Journal Entry 202402b
This Year is Going to be EPIC!!
Back in 1974, a couple guys from the Midwest decided to publish a supplement to the miniature wargame Chainmail that would allow players to create full characters who did things outside of combat.
The original Dungeons and Dragons product was simplistic by today’s standards, but it set in motion a series of events that leads us to a 2024 that might be looked back upon as a turning point in the hobby.
I was not playing the game in those early years, so I cannot say how big of a deal it was as AD&D and Basic/Expert and BECMI were released. It still wasn’t on my radar in 1989 when AD&D 2e hit the shelves so I do not know what attitudes were like then.
While I wasn’t playing in 2000 when D&D 3e was unveiled, I can look back and say that since it completely overhauled the rules with the d20 system, 2000 was more than the dawn of a new millennium, it marked the beginning of a whole new way of playing D&D.
I often look at the year 2000 as a turning point in the game.
I think 2024 has the same possibility as I count no less than four major releases this year.
This is the 50th anniversary of D&D and we will see a new Player’s Handbook as early as May, if the rumors are to be believed. I think July is more likely. I am hoping we start to see some Dungeon Master Guide playtest material as well and maybe we get an update for that book later in the year.
Paizo has already begun releasing their Pathfinder 2e Remastered content that further streamlines the rules and removes any connections to Wizards of the Coast. I expect we will see a ton of new products from them as they try to steal thunder from Dungeons and Dragons.
Kobold Press releases Tales of the Valiant in the Spring. I’ve not historically done much with Kobold Press content, but I am looking forward to this game as I liked what I saw in the playtest material. And I do like the artwork and styling that I’ve seen.
MCDM Productions is releasing their new RPG in June. There is a ton of anticipation for this one as the BackerKit project has more than $4 million, yes MILLION, in support from the community. More than 26,000 backers. For comparison, the $4 million is four times as much as the Tales of the Valiant funding.
And there are no doubt many other new releases coming that simply have not made it onto my radar. But, in short, 2024 will be seen as a beginning of a new era in the world of tabletop RPGs.
Any predictions on who wins? And I don’t mean who sells the most, but who’s products finish the year with the most buzz.
Dungeons and Dragons currently controls about 75% of the market. There is very little that anyone can do to put a dent in that. Though Wizards of the Coast seems to be making substantial attempts all on their own. There is no doubt that D&D will continue to be the top of the heap when 2024 comes to a close. I see their position being fairly static. They will sell a ton of books just like we expect them to. People that like D&D will like the new material. The haters will hate it. Status quo.
The real fight is for second place.
As we’ve discussed here before, there has been a resurgence in the 4e style of play over the past couple of years. All three of the other big releases have elements that call back to that style.
Pathfinder already has a huge following and they will be tough to dethrone, but I cannot ignore the incredible support that MCDM is getting. Will that be enough to make Paizo peek over their shoulder a little? I don’t know.
As much as I liked what I saw from Tales of the Valiant, I don’t think Kobold Press has the clout to seriously contend for that 2nd place spot. But I think their game will be good nonetheless.
I am going to go out on a limb and say that by the end of the year, more people will be talking about MCDM than PF2e. I feel that since the MCDM RPG is something new and different, it has the best chance to reinvent the game and pull people away from the other options, which are, essentially, more of the same.
But the most important thing to remember is that no matter who finishes where, we all win. There is just a ton of TTRPG content coming in 2024. Most of it, even D&D 2024, will have call-backs to 4e. And that is super exciting.
Deals
A new Call of Cthulhu Humble Bundle just dropped. 25 items for $25 including a starter set, core rules, GM guides, and a lot of adventures. There's even a coloring book.
Just a couple days remaining to take advantage of the Cinematic Adventure Humble Bundle. $18 for 10 5e-compatible adventures set in some of the most pop-culture-worthy worlds.
Thank you everyone for all your support.
Support the channel when you make purchases…
The above affiliate links help to support the channel at no additional cost to you.