From Newsgroup: rec.games.frp.dnd


So the big announcement at GenCon by WOTC was for its D&D Universes
project. Sure, there were some other stuff mentioned --a return to
Dark Sun, Dragonlance and Greyhawk-- but all that was overshadowed by
the D&D Universes Beyond project. A concept that will bring licensed
properties into the D&D game. And they're starting with "World of
Warcraft!" It's what we've all been waiting for... right?


[Wait... are those crickets?]

It's not as if licensed properties are new to the game. Heck, even
from the start the publishers were injecting other people's IPs into
their game (often without a license!). Lankhmar, Conan, Marvel RPG...
even that weird 2001 adventure module for Starcraft. It's not even the
first time D&D and Blizzard Games (publishers of Warcraft) have worked together; 2nd Ed. AD&D had a "Diablo" expansion, and the Alternity
system had a "Starcraft" expansion. But none of those were the focus
of the game; they were side-projects. But D&D Universes Beyond is
Hasbro's big movement to push the entire D&D game into a new
direction... one that's focused not on creativity but on selling you
marketable product-lines. Get your Lich King miniature! Get your
Halo-branded d6 dice! Get your exclusive early-access Game of Thrones
adventure module! It's what players really want, surely?

I don't think it's going to work.

Oh sure, short-term Hasbro will see some profits. I mean, who doesn't
want to see what stats Ogrim Doomhammer has; you gotta buy the book to
see. But despite Hasbro's continued attempts to make D&D about the
names and the toys, the fans-- stalwartly continue to make it about
their own adventures. It's why --despite being the most recognizable
tabletop RPG in the world-- D&D continues to struggle against its
competitors that lack any of the money or marketing that Hasbro has
available. For those interested in the D&D experience, OSR games are
picking up the slack as D&D flounders... and for those who want
tabletop without D&D, I doubt the canned adventures of Halo
Masterchief or Ashen Dark Souls (or whomever Hasbro has on tap next)
are going to bring those fans back.

Because once again, Hasbro doesn't understand D&D and doesn't WANT to understand D&D. They just see it as an IP; a brand they can slap on
some cheap plastic tat. That is, after all, their modus operandi for
all their other games, and it works with GI Joe and Hungry Hungry
Hippos. But D&D demands more from its players; it requires an
investment of time and creativity that plastic dolls don't, and
players gain a connection to their creations that attaching an autobot
sigil to a new robot just can't compete with. Hasbro is perhaps the
worst company to own the D&D game... and this D&D Universes Beyond
thing proves shows why.



--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2