Imagine: Wizards of the Coast decides that you, yes YOU, are the perfect person to revitalize any one of the existing editions of (A)D&D and givce you the job of Line Developer for the re-launch.
Here are the rules: you MUST pick an existing edition of D&D, from OD&D through 5E. You are tasked with setting the slate for the first year of the relaunch with up to 5 total products. Your goal is to not just have a successful relaunch, but set the line up for ongoing success.
Which Edition do you relaunch? With what 5 products? What aesthetic and design paradigm do you go with?
For my part, I would relaunch AD&D 2E starting with a single volume rule book that owes a lot to the BECMI Rules Cyclopedia in form and function. I would lean into the late 80s, early 90s high fantasy art and aesthetic, going neither Old School nor Nu School. The first peak at the new setting would be in the core book. The setting would be classic high fantasy but built with modern sensibilities in mind (inclusivity, avoiding clumsy uses of race and real world cultures, avoiding colonial ideas, etc...).
The second book would be a big old Game Mastery Guide" that combines the best of the DMG and the blue leatherette DM series of supplements. The trhird book would be a PHB 2 taking the best of Skills and Powers and the Complete guides. The fourth book would be a full on old school boxed set for the new setting, including an adventure anthology. I think I would cap off the line for the year with a monsters and lairs book that is part bestiary and part mini adventure collection.
What would you do?
Here are the rules: you MUST pick an existing edition of D&D, from OD&D through 5E. You are tasked with setting the slate for the first year of the relaunch with up to 5 total products. Your goal is to not just have a successful relaunch, but set the line up for ongoing success.
Which Edition do you relaunch? With what 5 products? What aesthetic and design paradigm do you go with?
For my part, I would relaunch AD&D 2E starting with a single volume rule book that owes a lot to the BECMI Rules Cyclopedia in form and function. I would lean into the late 80s, early 90s high fantasy art and aesthetic, going neither Old School nor Nu School. The first peak at the new setting would be in the core book. The setting would be classic high fantasy but built with modern sensibilities in mind (inclusivity, avoiding clumsy uses of race and real world cultures, avoiding colonial ideas, etc...).
The second book would be a big old Game Mastery Guide" that combines the best of the DMG and the blue leatherette DM series of supplements. The trhird book would be a PHB 2 taking the best of Skills and Powers and the Complete guides. The fourth book would be a full on old school boxed set for the new setting, including an adventure anthology. I think I would cap off the line for the year with a monsters and lairs book that is part bestiary and part mini adventure collection.
What would you do?