Future and current status of DnD

blackeyez

Hi, being spoiled from the infinity/aurora engined games a few years back i am wondering why no new DnD games are made, is it a license issue? I read on the wiki they are releasing the 5th ruleset this year, usualy a computer game is connected to it as promotion, but its very quiet. Even companies like obsidian turn to kickstarters to fund their projects while they embraced DnD in the past

The only current DnD i can think of is Dungeons and Dragons online but thats on eberon with ... robots *shudder*
while i myself am a forgotten realms fan

So any upcoming regular projects, kickstarter projects, pff phone games lol connected to faerun? (forgotten realms) I really miss it there

Silverstar

I'm no expert on the subject but as I understand it, getting and using the D&D license to make computer/video games is hell. WotC and Hasbro are apparently a pain in the ass to work with. At least that's the impression I've been getting. The newest D&D computer game that springs to my mind is Neverwinter (-just- Neverwinter, not to be confused with Neverwinter Nights) and I'm not sure what to say about that. I haven't been willing to play it much since the servers are all over in Americaland and the game is somewhat actiony so having lag is bad.

Squire

Before I post, I would like to warn you that I am incredibly cynical about such matters, so take what I'm about to say with a pinch of salt. ;-)

Partly, it's because computer games have grown into a major business, and are now made almost entirely by huge corporations with Hollywood movie sized budgets. As such, they expect vast amounts of cash for their investment. The only way they're likely to get this return is by appealing to the mass market, and this means making games that are easy to play, contain plenty of "Wow!" factor, but ultimately, are bland and shallow, because they don't want people to play the same game for years while the community makes mods for free. They want people to either finish a game then immediately trade it in and buy their next title, or play a multiplayer game in which they make hundreds of micro-transactions for DLC to get better weapons, skins, etc. Gaming corporations simply won't make a game that they believe is aimed at a relatively small niche market.

The other part is, as you say, due to licensing issues. Currently, I'm not sure who holds the rights to D&D games, but the license requires them to use the most current version. Until recently, that was 4th edition (I'm not sure at what point that'll change but it'd be logical to assume it's when 5th edition is made available). This means that every D&D game had to be made with 4e rules, and...well, I won't go into what I think of 4th edition, but suffice it to say that 4e fans tend to favour a different type of game to 3e, or 2e, fans, so the owner of the D&D license is logically going to aim the game at those who like 4e. To not do so will just be silly. Perhaps this will change in the future with 5e, but either way, it depends on who holds the license.

D&D5e is out now. You can buy it in the shops. Whether this means FR games will be viable again I don't know, but kickstarter won't produce an FR game, sadly, since I imagine the D&D license costs quite a bit. however, if you're not dead set on FR and will consider the Pathfinder setting, you may be interested to know that Obsidian have recently acquied the Pathfinder license, meaning they might be making Pathfinder games int he future.

old_jolly2

@Squire‌ What changed since the past that is in the context , is that the filter for good game making just got denser. As if you can not deny you would enter the profit area in game making/publishing , then you see, you and we all together are stuck atop the filter , just as the rest of possibly all people hunger for great games. No need to judge down people by the "games..." they are playing , these are what is left on the market. They are not games actually , they are commerces , products to gain money.

This is actually good news for game developping. Those who want to make a great game like the old times and better , just needs to be powerful and really dedicated , not being in a state to worry about money , management or art contribution. If you really got a tale to tell and furnish to , you could possibly do it on your own. Mr. Tolkien wouldn't probably hired 1920390 taletellers to compose a piece to tell to his kids. For the programming and embedding section , that is what the money should be for , and you have to put all , from the power you already possess , which your reputation at this state would also add ease to your management. Even one drop of blood into the game will make the stench that it will grow to make you toss away that game in not long time , as it will not be a game no more , it will be all call of duties : buy us.

That's why gaming just awaits for those great people who really 'deserve' to tell us a tale , and who really has the will for it.

The rest is talk...