November, 2018 appears to be a very busy month for new releases related to Dungeon of the Mad Mage, Ravnica, etc. Books, Dice Sets, Map Packs, etc. Sounds a little bit like the 3.5 or 4E days of old....
Maybe 5E is reaching its Peak in the product release cycle?
It looks more to me there's more Accessories for DnD than books.
I've noticed in my local games store, like you say, Lots of map sets, dungeon tiles, miniatures, GM screens, mugs, cards and all sorts of dross like that.
Of actual DnD books, not so much. Maybe a little faster release schedule for books, but not by a lot.
Aren't the accessories outsourced to Gale Force 9?
And the map pack looks like a reprint from the 4E scenarios.
I don't see anything really new for D&D in 2019. (Except maybe the WIP sourcebook for Eberron 5e )
Quote from: Razor 007;1066341November, 2018 appears to be a very busy month for new releases related to Dungeon of the Mad Mage, Ravnica, etc. Books, Dice Sets, Map Packs, etc. Sounds a little bit like the 3.5 or 4E days of old....
Maybe 5E is reaching its Peak in the product release cycle?
Keep in mind that alot of that is by 3rd party companies. Curse of Strahd had the Tarokka decks produced by someone else. Same with Tomb of Annhialation. And wizKids is doing the minis/wargame. Even some of the modules are outsourced now.
So WOTC just produces the books. Not sure if they handled anything else so far. so far its been something like 2 modules (or 1 module and one two parter) and 2 supplements per year. And occasionally a setting book. And someone else producing any accessories.
2014 had the core 3 books and Starter boxed set come out and the 2-parter Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat.
2015 had Princes of the Apocalypse, Out of the Abyss, and Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
2016 had Curse of Strahd, Storm Kings Thunder, and Volo's Guide to Monsters
2017 had Tales of the Yawning Portal, Tomb of Annihilation, and Xanithars Guide.
2018 has Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage which is a 2-parter, and Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica.
They put out the gift sets this year too, but they're not really 'new' products.
Are the gift sets really from them or another sideline? It is somethimes hard to tell. I looked at one of the D&D dice sets and it was an outsourced product as well. Not sure though on the special packs though.
The increase in accessories is part of the marketing of D&D as a Lifestyle Brand.
Quote from: RPGPundit;1066924The increase in accessories is part of the marketing of D&D as a Lifestyle Brand.
Sorry. Wrong.
Least so far.
97% of the accessories are actual game material. Dice. Minis. Play Aids, and so on.
There is a colouring book. But guess what TSR put one out early on too. For fun.
Lets have a look then.
2018. ABCs and 123s books for kids. A Colouring book in the Erol Otus style by Tod James seems.
2017-2014: nada.
And I would not count a pair of schoolastic books for numbers and the alphabet as "lifestyle".
So save the snidery for when they actually start doing something stupid instead of wasting it. Yeesh kids these days frivolously spending their snidery on nothing. :rolleyes:
Oddly enough turns out those plush dice bags are for Paizo and not WOTC? Not lifestle either but one would have though things like an owlbear and mimic chest were WOTC side.
Just you wait. Of course, the plushy toys and T-shirts and such aren't being directly made by them, just licensed by them to other companies skilled in making that sort of thing.
Quote from: RPGPundit;1067824Just you wait. Of course, the plushy toys and T-shirts and such aren't being directly made by them, just licensed by them to other companies skilled in making that sort of thing.
You are right about out sourcing this production. WotC will not do it directly. The proliferation in D&D tee shirts I have seen would seem to be the best anecdotal evidence in your favor. And the library is full of Larry Elmore cover art dragon tee shirts at times. My tee shirt is Erol Otus Blue Box Basic.
Anyhow... The question is, will the "lifestyle" stuff be so bad if it slows down or delays the edition tread mill?
D&D as a lifestyle brand is one of the stupidest things i have heard of in a long time.
It really just PR double speak really. I used to work in a bookstore who had the same logo. All because they sold more than books. Most customers don't really give shit about it. As long as they get their product everything else for the most cases is irrelevant.
Quote from: MonsterSlayer;1067856You are right about out sourcing this production. WotC will not do it directly. The proliferation in D&D tee shirts I have seen would seem to be the best anecdotal evidence in your favor.
Are those official though? There seems to be alot of stuff that WOTC is not listing as official. Like those plush dice bags. Which youd have to be mentally stunted to deem "lifestyle".
As for T-shirts. Same question. The only ones I have seen are the charity T-shirts and hoodies WOTC puts out.
In fact, so far, WOTC has not yet put out anything you could actually term lifestyle.
After Kree-o D&D bombed I think WOTC has been wary of going in too heavy.
Which isnt to say they wont later. But for now they seem to be mostly doing functional accessories. Anything by third parties may well not be an actual WOTC agenda. Hard to say. Some just look like the usual "for fun!" projects. And god forbit anyone have fun with D&D.
Quote from: Omega;1067913Are those official though? There seems to be alot of stuff that WOTC is not listing as official. Like those plush dice bags. Which youd have to be mentally stunted to deem "lifestyle".
As for T-shirts. Same question. The only ones I have seen are the charity T-shirts and hoodies WOTC puts out.
In fact, so far, WOTC has not yet put out anything you could actually term lifestyle.
After Kree-o D&D bombed I think WOTC has been wary of going in too heavy.
Which isnt to say they wont later. But for now they seem to be mostly doing functional accessories. Anything by third parties may well not be an actual WOTC agenda. Hard to say. Some just look like the usual "for fun!" projects. And god forbit anyone have fun with D&D.
The one I have and the tee shirts I have seen are being advertised all over Facebook and I have seen them on Amazon, etc. If this is going on without Hasbro's permission and slice of the pie, Hasbro is not doing very good at protecting their IP.
http://https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-T-Shirt/dp/B077W87BKW/ref=pd_sbs_193_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B077W87BKW&pd_rd_r=91bc4eb7-fa8d-11e8-a194-953ab857cee9&pd_rd_w=vaUwM&pd_rd_wg=noC4O&pf_rd_p=763ccc93-bfa2-47be-85ae-0cdd7e00b3da&pf_rd_r=Q4X1TEK9A7MWQ0D4DXXZ&refRID=Q4X1TEK9A7MWQ0D4DXXZ (http://https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Dragons-Fantasy-Roleplaying-T-Shirt/dp/B077W87BKW/ref=pd_sbs_193_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B077W87BKW&pd_rd_r=91bc4eb7-fa8d-11e8-a194-953ab857cee9&pd_rd_w=vaUwM&pd_rd_wg=noC4O&pf_rd_p=763ccc93-bfa2-47be-85ae-0cdd7e00b3da&pf_rd_r=Q4X1TEK9A7MWQ0D4DXXZ&refRID=Q4X1TEK9A7MWQ0D4DXXZ)
Mine from ThinkGeek:
http://https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/kjnk/ (http://https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/kjnk/)
For sure, Hasbro is probably licensing this stuff. But they are going to leverage the brand into clothes at the very least.
Quote from: Omega;1067913The only ones I have seen are the charity T-shirts and hoodies WOTC puts out.
Pundit showed this site in one of his videos:
http://dnd.wizards.com/products/merchandise
Down at the bottom is a redirect to t-shirts and other apparel.
That site
Quote from: Omega;1067913The only ones I have seen are the charity T-shirts and hoodies WOTC puts out.
Pundit showed this site in one of his videos:
http://dnd.wizards.com/products/merchandise
Down at the bottom is a redirect to t-shirts and other apparel.
Besides apparel, that site is selling branded stuff such as:
Messenger Bags (actually, appears to be messenger bag flaps for messenger bags sold elsewhere on the same site)
Wallets
Pint Glasses
Mouse Pads
Additionally, a Google search for "D&D brand merchandise" found this on the first page:
https://www.zazzle.com/dungeonsanddragons/products
Beyond clothing, this site is selling:
Postcards
Coffee Mugs
3-Ring Binders
Phone Cases
Tablet Sleeves
Laptop Sleeves
Calendars
I'm sure I've seen stickers from a number of places relatively recently, as well.
It's safe to say that there's already a fair amount of non-gaming specific branded merchandise out there.
I don't really disagree with the idea that they're looking to expand into lifestyle branding, but at the same time, I don't think it's anything new. TSR was doing some of this back in the day (D&D Lunchmeat?)
Additionally, I have no doubt that if Hasbro found more profit in the merchandising and branding, and found the development of the tabletop game to negatively impact that, they'd shelve the game - Much like I have no doubt that if Disney found the print comics to be detrimental to their ongoing movie production and merchandising of the Marvel brand, they'd do something similar.
Others are also looking to get a cut of the action.
Joe Manganiello has apparently launched a line of tabletop gaming-related clothing and accessories under his "Death Saves" brand.
Thanks. I'd totally missed that.
so Ultra-pro s doing the slip-covers, mats and bags. Those arent lifestyle though and serve actual functions. I still have a 3rd party one from back in the 90s from a company that got the license from a couple of companies like White Wolf.
And the t-shirts are from... For Fans by Fans. Does it really surprise you they wouldnt have T-shirts and other stuff. Really, what havent fans made. I'd be more concerned that WOTC decided to monetize fans for a cut. though it is pretty savvy as the alternative would be shutting them down. Same as they did with the GMs guild. Monetize fan works rather than shut them down.
And that may be the bigger issue. Is WOTC using the banner of "lifestyle" as just an excuse to gain revenue from mostly bog standard fan creations?
Quote from: RPGPundit;1066924The increase in accessories is part of the marketing of D&D as a Lifestyle Brand.
Wood-burning kits, needlepoint kits, beach towels anyone? :)
Quote from: Darrin Kelley;1067860D&D as a lifestyle brand is one of the stupidest things i have heard of in a long time.
But it's what WotC wants, not smelly old gamers who get in the way of the [strike]money[/strike]fun.
Honestly, a Cloaker cloak would be fun. :) Probably already done on Etsy... out of sanitary napkins! :eek: (j/k :p)
I don't really mind or care about the "Lifestyle" products, such as mugs, plush toys etc.
It's highly unlikely I'll buy them, but clearly some people do and like it.
If it funds RPG makers to make more stuff I like, then more power to them.
Quote from: danskmacabre;1068082I don't really mind or care about the "Lifestyle" products, such as mugs, plush toys etc.
It's highly unlikely I'll buy them, but clearly some people do and like it.
If it funds RPG makers to make more stuff I like, then more power to them.
That's basically where I am at. I think [Pundit's] concern is that it will undermine the hobby somehow. I'm not really sold on that, I don't see that Star Wars has been undermined (plenty of gems among the dross). I don't see fewer RPGs being produced, or their overall content being dumbed down.
Gamers have traditionally been unhappy that their hobby was looked down upon, I can well imagine the same gamers now whining that their hobby risks being part of the mainstream. :)
If this (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-42874044)is what "lifestyle" looks like, I'm in favour of it. :)
We still played too have fun. With male and female gamers and everyone else. D&D becoming a "life" brand just shows something that was already happening in the first place while making it publicly known.
Quote from: Motorskills;1068104If this (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-42874044)is what "lifestyle" looks like, I'm in favour of it. :)
I swear, I expected to be linked to a picture of a hot girl in a t-shirt, with an & on it.
Quote from: Motorskills;1068103That's basically where I am at. I think [Pundit's] concern is that it will undermine the hobby somehow. I'm not really sold on that, I don't see that Star Wars has been undermined (plenty of gems among the dross). I don't see fewer RPGs being produced, or their overall content being dumbed down.
I think there probably IS some truth to that concern. But really, there's SO much RPG content out there. if the amount of garbage RPG material increases, there's STILL lots of great stuff out there too.
That and RPG material doesn't really age anyway. I have a large shelf of RPG material just waiting to be played and run.
If all RPGs made right now suddenly became unappealing to me, I'd be fine for many years.
To be honest, I don't like a lot of the newer RPGs out there for various reason , whether to do with Genre, mechanics, overly bowing to the PC brigade and so on.
Right now 5e is "Good enough" and if I ignore the social media goings on with it, the actual 5e books are pretty good and fun to run.
There's a few Indie RPG makers whose work I really like and they're unlikely to be popular enough to be "Lifestyle products", so yeah, it's all good that I can see.
I agree with the previous poster who said he'd be OK with his current collection, even if nothing else came out that interested him. Me Too.
I also agree that 5E is a good enough fix for me, where modern D&D is concerned. But, I don't like it better than White Box, 1E, 2E, 3.0, or 3.5 There is a phenomenal amount of printed product available for purchase, if you're willing to mix and match editions.
Quote from: danskmacabre;1068150I think there probably IS some truth to that concern.
Id say more that currently there isnt anything really "lifestyle" out yet. But. Since we are talking about WOTC. All bets are off as to what they might do later. And "lifestyle" is being tossed around really loosely it seems. A Mug is a lifestyle product? Since when? That is my main issue.
Quote from: Omega;1068198Id say more that currently there isnt anything really "lifestyle" out yet. But. Since we are talking about WOTC. All bets are off as to what they might do later. And "lifestyle" is being tossed around really loosely it seems. A Mug is a lifestyle product? Since when? That is my main issue.
The term "Lifestyle product" seems to refer to products (in this case anyway) for RPGs that aren't used directly in the actual playing of RPGs.
So stuff like Tshirts, mugs, plush toys etc etc... are RPG themed, but not directly useful as an RPG accessory.
The term doesn't particularly offend or annoy me, it just seems a way to describe items for RPGs that are mainly decorative or non-functional for RPGs directly.
I guess any relevant word would do.
As to whether there ARE "Lifestyle" products out there. I have noticed more and more of that sort of thing.
Such as a D20 coffee mug, an Owlbear Dice bag, Various DnD themed jewelry, Plush monster toys and other stuff I don't remember that well.
But it's pretty innocuous and I just don't buy that sort of thing, as it doesn't appeal to me.
So it all feels pretty harmless really.
I have seen these too. But after some research seems that a portion of this stuff is essentially player made and we all know how players love to tinker anything and everything with whatever game they like.
Something to think of though is that to the suits this isnt "lifestyle" at all. It is free advertising. Especially T-shirts and anything else that can be worn and carried around. And someone at WOTC was smart enough to figure out that monetizing fan creations was more profitable than trying to C&D them. Now they get a cut of the sales.
Quote from: Razor 007;1068182I also agree that 5E is a good enough fix for me, where modern D&D is concerned. But, I don't like it better than White Box, 1E, 2E, 3.0, or 3.5 There is a phenomenal amount of printed product available for purchase, if you're willing to mix and match editions.
Mmm yeah, I remember a few years ago, WotC was giving away really old scenarios in PDF format for a while.
I ended up getting the old ADnD "Temple of Elemental Evil" Which I ran for a bit and mined for dungeons to reuse elsewhere.
That's the thing about DnD, there's SO much material that is largely compatible with a little work.