTT, and there's really no going back to focusing on regular paper products.
#dnd #ttrpg #osr #wotc #dnd5e

Omega · July 25, 2024, 07:45:57 PM

I can not see them totally cutting off printed media.

But we are seeing already that they are trying to tie in effectively collecible minis and features into buying the books. Pre-order all three AND the Beyond versions for 0ver 250$ and get a dragon mini for the VTT.

All sight unseen.

RPGPundit · July 26, 2024, 05:40:09 AM

Quote from: Omega on July 25, 2024, 07:45:57 PMI can not see them totally cutting off printed media.

But we are seeing already that they are trying to tie in effectively collecible minis and features into buying the books. Pre-order all three AND the Beyond versions for 0ver 250$ and get a dragon mini for the VTT.

All sight unseen.

They already did end "printed media" in any form resembling what they had. Basically everyone involved in the publishing of D&D books was fired.
Like I said in the video, there could still be books (or box sets) coming out after the OneDnD corebooks, but they will be done through the division that does "D&D merch" rather than publishing. They will likely be high-end collectibles, done by the same people who make the beholder stuffed toys or t-shirts or D&D-themed gender-neutral lingerie or whatever.

Omega · July 26, 2024, 06:05:31 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit on July 26, 2024, 05:40:09 AM
Quote from: Omega on July 25, 2024, 07:45:57 PMI can not see them totally cutting off printed media.

But we are seeing already that they are trying to tie in effectively collecible minis and features into buying the books. Pre-order all three AND the Beyond versions for 0ver 250$ and get a dragon mini for the VTT.

All sight unseen.

They already did end "printed media" in any form resembling what they had. Basically everyone involved in the publishing of D&D books was fired.
Like I said in the video, there could still be books (or box sets) coming out after the OneDnD corebooks, but they will be done through the division that does "D&D merch" rather than publishing. They will likely be high-end collectibles, done by the same people who make the beholder stuffed toys or t-shirts or D&D-themed gender-neutral lingerie or whatever.

wotc does not have a publishing arm at all as of the release of 5e. They outsource printing. And outsourced writing modules even. Kobold, Green Ronin and Sasquatch all did a module for wotc. Those were relatively early though.

Which does make you wonder. How are they making the MTG cards? Or did they only shut down book publishing back then?

Rhymer88 · July 26, 2024, 06:55:32 AM

Clownfish TV on Youtube may also be correct that WotC could create a "D&D Go" mobile game in addition to the VTT. A mobile game would be cheaper to develop than the VTT and potentially more profitable as well.

Omega · July 26, 2024, 02:30:59 PM

Quote from: Rhymer88 on July 26, 2024, 06:55:32 AMClownfish TV on Youtube may also be correct that WotC could create a "D&D Go" mobile game in addition to the VTT. A mobile game would be cheaper to develop than the VTT and potentially more profitable as well.

They already have one D&D idle "RPG" yeah those two words go together... And a few app games. And several years ago a mobile game that plugged into the MMO that they discontinued after a year. And they have two MMOs.

GhostNinja · July 26, 2024, 04:39:28 PM

I doubt they are going to push back the release of the print books because it will bring in a lot of money. But I bet as soon as they get the VTT going, print material will slow and things will then end up only being available on the VTT.

GeekyBugle · July 26, 2024, 05:27:59 PM

Quote from: Omega on July 26, 2024, 02:30:59 PM
Quote from: Rhymer88 on July 26, 2024, 06:55:32 AMClownfish TV on Youtube may also be correct that WotC could create a "D&D Go" mobile game in addition to the VTT. A mobile game would be cheaper to develop than the VTT and potentially more profitable as well.

They already have one D&D idle "RPG" yeah those two words go together... And a few app games. And several years ago a mobile game that plugged into the MMO that they discontinued after a year. And they have two MMOs.

Since when did WotKKK started learning from their mistakes?

PulpHerb · July 26, 2024, 06:21:02 PM

To answer Pundit's question about Monopoly Go!, it is pretty much what you'd expect from a mobile game with daily drops of stuff and pay to win bundles. Just instead of Township or whatever you're moving through a space themed and named like a Monopoly set. Same as they plan with D&D the rules of the traditional game aren't relevant just the window dressing.

I've never played but plenty of hints videos on YT if you want to get a look at it.

RPGPundit · July 27, 2024, 02:47:21 AM

Quote from: Omega on July 26, 2024, 06:05:31 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit on July 26, 2024, 05:40:09 AM
Quote from: Omega on July 25, 2024, 07:45:57 PMI can not see them totally cutting off printed media.

But we are seeing already that they are trying to tie in effectively collecible minis and features into buying the books. Pre-order all three AND the Beyond versions for 0ver 250$ and get a dragon mini for the VTT.

All sight unseen.

They already did end "printed media" in any form resembling what they had. Basically everyone involved in the publishing of D&D books was fired.
Like I said in the video, there could still be books (or box sets) coming out after the OneDnD corebooks, but they will be done through the division that does "D&D merch" rather than publishing. They will likely be high-end collectibles, done by the same people who make the beholder stuffed toys or t-shirts or D&D-themed gender-neutral lingerie or whatever.

wotc does not have a publishing arm at all as of the release of 5e. They outsource printing. And outsourced writing modules even. Kobold, Green Ronin and Sasquatch all did a module for wotc. Those were relatively early though.

Which does make you wonder. How are they making the MTG cards? Or did they only shut down book publishing back then?

I didn't mean literal printing. I wasn't suggesting that the newsies working some industrial print machine were let go.
I was talking about the entire D&D book division. The editors and layout people and so on that were in charge of creating the D&D books that they've made over the last 10 years. That entire section of WotC is now gone.

Ruprecht · July 27, 2024, 07:24:54 AM

Isn't this what Pundit and others predicted some time ago?

RPGPundit · July 27, 2024, 03:38:42 PM

I certainly started to suspect this was the way they were going, ending the books altogether, from the second half of last year.
When they killed their book distribution deal, that was a huge sign.

Omega · July 27, 2024, 07:37:20 PM

Quote from: GeekyBugle on July 26, 2024, 05:27:59 PMSince when did WotKKK started learning from their mistakes?

Its worse. They have clearly shown that they have no damn fucking clue what their own departments are doing.

Omega · July 27, 2024, 07:43:57 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit on July 27, 2024, 02:47:21 AMI didn't mean literal printing. I wasn't suggesting that the newsies working some industrial print machine were let go.
I was talking about the entire D&D book division. The editors and layout people and so on that were in charge of creating the D&D books that they've made over the last 10 years. That entire section of WotC is now gone.

If it is true then sounds like they plan to go full on outsourcing like they originally did with 5e.

The first module pair right out the gate was not written by wotc. It was done by Kobold press. Another was done by Green Ronin and one by Sasquatch, role20, Penny Arcade, and one more cant recall. Not to mention doing Radiant Citadel with temp hires. Not even freelancers.

That and they have a huge library of modules now they can endlessly reprint, retool, and fuck up.

Thornhammer · July 27, 2024, 10:58:56 PM

Quote from: PulpHerb on July 26, 2024, 06:21:02 PMTo answer Pundit's question about Monopoly Go!, it is pretty much what you'd expect from a mobile game with daily drops of stuff and pay to win bundles. Just instead of Township or whatever you're moving through a space themed and named like a Monopoly set. Same as they plan with D&D the rules of the traditional game aren't relevant just the window dressing.

I've never played but plenty of hints videos on YT if you want to get a look at it.

It is really dumb.

Push a button to roll 2d6 and move your guy. That's it. Game moves you around a board. You buy upgrades to your buildings and then move on to the next board.

There are a couple of mini games that occasionally pop up, and you can tear down shit that other players have built.

I downloaded it and played until I ran out of free dice rolls with the initial play, then deleted it.

Scopely made $2 billion (with a b) in 10 months off this.