Are you open to non-d20 PDFs?

pigames.net · 22nd August 2003, 06:03 AM

Now that EN World has a non-denominational forum for PDFs, I'd like to find out how many people on here are willing to actually purchase a non-d20 product.

While I can't say that d20 fans are the most abstinent when it comes to trying something new (fans of some other popular systems are a lot worse), many can be pretty closed-minded. Not meant as an insult, but rather a fact of life. If you are a d20 regular, how often do you play non-d20 games? And then are they PDFs?

Crothian · 22nd August 2003, 06:11 AM

Hi Brett. I'm a big d20 person and really adore pdfs, but even I don't live and breathe the d20 system. I'm currently running a game of Buffy, and in the process of learning the rules to Noir, Immortal, and the Everlasting. None of them are pdf, but I wouldn't care if they were. As long as the product is well written and the rules are solid, I think you can find an audience.

pigames.net · 22nd August 2003, 06:20 AM

That was a fast response, Crothian.

Finding an audience isn't so much the problem as it is the many people who purchase our products and prefer d20 often ask for d20 conversions and say it's a good game, but I have to give it 1 less star because it's not d20. That gets annoying after a while.

Are there any specific PIG titles you'd be interested in playing, err, I mean reviewing

Crothian · 22nd August 2003, 06:31 AM

In truth I have no experience with anything you have. If you send it it will be reviewed, eventually (the backlog is getting impressive). Since it's not d20 I may not be able to post it here, but it'll be posted somewhere.

pigames.net · 22nd August 2003, 06:45 AM

I thought the new PDF site was for PDFs of all types.

Crothian · 22nd August 2003, 06:49 AM

I honestly don't know. I sure hope so. I'm still getting used to it all I'm sorta learning as I go. But I'm sure Morrus will see this thread and correct me on this or clarify it. Sorry I can't answer that question, you're really the first person that asked.

Cecil · 22nd August 2003, 12:26 PM

I'm not as much a stickler on whether a product is d20 or not as much as I am on the genre. I typically spend my role-playing money on fantasy products.

This is not to say that I don't enjoy other games--I purchase a fair amount of boardgames, historical miniatures, etc.

And I enjoy playing other rpg genres--but I'm primarily buying new products to see what can be integrated into my home-brewed campaign.

**Morrus** · 22nd August 2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pigames.net
I thought the new PDF site was for PDFs of all types.

Yes, indeed it is.

Nellisir · 22nd August 2003, 08:18 PM

I don't buy or play non-d20 games. I have no hostility towards them, just an unwillingness to learn a new ruleset. I'm really quite happy with d20.

That said, people absolutely shouldn't mark down a product for not being d20. It's like saying Chinese literature is only average until it's translated into English. (I wrote a short 3rd edition adventure a year or two ago for Canonfire...one commentator gave it great marks...then marked it down for not being in 2nd edition format. Annoying.)

Cheers
Nell.

pigames.net · 22nd August 2003, 08:38 PM

Thanks for the clarification, Morrus.

Nellisir, he actually marked it down because it was for 3rd instead of 2nd? That sucks. Things like that really stick in my craw. I can understand not wanting to make the switch to another system because you don't want to relearn rules. Thanks for an honest answer and not a lame excuse.

HellHound · 22nd August 2003, 09:47 PM

You know me, Brett.

I have run and continue to run games using MANY game systems. My personal favourites are CyberPunk and StoryTeller but I've dabbled in well over a hundred systems over the years (I'm currently running a Buffy game and a pair of Vampire chronicles in addition to my d20 games and playing in my daughter's d20 game).

Unfortunately, my current buying power has it so I typically only buy material that I can use in my current games or that I can use when writing material. The reality is that I don't see myself writing for your excellent products anytime in the near future, thus I don't see myself buying many of your PDF products.

Ditto for many RPG systems currently being released that I don't have the time to run... although I REALLY should get out there aand buy the Promised Sands book to support the writing / development team who I have known for years, the economic reality is that it would be exactly that, a gift of support instead of a purchase based on desire to use the product.

Nellisir · 22nd August 2003, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pigames.net
Nellisir, he actually marked it down because it was for 3rd instead of 2nd? That sucks. Things like that really stick in my craw.

It was annoying, and amusing. It was like someone badmouthing a car for not using leaded gasoline -- you just wonder what world they live in.

Quote:

I can understand not wanting to make the switch to another system because you don't want to relearn rules. Thanks for an honest answer and not a lame excuse.

I had a lame excuse, but the dog ate it.

Cheers
Nell.

ES2 · 24th August 2003, 08:33 PM

I'm a minority on these boards. I will look at non-d20 books and pdfs before I look at d20 books/pdgs.

pigames.net · 26th August 2003, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ES2
I'm a minority on these boards. I will look at non-d20 books and pdfs before I look at d20 books/pdgs.

I'm sure that these boards are still filled with d20ites since this section is realtively new.

pogre · 30th August 2003, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigames.net

Now that EN World has a non-denominational forum for PDFs, I'd like to find out how many people on here are willing to actually purchase a non-d20 product.

While I can't say that d20 fans are the most abstinent when it comes to trying something new (fans of some other popular systems are a lot worse), many can be pretty closed-minded. Not meant as an insult, but rather a fact of life. If you are a d20 regular, how often do you play non-d20 games? And then are they PDFs?

It's hard enough to find players for d20, let alone another system. The only non-d20 system I might buy is something involving miniatures rules.

arwink · 30th August 2003, 10:16 AM

I'm more than open to the idea of non-d20 PDFs. In some cases, I'd prefer it. There are a lot of game ideas and systems that I'd like to run as one-offs or short campaigns, but I'm rarely in a position where I can afford to buy a hardcopy of the book.

Dana_Jorgensen · 30th August 2003, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigames.net

Now that EN World has a non-denominational forum for PDFs, I'd like to find out how many people on here are willing to actually purchase a non-d20 product.

While I can't say that d20 fans are the most abstinent when it comes to trying something new (fans of some other popular systems are a lot worse), many can be pretty closed-minded. Not meant as an insult, but rather a fact of life. If you are a d20 regular, how often do you play non-d20 games? And then are they PDFs?

Personally, as a publisher, I'm of a mind to create products that even if non-D20, include a D20 chapter to adapt them. With all the royalty free licenses starting to float around, I see no reason not to do this. As it is, I write books that include support not only for my house system, but also include support for D20, Action!, and Fudge. I probably could have added in support for EABA and a few other systems as well, but I'm still mulling over the licensing terms.