Quote from: Marleycat;751317I don't disagree. I would think there will be an online option though. Or it maybe possible the physical book could be in the box stores like Walmart/Target/ToysR us?

FWIW I live in an area where there is no physical gaming stores and where chain stores will not stock the Starter Set. This leaves only internet stores like Amazon. If the free book (if its the missing link) is unable to obtained from these internet stores, it really kinda of sucks.

Quote from: RPGPundit;750967Well, all the current subject aside, yes.  You are.

For me, half my gaming materials are now on PDF, not to mention most of my campaign notes are on .txt files (which in and of itself probably makes me old fashioned!), and for DCC I have come to love the amazing Crawler app (thus far, the only gaming-related app I use).

Cool. I'll wear it with pride then.

I'm well aware of the Crawler and it is kind of cool. But that doesn't make phones any more awesome at a table for DCC.

But point blank, I have kids that we hope one day share their mother's and mine enjoyment of RPGs. Yes my hope was that D&D "Next" would have a self contained, streamlined RPG without the use of a tablet/computer/ phone. A self contained starter box would have been perfect.

I'll get more "fogey" too... I was looking at Next because I find DCC a bit too mature for younger audiences.  Other wise I have no use for Next.

But really I hope you are right... about how easy and great this going to be.

Quote from: Skywalker;751320FWIW I live in an area where there is no physical gaming stores and where chain stores will not stock the Starter Set. This leaves only internet stores like Amazon. If the free book (if its the missing link) is unable to obtained from these internet stores, it really kinda of sucks.

That would. I still think we're missing something big. From how Pundit put it Organized Play isn't unique and I think they have something different up their sleeves that hasn't been introduced yet.

Any extra step, no matter how wonderful it may seem, is one step too many.

Quote from: Skywalker;751320FWIW I live in an area where there is no physical gaming stores and where chain stores will not stock the Starter Set. This leaves only internet stores like Amazon. If the free book (if its the missing link) is unable to obtained from these internet stores, it really kinda of sucks.

How do you think that would go over with Amazon?

"Yeah, I really don't want to buy anything. All I want is the free Dungeons & Dragons book."

"Say what??" ::click::

Quote from: Marleycat;751306To get you to go to the FLGS to buy the Starter Box there and possibly involved in their public play system.

Quote from: Mistwell;751315For a couple reasons I can think of:

1) They want to reach a wider audience than just the starter set, and it would duplicate books if they included it in the set;

2) They want to drive people to retail stores, as you'd have to download the PDF if you buy from Amazon or Barns and Noble online.

Quote from: Dodger;751326

Not currently uninfortunately.

Someone's spiked your drink, then. With acid.

That's the only way to explain a theory which relies on Wizards deliberately crippling the D&D Starter Set in order to discourage customers from buying through the dominant sales channel (i.e. online).

Quote from: Dodger;751336Someone's spiked your drink, then. With acid.

That's the only way to explain a theory which relies on Wizards deliberately crippling the D&D Starter Set in order to discourage customers from buying through the dominant sales channel (i.e. online).

What do I know I am just theorizing at this point. I am fine if I have to wait for the actual books given I will likely only get PHB and maybe the DMG. I never DM DnD so the Starter Box holds no interest for me. Let the DM give me some pregen and I am ready to roll.

Why would they want to drive potential players into brick n mortar stores? There are only a few left around here and the action there is all CCGs and 40K... those store owners aren't looking to have their tables taken up for hours on end by a game that doesn't push impulse buys that can be put to immediate use.
Or maybe WOTC has some new angle on that...

Quote from: S'mon;750935IMO "No printed chargen, but you can make one on your phone" is epic marketing fail. It might work for some demographics; it's not going to work for the parents & children 'family game' demographic, which I would have thought was an important target market these days.

Honestly, what will work for a parents & children family game demographic, if that's really the cause you're raising your lance for, would be "here's a bunch of totally-ready characters, everyone pick the one you want!".

Quote from: Endless Flight;751324Any extra step, no matter how wonderful it may seem, is one step too many.

Repeated, because it needs to be.

And to further add to this faux pas, all Mearls had to do is stay quiet! Don't use the Twitter, just let mystery build. Pre-orders were going great because people WANT TO ASSUME THE BEST. When things are going swimmingly, don't throw flaming oil atop, the churn and attention just is not worth it.

Think about the real audience for a new edition of D&D; it isn't a family of newbs who stumbled across the game at a book store or something. It is some member of the community of gamers that has existed for many years, or some friend of theirs who is introducing them to the hobby. I can't imagine anyone in this market being happy to buy a product that won't explain to you how to create even a simple, basic, starting character.

Quote from: Omega;750954Short of OD&D and the BXetc series None of D&D games have needed everyone to buy all the books. The DM needed the DMG and MM, the players needed the PHB.

So yeah. That could be read as trick wording or empty promise if one isnt aware that this is how D&D has been for a good while now.

That's is explicitly NOT what is meant here. That much I can say.

I have just re-read Pundit's blog post. this stuck out:

QuoteEverything will be more clear when certain information is made public in a while. Information, I might add, that I as an advocate of the D&D game being made as accessible as possible to regular and casual gamers rather than just marketing to the hardcore fans am very excited about.

Emphasis mine.

Now, this has probably been covered in the last 12 or 13 pages or so but my tuppence is as follows:

Originally 5E was being touted as a go-to modular D&D that could be used to emulate play styles of the major previous revisions.

This was then "forgotten about" according to some as play tests were released and mechanics were tested in the wild.

I believe that WoTC is releasing the core D&D 5E mechanic free online and available in participating FLGSs to potential consumers to engage with. If they wish, they can then "buy in" to D&D THE RPG with the starter set.

Alternatively, they can then use what they know from this freebie to make characters and understand how to play in something like D&D THE COMPUTER GAME.

Or, the consumer can use what they learnt from the freebie core mechanic PDF FLGS print out and go and "buy in" to D&D THE BOARD GAME.

[INSERT D&D: THE XYZ] here.

I would bet my place in OGs TBP/RPGSite meat sandwich on it.