What are the chances that this service/platform will begin to include older editions of D&D too (beyond 5e)? I remember Mike Mearls stating that he wanted the old forums to contain "shrines" for the previous editions. Is that something we might see here? Would be cool to be able to look at rules for Basic, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 4E and 5e with the same accessibility!
My guess is no. WotC as a company is going to want to encourage to the best of their ability players to move toward 5th edition, as such support for previous editions is most likely not going to occur. Of course the DMs Guild has a lot of the old edition stuff available that you can purchase.
Yeah, my assumption is also "no they will not". But I thought if I put the idea out there, maybe someone would realize it's an AWESOME idea and use it.
If you can purchase rules from older editions, and people still play those editions, why not (at some point) make that stuff accessible here too.
Can always hope.
That said I pretty much only intend on playing 5th edition. It's my favorite one and time is limited.
You never know what the future may hold, so it's always worth letting the team here know what you would like to see!
That's in no way a promise that they'll create compendiums for previous editions (I would say unlikely) but having an area of the forums for previous editions sounds like something that could be implemented.
I like the idea of having a forums for the older editions. There are a lot of people who still do and will always play the older editions, so the community there is robust. I'm not sure about a database, but the fans of the old school are more likely to start and maintain such a thing, I imagine.
Doubtful. The model of "let's make adventure books and toss two pages of new content in" will eventually force them to make a new edition to get people to buy the books.
It follows well for people like me. I don't buy pre-made adventures. I have no use for them. I will not spend money on two or three pages of content. I WILL buy most actual resource books that provide content for races, classes and equipment and the like.
Well, no, I get what is being said about wanting more content that isn't inserted into adventures.
But how would coming out with a new edition change any of that?
My thought process is that WotC concentrates so much on trying to get people to buy the new books that they add a couple pages of content into the Adventure books in an attempt to get non DMs to also buy the book. I think this ultimately causes DMs to not buy or use the book especially if their players have it. And I think most players aren't going to buy it for just two pages of content. So with each passing book, it gets bought less and less and eventually a new edition emerges so WotC can reprint the core rulebooks that are going to sell.
In other words WotC goes crazy trying to get people to buy every single book they make instead of making player option books and Adventure books separate (Which I think would be a better idea). By adding additional content from previous editions into D&D Beyond they would be allowing people easier access to continue to play the old editions, which the company doesn't want cause they want as many people as possible to buy the new stuff.
Just like D&D Beyond will get discarded once a new edition comes out. Granted that is very good long ways off.
Honestly, I don't see this happening in the foreseeable future.
3rd edition was pre-Hasbro WotC's (solid) attempt at bringing D&D to a new era of game design.
4th edition was Hasbro WotC's attempt to push that envelope a little further, leverage the power of the MMORPG phenomenon, and make D&D appealing to a wider demographic. (And thus increase demand.)
5th edition takes advantage of a laundry list of lessons learned and, in my observation and opinion, represents a huge stride forward in both categories. It's simultaneously the best ruleset D&D has ever had and simple enough for new players to be attracted to the game again. (I think 3E was a failure in this regard because it ended up making the game intimidating for new players.)
You'll note the publishing schedule for 5th edition has been much slower than for any previous edition. This is not the behavior of a company that's cynically pushing out content so everyone will buy it up and they'll make money. Clearly Hasbro is a corporation and their overall intent is to make money, but it's worth mentioning that Hasbro is a smartcorporation with a lot of longevity. They know that delivering an excellent product and keeping customers happy is ultimately the best way to make and grow your profits. They also know that one-time per-unit sales is an antiquated, 20th century revenue model. Their focus is figuring out how to leverage the power of recurring revenue while also delivering an excellent experience to customers.
I seriously doubt we'll see as much as a glimmer or hint about a 6th edition D&D until / unless consumer interest in 5th edition significantly wanes. Even then, the intent will be to stay current and relevant, not initiate a cash grab by "forcing" people to buy more books.
Honestly, I don't see this happening in the foreseeable future.
3rd edition was pre-Hasbro WotC's (solid) attempt at bringing D&D to a new era of game design.
4th edition was Hasbro WotC's attempt to push that envelope a little further and make D&D appealing to a wider demographic. (And thus increase demand.)
5th edition takes advantage of a laundry list of lessons learned and, in my observation and opinion, represents a huge stride forward in both categories. It's simultaneously the best ruleset D&D has ever had and simple enough for new players to be attracted to the game again. (I think 3E was a failure in this regard because it ended up making the game intimidating for new players.)
You'll note the publishing schedule for 5th edition has been much slower than for any previous edition. This is not the behavior of a company that's cynically pushing out content so everyone will buy it up and they'll make money. Clearly Hasbro is a corporation and their overall intent is to make money, but it's worth mentioning that Hasbro is a smartcorporation with a lot of longevity. They know that delivering an excellent product and keeping customers happy is ultimately the best way to make and grow your profits. They also know that one-time per-unit sales is an antiquated, 20th century revenue model. Their focus is figuring out how to leverage the power of recurring revenue while also delivering an excellent experience to customers.
I seriously doubt we'll see as much as a glimmer or hint about a 6th edition D&D until / unless consumer interest in 5th edition significantly wanes. Even then, the intent will be to stay current and relevant, not initiate a cash grab by "forcing" people to buy more books.
I cannot upvote from the phone, but consider yourself upvoted!
What are the chances that this service/platform will begin to include older editions of D&D too (beyond 5e)? I remember Mike Mearls stating that he wanted the old forums to contain "shrines" for the previous editions. Is that something we might see here? Would be cool to be able to look at rules for Basic, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 4E and 5e with the same accessibility!
I'm sure that all efforts will be for 5e as it is the current platform on sale. I would LOVE to see them tackle other editions, but from a business point of view it doesn't make sense.
What are the chances that this service/platform will begin to include older editions of D&D too (beyond 5e)? I remember Mike Mearls stating that he wanted the old forums to contain "shrines" for the previous editions. Is that something we might see here? Would be cool to be able to look at rules for Basic, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 4E and 5e with the same accessibility!
I'm sure that all efforts will be for 5e as it is the current platform on sale. I would LOVE to see them tackle other editions, but from a business point of view it doesn't make sense.
Considering that you can buy older editions of D&D at DMsGuild, and that there are many players who do still play those older editions, I think that it does make sense from a business point of view. How does it not make sense?
I understand that the focus will be 5th edition now, because that is the edition that is promoting new product. But once D&D Beyond has been established, I feel that it would only help bring in more business if you created a simplified accessibility to all editions of D&D here, the same way they are doing for 5th.
What are the chances that this service/platform will begin to include older editions of D&D too (beyond 5e)? I remember Mike Mearls stating that he wanted the old forums to contain "shrines" for the previous editions. Is that something we might see here? Would be cool to be able to look at rules for Basic, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 4E and 5e with the same accessibility!
I'm sure that all efforts will be for 5e as it is the current platform on sale. I would LOVE to see them tackle other editions, but from a business point of view it doesn't make sense.
Considering that you can buy older editions of D&D at DMsGuild, and that there are many players who do still play those older editions, I think that it does make sense from a business point of view. How does it not make sense?
I understand that the focus will be 5th edition now, because that is the edition that is promoting new product. But once D&D Beyond has been established, I feel that it would only help bring in more business if you created a simplified accessibility to all editions of D&D here, the same way they are doing for 5th.
Because if the information is available on dndbeyond you won't have to buy the pdf on DMsGuild. Not to mention DMsGuild probably gives them a good indication of the amount of time they need to invest in older games. Since having the old PDFs aren't really costing them money (the costs are really just fixed costs, which are absorbed by 5th edition content and wouldn't change if you removed the old content). This pretty much removes any incentive to put the information on dndbeyond. You would have to pay development costs and then gain nothing as your removed the need to buy the pdfs. Yes you could add subscription elements and gain revenue. So obviously if demand is high on DMsGuild, then they might implement the content into D&D Beyond.
My guess is they aren't really going to spend the resources to add additional game systems to dndbeyond because they don't have revenue streams attached to them. I mean its great if 10000000000000000000000000 people play 1st edition, but if only 1 person is buying content for 1st edition, it doesn't really make business sense to bother providing content for everyone else who is never going to purchase something.
DnD Beyond exists primarily as a resource to make playing games easier, more people who play the game the more stuff gets bought, even if it is just the DM buying all the books.
WotC is still controlled by a corporation, and as such will act like one. Its possible if WotC was a small company they would end up providing the older content.
D&D Beyond seems really great so far.
What are the chances that this service/platform will begin to include older editions of D&D too (beyond 5e)? I remember Mike Mearls stating that he wanted the old forums to contain "shrines" for the previous editions. Is that something we might see here? Would be cool to be able to look at rules for Basic, AD&D, 2e, 3e, 4E and 5e with the same accessibility!
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
My guess is no. WotC as a company is going to want to encourage to the best of their ability players to move toward 5th edition, as such support for previous editions is most likely not going to occur. Of course the DMs Guild has a lot of the old edition stuff available that you can purchase.
Yeah, my assumption is also "no they will not". But I thought if I put the idea out there, maybe someone would realize it's an AWESOME idea and use it.
If you can purchase rules from older editions, and people still play those editions, why not (at some point) make that stuff accessible here too.
Can always hope.
That said I pretty much only intend on playing 5th edition. It's my favorite one and time is limited.
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings
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D&D Beyond FoundersYou never know what the future may hold, so it's always worth letting the team here know what you would like to see!
That's in no way a promise that they'll create compendiums for previous editions (I would say unlikely) but having an area of the forums for previous editions sounds like something that could be implemented.
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Do you think this will be the definitive edition?
I like the idea of having a forums for the older editions. There are a lot of people who still do and will always play the older editions, so the community there is robust. I'm not sure about a database, but the fans of the old school are more likely to start and maintain such a thing, I imagine.
I don't follow that logic.
It follows well for people like me. I don't buy pre-made adventures. I have no use for them. I will not spend money on two or three pages of content. I WILL buy most actual resource books that provide content for races, classes and equipment and the like.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
I suspect not, though that sounds like a wonderful idea.
Be careful what you Wish for... your DM may just give it to you!
Well, no, I get what is being said about wanting more content that isn't inserted into adventures.
But how would coming out with a new edition change any of that?
We have had 4.5 previous editions that shows that to be the trend, but I don't think a new edition is needed anytime soon, but it seems inevitable.
I am not trying to be fightsy about it. You are definitely correct that there does not need to be a new edition just to put out new content.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Honestly, I don't see this happening in the foreseeable future.
3rd edition was pre-Hasbro WotC's (solid) attempt at bringing D&D to a new era of game design.
4th edition was Hasbro WotC's attempt to push that envelope a little further, leverage the power of the MMORPG phenomenon, and make D&D appealing to a wider demographic. (And thus increase demand.)
5th edition takes advantage of a laundry list of lessons learned and, in my observation and opinion, represents a huge stride forward in both categories. It's simultaneously the best ruleset D&D has ever had and simple enough for new players to be attracted to the game again. (I think 3E was a failure in this regard because it ended up making the game intimidating for new players.)
You'll note the publishing schedule for 5th edition has been much slower than for any previous edition. This is not the behavior of a company that's cynically pushing out content so everyone will buy it up and they'll make money. Clearly Hasbro is a corporation and their overall intent is to make money, but it's worth mentioning that Hasbro is a smart corporation with a lot of longevity. They know that delivering an excellent product and keeping customers happy is ultimately the best way to make and grow your profits. They also know that one-time per-unit sales is an antiquated, 20th century revenue model. Their focus is figuring out how to leverage the power of recurring revenue while also delivering an excellent experience to customers.
I seriously doubt we'll see as much as a glimmer or hint about a 6th edition D&D until / unless consumer interest in 5th edition significantly wanes. Even then, the intent will be to stay current and relevant, not initiate a cash grab by "forcing" people to buy more books.
"What you saw belongs to you. A story doesn't live until it is imagined in someone's mind."
― Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings