Issue #003: Why a $1 Billion Investment Won't Make Another Baldur's Gate 3

THIS WEEK IN TTRPGS:

• The Dungeon Dudes, a popular pair of DnD 5e Youtubers, reached $1 million as part of their Kickstarter for Monsters of Drakkenheim, the third volume published in their grimdark setting. Many people are just fan of their work (including yours truly. I just got Sebastian Crowe’s Guide to Drakkenheim after backing it like TWO YEARS AGO.)

• Wizards of the Coast released a fireside chat discussing additional developments preparing for the 2024 Player’s Handbook, including the addition of psionic classes that were previously added in old expansion volumes. It’s a minor change but for those who adore classes like Psi Warrior and Soulblade in 5e, it’s a good addition.

• Roll20, one of the leading websites for online TTRPG play, announced that it was integrating with Discord to present its tabletop features in the popular voice and text chat service. It’s honestly a big deal for Roll20, who is now facing nearly a dozen virtual tabletop competitors and has always struggled with certain technical issues. Attaching it to the voice service that most players I know use to play DnD online is a big win that may help them compete with others in the future.

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This week is a bit lighter solely because I am starting a new job, so I’m figuring out what that looks like. I’m working with Channel Futures to cover all sorts of IT news, so take a look over there. Also should be starting my first paid DND campaign here soon (details to be released -eventually-.) So here’s a quick short.

Dan Ayoub, head of digital product development at Wizards of the Coast, expressed intent in an interview on Thursday to try and replicate Baldur’s Gate 3.

This interest is part of why Hasbro has a “considerable investment” in game development, including $1 billion spent on four AAA studios making four new games across their franchises. These franchises include a deal to make a Snake Eyes/GI Joe game, a DnD game, an unnamed franchise described as “something spooky,” as well as a new franchise known as Exodus. Not many other details are known, but Hasbro intends to continue to try and build on the game’s success.

While I am dying for a Baldur’s Gate 4 despite the producers declining to do so, Ayoub’s remarks continue a trend of not realizing why people liked BG3. It’s a game made slowly and lovingly. Yes it’s made with DnD behind it (a decision I fully support and believe helped it) but the game needed more than that for it to work.

Personally, I’d prefer if they used that $1 billion investment to pay off the 1,100 workers they laid off last year, but that appears to be how this works right now.

Game Deals

1. Trekkies rejoice! Star Trek Adventures Second Edition is getting a preview with the now-free Quickstart package, which includes an adventure based in the Kirk-era of Star Trek and multiple pregens. If you’re looking to go into the Final Frontier, this could be a fantastic chance to do so. Preorders have also launched for it.

2. If you’re a DM who enjoys mapmaking and having design options, the Bundle of Holding offers a package of tools for doing so, including Campaign Cartographer 3+, Dungeon Designer 3, City Designer 3, and Fractal Terrains 3. All of this (plus tutorials, style packs, and map collections) is for $29.95. The deal ends in a week.

3. Starfinder’s last adventure, a mecha-themed adventure path, was released earlier this week. It’s the last release before they update the rules this summer I’m told.