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D&D Encounters - No longer free to run

Started by bryce0lynch, June 19, 2013, 10:44:01 AM

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bryce0lynch

June 19, 2013, 10:44:01 AM
So far D&D Encounters has been free. DM's signed up to run games at a game store and were given a free copy of the adventure so they could run it for the players. No more.

It looks like the August season of D&D Encounters is going to cost DM's $36 for the adventure packet if they want to run it. Since the purpose of the program is marketing ... getting players in to stores and buying products ... it seems bizarre that they are now charging.

I wonder what this will do to the number of scheduled Encounters games?



http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/Sales/Solicitations/2013_06_08_DDBaldur_Solicitation_en_US.pdf
OSR Module Reviews @: //www.tenfootpole.org

Warthur

#1
June 19, 2013, 10:49:20 AM
Quote from: bryce0lynch;663816I wonder what this will do to the number of scheduled Encounters games?
More to the point, what does it say about the effectiveness of Encounters as a marketing tool?
I am no longer posting here or reading this forum because Pundit has regularly claimed credit for keeping this community active. I am sick of his bullshit for reasons I explain here and I don\'t want to contribute to anything he considers to be a personal success on his part.

I recommend The RPG Pub as a friendly place where RPGs can be discussed and where the guiding principles of moderation are "be kind to each other" and "no politics". It\'s pretty chill so far.

Mistwell

#2
June 19, 2013, 10:54:26 AM
http://dungeonsmaster.com/2013/06/major-changes-coming-to-dd-encounters-dms-to-pay-for-adventures/

First and foremost the adventure is compatible with 3.5e, 4e and D&D Next; no more of this "download the D&D Next conversion" step that's required today. It would seem that all three editions are given equal treatment in the adventure. The book itself seems to be more than just a run-of-the-mill adventure like we've been getting. Here are the specs currently available online:

Murder in Baldur's Gate: Sundering Adventure I (product description)

    96-page hardcover (size 7.09 × 9.06)
        64-page setting book describing Baldur's Gate and its inhabitants
        32-page adventure book
    Four-panel, foldout DM screen keyed to the adventure
    Illustrated folder

...there will still be some support for the public play component beginning with the launch weekend. Murder in Baldur's Gate begins on August 21, but during the weekend before that (August 17-18) there is a special introduction adventure that sets up the new season. This adventure is free and will be included in the kits provided to your FLGS. The kit will also have a few other items of note.

    2 copies of the short introductory adventure
    2 packs of non-player character cards for the DM
    20 exclusive player maps
    20 exclusive Murder in Baldur's Gate d20s

Sacrosanct

#3
June 19, 2013, 10:58:14 AM
yeah, it seems more than just an adventure and more of a campaign setting, with enough stuff for 20 players.  I can see why they'd charge for this one.  Doesn't mean that every encounter session from here on out is going to be charged.  At least I didn't read that in the flyer (could have missed it).
D&D is not an "everyone gets a ribbon" game.  If you\'re stupid, your PC will die.  If you\'re an asshole, your PC will die (probably from the other PCs).  If you\'re unlucky, your PC may die.  Point?  PC\'s die.  Get over it and roll up a new one.

Exploderwizard

#4
June 19, 2013, 10:59:01 AM
I haven't been keeping up with the encounters program. Is it currently being run for playtest versions of Next or is it still 4E based?
Quote from: JonWakeGamers, as a whole, are much like primitive cavemen when confronted with a new game. Rather than \'oh, neat, what\'s this do?\', the reaction is to decide if it\'s a sex hole, then hit it with a rock.

Quote from: Old Geezer;724252At some point it seems like D&D is going to disappear up its own ass.

Quote from: Kyle Aaron;766997In the randomness of the dice lies the seed for the great oak of creativity and fun. The great virtue of the dice is that they come without boxed text.

bryce0lynch

#5
June 19, 2013, 11:09:28 AM
It's 4e based and they prepare a download that converts the stats/skill checks to 5e.

I've run a couple of seasons of Encounters in the past. It's clearly a marketing program designed to get people in to the stores and buying products. I'm not paying for their crappy adventures so they can offload their marketing budget onto me.
OSR Module Reviews @: //www.tenfootpole.org

Sacrosanct

#6
June 19, 2013, 11:11:24 AM
Quote from: bryce0lynch;663825It's 4e based and they prepare a download that converts the stats/skill checks to 5e.

I've run a couple of seasons of Encounters in the past. It's clearly a marketing program designed to get people in to the stores and buying products. I'm not paying for their crappy adventures so they can offload their marketing budget onto me.

Again, what part of that flyer implies that Encounters are going to a pay service?  The product in that flyer is significantly different than most encounter adventures, correct?  If that's the case, I find it a bit disengenous to compare a unique one-off like this to all of the encounters type products.
D&D is not an "everyone gets a ribbon" game.  If you\'re stupid, your PC will die.  If you\'re an asshole, your PC will die (probably from the other PCs).  If you\'re unlucky, your PC may die.  Point?  PC\'s die.  Get over it and roll up a new one.

Exploderwizard

#7
June 19, 2013, 11:20:00 AM
Quote from: bryce0lynch;663825It's 4e based and they prepare a download that converts the stats/skill checks to 5e.

I've run a couple of seasons of Encounters in the past. It's clearly a marketing program designed to get people in to the stores and buying products. I'm not paying for their crappy adventures so they can offload their marketing budget onto me.

Don't blame you. My guess is that since there isn't any new 4E product in development and 5E doesn't have any product on the shelf yet, producing free marketing material for non-existent products is getting harder to justify.
Quote from: JonWakeGamers, as a whole, are much like primitive cavemen when confronted with a new game. Rather than \'oh, neat, what\'s this do?\', the reaction is to decide if it\'s a sex hole, then hit it with a rock.

Quote from: Old Geezer;724252At some point it seems like D&D is going to disappear up its own ass.

Quote from: Kyle Aaron;766997In the randomness of the dice lies the seed for the great oak of creativity and fun. The great virtue of the dice is that they come without boxed text.

Bobloblah

#8
June 19, 2013, 11:23:58 AM
Quote from: Sacrosanct;663826Again, what part of that flyer implies that Encounters are going to a pay service?  The product in that flyer is significantly different than most encounter adventures, correct?  If that's the case, I find it a bit disengenous to compare a unique one-off like this to all of the encounters type products.
Oh, come on! How are we supposed to rail against WotC if you're being so bloody fair-minded?!
Best,
Bobloblah

Asking questions about the fictional game space and receiving feedback that directly guides the flow of play IS the game. - Exploderwizard

Sacrosanct

#9
June 19, 2013, 11:36:27 AM
Quote from: Bobloblah;663829Oh, come on! How are we supposed to rail against WotC if you're being so bloody fair-minded?!

I actually deleted that quote because I don't know enough about encounters to compare how it was done before and how it's going to be done, so that quote could come off as me talking out of my ass.
D&D is not an "everyone gets a ribbon" game.  If you\'re stupid, your PC will die.  If you\'re an asshole, your PC will die (probably from the other PCs).  If you\'re unlucky, your PC may die.  Point?  PC\'s die.  Get over it and roll up a new one.

Bobloblah

#10
June 19, 2013, 11:51:54 AM
Quote from: Sacrosanct;663834I actually deleted that quote because I don't know enough about encounters to compare how it was done before and how it's going to be done, so that quote could come off as me talking out of my ass.
I'm so glad I saved it, then, as that's much more in keeping with the tone of this site!
Best,
Bobloblah

Asking questions about the fictional game space and receiving feedback that directly guides the flow of play IS the game. - Exploderwizard

jeff37923

#11
June 19, 2013, 03:27:06 PM
Marketting or not, for all you get that $36 price tag seems like a deal.

Especially since I can just use it for 3.x/Pathfinder.
"Meh."

Bobloblah

#12
June 19, 2013, 04:23:22 PM
I wondered aloud on another forum just how much business WotC might be able to steal from, or prevent going to, Paizo with a steam of products that were 3.5 compatible...
Best,
Bobloblah

Asking questions about the fictional game space and receiving feedback that directly guides the flow of play IS the game. - Exploderwizard

JasperAK

#13
June 19, 2013, 04:37:31 PM
Quote from: Bobloblah;663948I wondered aloud on another forum just how much business WotC might be able to steal from, or prevent going to, Paizo with a steam of products that were 3.5 compatible...

My guess is not much. People that are still playing 3.5e might still be pissed off with WOTC. Plus WOTC seems more interested in Rules whereas Paizo seems more interested in adventure paths and setting books. At least from what my FLGS shelves look like.

crkrueger

#14
June 19, 2013, 05:06:43 PM
Quote from: JasperAK;663957Paizo seems more interested in adventure paths and setting books. At least from what my FLGS shelves look like.

I thought the Internet said there was no money in adventures and settings, only splats.  Hell Dancey even said it so it must be true.  How can Paizo even stay in business I wonder?
Even the the "cutting edge" storygamers for all their talk of narrative, plot, and drama are fucking obsessed with the god damned rules they use. - Estar

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"Tangency Edition" D&D would have no classes or races, but 17 genders to choose from. -TristramEvans
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