Whither Necromancer Games? - Page 2

Ydars · 23rd January 2009, 10:54 AM

Wait a minute; Necromancer is just in limbo, not dead. I am sure that "news of Necromancer's demise has been greatly exaggerated". Besides, if it ever did go down, there is always the chance for reanimation with a name such as this company enjoys!

Reynard · 23rd January 2009, 01:29 PM

Necromancer's "promise" of bringing the old skool to E was a major tipping point for me in deciding to give 4E a try when it came out. Now that I am actively engaged in building a "trial run" campaign, I would have really liked some of their stuff to inject into it.

Olaf the Stout · 23rd January 2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Filcher

...

While I understand and respect the rational, I miss the old thunder.

Sorry Filcher, I did see that part of your post when I replied to it. I was just really trying to express my dislike of the current situation, rather than trying to dispute your comment. I probably worded my post badly and shouln't have quoted your post in mine.

My apologies.

Olaf the Stout

dmccoy1693 · 23rd January 2009, 02:57 PM

Truthfully, I would not be surprised that if Clark is keeping Pathfinder in his mind the backup plan. I'm sure he wants 4E and its license to be quality, but he knows the people at Paizo and he knows roughly what the final game and its license will look like (since Paizo publicly said a while ago that their compatability license will borrow from the True20 license and the Grey Ghost Fudge License).

He could be assembling art and writing physical descriptions without doing stat blocks. He could be laying out adventure plot lines without knowing which system its going to be for. If Wizards does not act soon, they may make up Clark's mind for him.

mhensley · 23rd January 2009, 06:54 PM

Necromancer has been effectively dead for a few years now.

Wicht · 23rd January 2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhensley

Necromancer has been effectively dead for a few years now.

That is not dead which can eternal lie
and with strange eons even death may die.

If they are dead, they do not lie easy in their graves. And one day they shall rise again, with wanton destruction in their wings.

Filcher · 23rd January 2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olaf the Stout

Sorry Filcher, I did see that part of your post when I replied to it. I was just really trying to express my dislike of the current situation, rather than trying to dispute your comment. I probably worded my post badly and shouln't have quoted your post in mine.

My apologies.

Olaf the Stout

No, I should apologize for my indignant nerd rage. Oh the horrors if someone might not have understood me.

All good.

On topic, I think they will go PF once it is opened to licensing. (Hopefully they are planning on a Gen Con splash, timing their release with Paizo's, and are hard at work right now.)

**Grazzt** · 23rd January 2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ydars

Wait a minute; Necromancer is just in limbo, not dead. I am sure that "news of Necromancer's demise has been greatly exaggerated". Besides, if it ever did go down, there is always the chance for reanimation with a name such as this company enjoys!

Nope. Necro- is NOT dead. Sorry to disappoint

Clark and I were talking 4e and Pathfinder stuff just the other day actually. I shot him a link to this thread. I'm sure he will drop by and chat...

Orcus · 23rd January 2009, 11:48 PM

Hi everyone.

Glad to answer questions.

We are certainly NOT dead (though as Necromancer Games I'm not sure even death would stop us). We are in limbo, though, that is for sure. And as a company run by people with extraordinarily lucrative and successful day jobs, Bill and I have the luxury of not being forced to put out 3.5 produducts in this current market. Because, lets be frank, other than Paizo's stuff the market for pure 3.5 is pretty much not there. Can you sell a couple books? Sure. But that isnt worth our time or the author's time. We have the luxury to wait until things are to our liking, and that is what we are doing. Some may call that disappearing. I call it a smart business decision. I prefer the idea of keeping the great manuscripts we have in the can and waiting to release them under good systems (Pathfinder or 4E) at the right time over trickling them out during this dead end that 3.5 is at right now.

We were hopeful to be able to support 4E at launch. Many of you know of my excitement for the new system. But we didnt like the terms of the GSL. We are awaiting a revised GSL and intend to have 4E products if the revised GSL is released and acceptable. I wish we could have been there from the start for 4E, but that wasnt possible. Now that 4E is out, there are things about it I love and things about it I dont like. I think we can offer some alternative rules and advenures for 4E that will put some of the things back in that I miss in 4E from older editions. I have never hidden my disappointment that Wizards didnt have their you-know-what together enough at 4E's launch to have meaningful 3P support. I thought that was a big mistake. But I wasnt going to accept a bad license with a poison pill just to make 4E products. Why? Because I didnt have to. I have the luxury to wait.

As for Pathfinder, that is not a "backup plan" at all. We have a great relationship with Paizo and fully intend to support Pathfinder once it is actually a supportable system. It is not, yet. Not until its release later this year. We are already working with Paizo on a number of titles for use with Pathfinder.

Our hope is that there will be an accepable revised GSL soon that will let us support 4E as well as produce our Pathfinder products that we are planning. I'm sure you will see more from us in the months to come. If a revised 4E GSL never materializes (though I am certain it will), then we will just support Pathfinder. But if one does, we will support both.

Necro is not done by a long shot. Its nice to have the luxury to not have to make products just to make products.

Keep your eyes open. You'll see some stuff from Necro in the future. Until then, we lie sleeping...

Clark

Whizbang Dustyboots · 24th January 2009, 12:02 AM

Thanks for the detailed reply, Clark. I sure hope to see you guys laying down some old school smack in one or more systems before the end of 2009.

Orcus · 24th January 2009, 12:03 AM

By the way, I know this may seem inconcievable to some people, but I have no problem supporting BOTH Pathfinder AND 4E (not in the same product, most likely). I dont feel the need to choose between them. I think Wizards fragmented the playing base and I think there are people who like the Old School goodness we deliver who will play both systems. Why would I ignore one of those groups if I didnt have to?

I believe in supporting the evolution of D&D. When I was a kid, I played the white box. When the supplements Greyhawk and Blackmoor and Eldritch Wizardry came out, I played them. When AD&D came out, I played that. When 2E came out, I bought that. I always have played the most modern version of the game, perhaps with some of my own tweaks. The same was true for 3E. And then with the OGL I could actually support it. And it is no mystery that Necro was strongly influenced by Judges Guild. And the Guild always supported the most recent advances and additions to the game (to the extent they could). So that is where I am at philisophically. That means that I dont want to support 3E straight anymore. D&D has moved on.

I believe in supporting the most modern version of the game. From Wizards, that is 4E. But I dont think it stops there. Because of the design-fu and pedigree of the people at Paizo, I also happen to believe that Pathfinder is a different and also totally valid branch of the D&D tree and is also validly a modern version of D&D.

Since right now, in my view, we have TWO valid modern versions of D&D if I can support both I will. If licensing or other issues mean I can only support one of those two, I will do that. Right now, I know I am going to support Pathfinder. If Scott comes through on this revised GSL like I believe he will, then I will support 4E as well!

Ourph · 24th January 2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcus

Now that 4E is out, there are things about it I love and things about it I dont like. I think we can offer some alternative rules and advenures for 4E that will put some of the things back in that I miss in 4E from older editions.

One thing that I sorely miss from earlier editions in 4e are random treasure tables (preferably based on encounter level and encounter type). I'm not sure if that would even be possible under a revised GSL, but if it is, I think Necromancer is the outfit that could do it right.

Jack99 · 24th January 2009, 12:27 AM

Ah well, I guess a little is better than nothing. Good to hear you haven't given completely up on the GSL, Clark.

Cheers

dmccoy1693 · 24th January 2009, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcus

As for Pathfinder, that is not a "backup plan" at all. We have a great relationship with Paizo and fully intend to support Pathfinder once it is actually a supportable system. It is not, yet. Not until its release later this year. We are already working with Paizo on a number of titles for use with Pathfinder.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcus

Right now, I know I am going to support Pathfinder.

Quite possibly the best news I've heard this week. Necromancer is definitely supporting Pathfinder. Yeah! Confirmation!!!

dragonlordofpoondari · 24th January 2009, 04:26 AM

HOLY COW! That's great news.

If at all possible, my vote is to make Eamonvale Incursion Pathfinder. I've been waiting a long time for that one ...

dmccoy1693 · 24th January 2009, 06:27 AM

So now that Orcus has joined the Paizo Army, how long is it before he wears white make up while playing his guitar? I wonder if he'll plaster a Pathfinder logo on the side of his vehicle?

Erik Mona · 24th January 2009, 07:51 AM

I am currently envisioning Clark Peterson as Ace Frehley on the KISS "Destroyer" album cover.

--Erik

S'mon · 24th January 2009, 09:27 AM

Wish you'd do some Castles & Crusades stuff. I bought all Goodman Games' C&C material and I'd likely do the same with Necromancer. As it is I had to convert my Nec Wilderlands stuff to C&C.