tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post4065317252572860713..comments2024-03-28T05:12:54.089-05:00Comments on Uncle Matt's Blog: Do-or-die for 5e D&D: third party publishersMatt Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07678557558458924177noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-21261454717383022192014-08-27T12:03:51.377-05:002014-08-27T12:03:51.377-05:00While I understand the points being made in the ar...While I understand the points being made in the article, I disagree with the analysis in several places.<br /><br />* D&D 5e probably should have a 3rd party license, but it cannot be as broad as the OGL was. The OGL is what allows Pathfinder's existence. While this may be good for the consumers, it was not ultimately good for WotC. The OGL was both the best and worst decision ever made by Wizards.<br /><br />* Paizo is fairly big and well funded for the moment, but from an audience perspective, I don't believe it is that much larger than D&D. While it outsold D&D for several quarters, the margin of sales was not as vast as it seems to be presented here. <br /><br />I think the 5e fan base will equal or top Pathfinder fairly quickly... not because of the relative strength or weakness of rules, but mostly because of brand. Whether we play D&D or Pathfinder, we're playing "D&D"... That's how powerful that brand is and Hasbro understands how important that is and has done a *lot* to leverage this in the media. You can't swing a dead cat without reading about the "resurgences of D&D" and the 40th Anniversary in the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post... You can't buy that kind of publicity and Pathfinder does not have that kind of name recognition in the broader market.<br /><br />* Despite the OGL being a pain in WotC's side, it also allows publishers to produce 5e compatible content. I think one of the reasons WotC has been slow to announce anything concrete yet is that they want to see how this plays out. <br /><br />Note that the well funded 3rd parties are already working on 5e content without a license. WotC may actually want this. The fact that these well-funded 3rd parties can afford the legal counsel might be the barrier-to-entry that WotC desires. They know that only "reputable" (i.e. - can afford a lawyer) companies will put out 5e content.<br /><br />Also, when you see a company like Goodman Games (who has their own "D&D" game) start making content for 5e (while they have never made Pathfinder compatible content), that is a strong sign. They are tuned into the market and they know where the profitability lies. Everyone Tom, Dick and Harry can make Pathfinder compatible content and that market is over crowded (with a lot of crap as well).<br /><br />When it comes down to it, WotC doesn't want a repeat of all the crap content that came out with the original OGL. They want quality content because poor content reflects on the brand poorly. <br /><br />* The profusion of game worlds actually hurt D&D during the TSR days. The worlds competed with one another meaning that print runs for all products were smaller and less profitable. They do not want to repeat that mistake. DNDClassics.com serves as a way for fans of specific worlds to purchase what they need and convert to 5e. WotC will not make that mistake of trying to support umpteen different game worlds again... which is why Forgotten Realms is the default setting.<br /><br />So, yes, I partially agree that WotC doesn't want to turn all 3rd parties to Pathfinder... but they'd likely rather not have all of the smaller crap publishers put out stuff under the 5e compatible brand.Raging Owlbearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556804177905125874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-46960946263771556312014-08-24T14:29:23.593-05:002014-08-24T14:29:23.593-05:00Paizo is making way too much and is way too busy t...Paizo is making way too much and is way too busy to support 5e unless PF just tanked. Also, I should add, I really want a new license for full disclosure. Dr. Obscurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14915912787477812255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-91974243714231820032014-08-24T14:27:30.777-05:002014-08-24T14:27:30.777-05:00I'm pretty convinced except for this: Are D&am...I'm pretty convinced except for this: Are D&D and PF once again so close that the "Rising tide lifts all ships" argument, if true, applies?Dr. Obscurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14915912787477812255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-34751771090953998242014-08-23T19:10:07.115-05:002014-08-23T19:10:07.115-05:00So how do companies publishing fifth edition conte...So how do companies publishing fifth edition content under the 3e OGL factor into all of this?<br /><br />I feel that if WotC tries to crack down, they'll lose a lot of goodwill from the fanbase. Yet if they officially bring about a 5e OGL, they might dilute "the brand" anyway--since Paizo might jump on bandwagon, too. <br /><br />What do you think? Stelios V. Perdioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05466676702515521939noreply@blogger.com