New D&D Red Box Essential Unboxing

Not excited about their banter, but here's a sneak at the new D&D starter box.

Going with the original red box font and art is an outstanding idea. I understand it's like a 'basic' set and has everything you need for low level play. Also, sounds like you step through your first encounter while making your character and that you can pretty much start playing right away.

I haven't been interested in anything D&D for over 15 years, but having one of these is definitely appealing.

revision3.com/trs/rear_shot#seek=1567:2223

When I first saw the box on Wizards, I was thinking, what? I have that exact box, and I bought it in 1983. That is crazy that they brought out the old school art.

Box'o'D&D...Nothing wrong with that.

Uh oh, how far back did they go?

fortressat.com/index.php?option=com_kune...ew&catid=19&id=57441

Grinding a few more dollars out of a 35 year old piece of intellectual property. Everything you ever need to play the game was published by 1981, but they're still making money.

That may be Elmore are on the box cover.

S.

Sag,

That's an interesting thought. Why couldn't the original D&D box set still be a valid seller? Well, valid in that you wouldn't need new editions. I understand a new edition creates sales spike, but if Risk, Monopoly, A&A etc can still sell almost unchanged over decades why not an rpg? I wonder how the old red box would fare if it were kept on the shelf all this time.

I was thinking about something like this with Dominion. The core game is fine, but being a card game we've been groomed on CCGs that they only live as long as expansions are coming out. Will Dominion remain as popular once expansions stop coming out? Will it not have legs like Settlers simply because it's cards?

A friend pointed out that this box set looks to have a little inspiration from video games.

The whole play an encounter while you make your character is very much like an intro level to a video game where you learn the controls in a simple environment then onto the more complex chapters/levels/whatnot. Same thing. Play the encounter, your actions guide you to what character you should play and how to use him, then smoothly transition into the larger adventure.

Not having to read the rules the night before and teach the group. You and all your friends can learn at the same time while playing right as you open the box. Very cool.

Barnes would be proud.

New editions come because people think the game can be improved. Why do you get excited about new DOAM games when A&A and Risk are available?

Right and perhaps I didn't explain it well. I guess I'm wondering if TSR/WoTC kept an ongoing D&D intro boxset (which used to be sold at TrU, etc) on the shelves would it have sold through the decades?

I understand a big reason behind this move is that game books aren't sold at the larger retailers. That and store employees have a hard time explaining to new customers what they need to play the game. On box is simple to store, display, and sell.

Could D&D have taken it's place with A&A and such at the Targets of the world?

Sagrilarus wrote:

That may be Elmore are on the box cover.

IIRC, that's Jeff Easley's art.

I have no idea why WotC chose this route, and I have no knowledge of sales figures. But this screams 'try and get back those nerds who've abandoned 4e'.

I fucked that dog in 1982.

/pass


-Will

I have no idea why WotC chose this route, and I have no knowledge of sales figures. But this screams 'try and get back those nerds who've abandoned 4e'.

From what I'm reading it probably has a lot to do with the shrinking LGS market.

Remember when D&D used to be in TrU and such? They want to get back in some of those more mainstream places. TrU doesn't sell game books, but they'll sell boardgames. boom, D&D in a box.

Also, it sounds like 'traditional' bookstores such as B&N are having trouble recommending the game to potential buyers. "First you need PHB I, unless you're going to be the DungeonMaster, then you'll also need DMB I and MMI." "Oh, what's a DungeonMaster and those other volumes?".

Now, just point them to a box and go.

Also, this box should be a complete game, not like those crappy 2e and 3e 'starter sets'.

So, you're likely right that they want to get more nerds on board, but I'm not sure it's the ones who left the game, but create a new generation.

Also, this should retail for $20. Outstanding value in today's market.

Ease of entry, new ideas, low price. Seems like this is checking all the right boxes based on our recent conversations. Well, except it's an RPG...

Bullwinkle wrote:

I have no idea why WotC chose this route, and I have no knowledge of sales figures. But this screams 'try and get back those nerds who've abandoned 4e'.

Listing to the video, and the VERY basic approach to the game into, I think this is less likely about dragging 3.5'ers back (that ship has likely sailed by now), but more about "The only people who are buying D&D are those who have always bought D&D. We're not getting NEW customers! Specifically, we're not getting new customers who are kids!"

When you have to completely re-do a starter set you already released, that tells me no one bought the starter set.

Face it, how many kids play D&D who haven't been pulled into it by their dads? Like, my kids. None.

It's not boxing a starter set that makes me wonder (that's a fine idea), it's the cover.

So you think that WotC is trying to get to the kids (new gamers) through the dads (old gamers)? Because that's the only possible reason to put early '80s art on the box.

Bullwinkle wrote:

So you think that WotC is trying to get to the kids (new gamers) through the dads (old gamers)? Because that's the only possible reason to put early '80s art on the box.

Yep, I think that's exactly what they are trying to do.

That, and nostalgia purchases from old dudes like me who have not played D&D in 20 years.