I think this is brilliant marketing. Thousands of people like myself grew up with the RedBox and now have kids of their own. I can't wait until my son is old enough to start playing (right now he'd eat the dice) so I can buy him his own RedBox. Yes, people will complain about dumbing down the rules to attract the playstation generation, but were we any different? If it gets them playing, I say go for it. Once they're hooked, they'll opt for the full rules anyways.
The best part about the new RedBox...... The near total copy of the design. Colors, text, font size and placement. Near perfect. Marketing genius. I can't wait to buy one so I can put it on my shelf next to my 1985 version.
So what does everyone else think? Are you feeling the love?
I LOVE the design. Its just the content that i'm dubious about.
Why? What could be wrong with it?
I LOVE the design. Its just the content that i'm dubious about.
Why? What could be wrong with it?
It is pretty much there just to introduce n00bs to the game. The art work is a marketing ploy to grab the attention of older players but if you already have the core books you won't find anything new in the red box.
I LOVE the design. Its just the content that i'm dubious about.
Why? What could be wrong with it?
It is pretty much there just to introduce n00bs to the game. The art work is a marketing ploy to grab the attention of older players but if you already have the core books you won't find anything new in the red box.
Remember that we were all noobs once. This hobby will live or die depending on how many of today's youth it can attract, the same as it did back in the early 80's. IMHO The fact that D&D still exists is largely due to the success of the first RedBox. WoTC is a business, not a charity, and having a twin track approach makes huge sense for their bottom line. They can keep their hard core happy but still bring in new players. A percentage of those new players will go on to become hard core and the cycle repeats. I'm extremely happy that WoTC is taking this strategy because it shows they're thinking about the long term health of this game. Noobs are always welcome at my table.
Don't get me wrong. All I ment is that the box won't be for seasoned players. I appologise if I caused offence.
I think you might be wrong. Here's why I think going to incorporate a lot of new options like builds, feats, rituals, and monsters. This way they get to sell to the noobs and veterans alike. I could be wrong it's happened before.
It looks way better than the starter set. It has character creation rules, it has separate books for players and DMs, hopefully it's in a better box, it seems to have more adventure content, it will include all the important errata the starter set missed.
It's probably not worth it for experienced players who aren't looking to introduce new players to the game. They'd get a set of dice, a simple short adventure, a dungeon map (likely a big thin glossy paper one), some cardboard tokens, for $20 retail.
I'm impressed by a lot of the 2010 catalog, really.
Will there be any content exclusive to this new red box or will it be something like a starter-set for new players?
A stroke of genius is how I describe the new RedBox D&D set. My greatest dnd memory of all time is my mom buying me the old red box, sitting on the floor of my bedroom and flipping through those pages. I still have it today, 25 years later, and it holds a place of honor on my bookshelf.
I think this is brilliant marketing. Thousands of people like myself grew up with the RedBox and now have kids of their own. I can't wait until my son is old enough to start playing (right now he'd eat the dice) so I can buy him his own RedBox. Yes, people will complain about dumbing down the rules to attract the playstation generation, but were we any different? If it gets them playing, I say go for it. Once they're hooked, they'll opt for the full rules anyways.
The best part about the new RedBox...... The near total copy of the design. Colors, text, font size and placement. Near perfect. Marketing genius. I can't wait to buy one so I can put it on my shelf next to my 1985 version.
So what does everyone else think? Are you feeling the love?
I share your words. I don't have mine anymore but got myself a copy in PDF after many years. Just the nostalgia of peering back into those pages looking at images i still remembered was something. This is where it all started for me. I've spent my time in my bed reading it. Seeing such project is good for getting new players into it. But the new cover doesn't rivalise with Elmoore's Red Dragon !
Then in 3-4 years you'll have people saying they started playing D&D with the Red Box and we will think they are old-timer ! LOL
Good initiative overall. If the game thrive from this marketing attempt, it can only be good for the business.
Guess WotC hooked me like a fish.
Anyway, I think it's going to be a really good product.
Anyway, let me add my voice to the chorus: Nice homage.
I might pick it up, though, and give 4e a whirl, if the new Red Box is for levels 1-3 (rather than the rumored 1-2) and is relatively complete, within the restrictions placed upon it (ie. F/M/T/C, and a limited number of races)
I'm 4e-curious, but not interested in purchasing crippleware.
Wiggy
My enthusiasm for this is lukewarm at best.
I might pick it up, though, and give 4e a whirl, if the new Red Box is for levels 1-3 (rather than the rumored 1-2) and is relatively complete, within the restrictions placed upon it (ie. F/M/T/C, and a limited number of races)
I'm 4e-curious, but not interested in purchasing crippleware.
Wiggy
lol. Define crippleware, please.
I think it might be realy a good idea to sell this legendary red box again, althoug I don't think I'll buy one for myself.
Will there be any content exclusive to this new red box or will it be something like a starter-set for new players?
I don't think there will be anythign new in the red box. The Player's Essentials books will, apparently, have some exclusive stuff. If one infers that from their statement of: "Each class comes with a set of new powers, class features, paragon paths, epic destinies, and more that beginning players can use to build the characters they want to play and experienced players can plunder for existing 4th Edition characters."
My enthusiasm for this is lukewarm at best.
I might pick it up, though, and give 4e a whirl, if the new Red Box is for levels 1-3 (rather than the rumored 1-2) and is relatively complete, within the restrictions placed upon it (ie. F/M/T/C, and a limited number of races)
I'm 4e-curious, but not interested in purchasing crippleware.
Wiggy
lol. Define crippleware, please.
Crippleware is any product whose functions have been limited (or "crippled") with the sole purpose of encouraging or requiring the user to pay for additional functions (either by paying a one-time fee or an on-going subscription fee)
Wiggy
I will admit that I havn't kept up totally up to date and don't subscribe to ddi but what is the actual product name of this red box?
I have an idea of what will be in it based on the thread but I wanted more information but had no idea where to start.
It is pretty much there just to introduce n00bs to the game. The art work is a marketing ploy to grab the attention of older players but if you already have the core books you won't find anything new in the red box.
It's not there to teach something new to established players. It's there so that you can teach your 10-year-old to play without making him read a 300-page book right off the bat. Not too many utter D&D noobs are gonna sign up for that.
I personally LOVE the idea because I've been trying to teach my wife to play for about 2 years, and it's just daunting. There's too much, and I've struggled to cut to just the core essentials. So yeah, a smaller version of the game would be MOST useful.
It's there so that you can teach your 10-year-old to play without making him read a 300-page book right off the bat. Not too many utter D&D noobs are gonna sign up for that.
Having been though the flip side, having to read 300 page books because my 10 year old son wanted to play D&D, I really could have used the red box. Heck, I think I still can use the red box. I'm still not sure I'm doing this right.