thanks to +Jason Paul McCartan for this bit of news.
Lets see - Gen Con 2013 is like what, 2 or 3 months aways, right?
All the hotel rooms are booked.
I'd assume most of the game slots are already reserved.
D&D Next is supposed to be built on the feedback of playtesters in the Beta, correct?
How do you reward those playtesters?
You make a D&D Next Preview product a pre-order than can only be picked up at Gen Con. Yes, you need to pre-order (at least it appears that way - maybe u can go retail at Gen Con) AND pick it up at Gen Con in person.
So, you aren't driving extra traffic to Gen Con unless they are local to the con, because everyone lese is going to be blocked out.
Instead, you just alienated many of those playtesters that you want to buy your game in 2014.
Besides, why should you have to go to a con to get something that should be offered to the general public? Talk about strange business decisions. At least WotC is consistant in the inconsistency.
Here's the article and the link to the original:
Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle
In addition to the seminars, games, and events taking place at this year's Gen Con—we have a further announcement (also appearing at Forbes.com):
Pre-orders have now officially opened for Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle. This exclusive Gen Con 2013 D&D Next preview will only be available to Gen Con attendees—but don’t wait until the convention. When you pre-order your copy of Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle you will also receive a free collectible D&D miniature designed by Gale Force Nine.
All sales will be managed by Gale Force Nine. Simply pre-order here: gf9-dnd.com then stop by Gale Force Nine’s Gen Con booth and collect your book and free mini.
Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle
Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle is a D&D Next preview and mini-campaign comprised of four thrilling adventures designed to advance characters from 1st level to 10th level. The book also contains everything a Dungeon Master needs to run the adventures, including D&D Next game rules developed during the massive public playtest, monster statistics, spell descriptions, magic item descriptions, and background information on the coastal town of Daggerford, where the campaign is based.
Against the backdrop of the Sundering, brave adventurers must protect the town of Daggerford against an insidious foreign threat while forging alliances, exploring dungeons, and battling monsters. The action moves from the Lizard Marsh to the orc-infested hills, finally culminating in a deadly altercation amid the crumbling ruins of the legendary Dragonspear Castle.
Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle includes pre-generated D&D Next characters, as well as rules for advancing these characters up to level 10. The book also includes the winning character sheet from our recent contest.
Price: $29.95.
Remember: Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle will only be available at Gen Con. You can pre-order your copy as of May 24th, but you'll only be able to pick it up at the convention. You can also find out what else is taking place at the convention here.
Please note: Refunds will be provided to anyone who pre-orders a copy but is unable to attend the convention.
This about sums up what I thought when I saw this today.
ReplyDeleteLooking it over I am betting it more of thing that Gale Force Nine wanted to do rather than Wizard.
ReplyDeleteSounds like WOTC is trying to emulate some stupid T$R shit now.
ReplyDeleteYep, this is incredibly lame but reflects a bad habit WotC's had for several years now of producing stuff that D&D fans want but then preventing most of them from ever getting it. Look for a vast number of these books to pop up on Ebay for insane prices after GenCon.
ReplyDeleteWell, on behalf of Euros, thanks WotC. :-/
ReplyDeleteNot seeing how this is alienating anyone to be honest.
ReplyDeleteEverything in this book will be free online either as a playtest pack or as a pdf from WotC's site.
Seriously if you didn't think there wasn't going to be something at Gen Con this year they you really haven't been doing this very long.
Tim
DeleteThey are asking 30 bucks for it - I doubt they are going to give it away for free after the fact. That would just compound this awkward marketing attempt.
I certainly expected something to release for Next at Gen Con, but I expected it to also release to the general public afterwards. That is not the case with this.
I expect to see greatly market up copies of this on Ebay come late August
I'm usually among the first to cast asparagus on WotC too and this strikes me as a non-issue really. Does not seem like a savy marketing plan or anything but an effort to get something, anything, out for GenCon and making sure they don't end up with 10,000 unsold units...
ReplyDelete"...mini-campaign comprised of four thrilling adventures designed to advance characters from 1st level to 10th level."
ReplyDeleteTen levels in four adventures? Doesn't that seem a bit rapid?
The topics interest me, both a published treeware look at Next and the FR backdrop. Too bad for me I guess, $30 is in impulse buy territory given the format and materials.
ReplyDeleteThere are tons of things that come out as convention exclusives for games. That is just part of convention promotion.
ReplyDeleteWould you actually spend 30 dollars for a preview of rules you have, a short adventure, and whatever gale force's mini is?
Non-issue, especially since almost no one from this site will be playing D&D Next on publication anyways. It will still be too new.
I'm sure I would be outraged if I gave a sh*t.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly. It is mathematically impossible for me to despise WotC any more than I already do. WotC could announce that they were burning piles of babies at GenCon and I would just say, "Ho hum, what did you expect from those guys?"
Deletewell, at least they aren't kickstarting it (yet)...
ReplyDeleteIf i desperately wanted that thing, then I would be berserk because of WotC once again kicking european asses...need a flight to get the book?
ReplyDelete