State of Mongoose 2008... with an interesting note about 4th edition

[Treebore]

You believe that once a company has stockholders, members of that company are still allowed to freely share confidential and/or proprietary knowledge, data or information with the public?

Um, yes, They are. As long as its made available to the general public all at the same time. Its only insider trading when people are told things in private that makes them aware selling there stock ASAP will save them from a loss. Thats when its insider trading.

However companies that are able to do so keep as quiet as possible to keep their company value (stocks) as stable as possible.

 

[jdrakeh]

Uh huh. Right. Darrin is right. . .

If you're going to respond to what I post, you could at least respond to what I post. I mean, sure. . . if you completely ignore the multiple promises of a Holy Grail product (and Beyond Holy Grail product) with zero delivery over a period of years and numerous claims that the "ink is drying" or that the product is "just around the corner" over that period of time, yeah, Mongoose plays it pretty straight. For people who remember that giant PR cow patty and aren't pretending that it never happened, however, the claim that Mongoose has always been a straight-shooting company is laughable.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

They're a business, so that's a standard assumption; it's not just WotC being especially shady or anything. Of course the lack of any more such glowing statements for the most part since the core books came out might be more telling for its long-term success. Or for instance the German publisher of WotC's 4e books, Feder & Schwert, just announced the other day that they'll be dropping the line after the core three books.

Interesting! Of course, I've never bought any German versions of D&D. The previous publisher for D&D (Amigo) was so incredibly slow that there was really no point in waiting. And aside, they also seemed to have a notion of copyright and fansites comparable to TSR.
I don't know how well Feder & Schwert did, but at the point they took over, I was already firmly on track for English rulebooks and didn't look back.

But still, having no German versions of the rules in stores should be a problem for getting new players...

 

[Shemeska]

Interesting! Of course, I've never bought any German versions of D&D. The previous publisher for D&D (Amigo) was so incredibly slow that there was really no point in waiting. And aside, they also seemed to have a notion of copyright and fansites comparable to TSR.
I don't know how well Feder & Schwert did, but at the point they took over, I was already firmly on track for English rulebooks and didn't look back.

But still, having no German versions of the rules in stores should be a problem for getting new players...

Though to be honest, I'm less inclined to think that the F&S decision had anything to do with 4e's overall success (or not) and more with D&D not being as popular in the German RPG market as some other games, like Das Schwarze Auge, etc.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Though to be honest, I'm less inclined to think that the F&S decision had anything to do with 4e's overall success (or not) and more with D&D not being as popular in the German RPG market as some other games, like Das Schwarze Auge, etc.

Das Schwarze Auge... A game I love to hate. It might be the German equivalent of D&D, but in a way, it's everything D&D is not. Highly simulationist, complicated rules (the skill resolution alone is annoying!) without really getting a benefit. (Just look at those combat maneuver talents! If you use any of the maneuvers, your chances for success are slim and your chance for penalties are high, and a more complicated way to resolve your round is a given. It's as if I'd had to spend a feat in D&D 3E to be able to Grapple, except that I still take a -4 penalty to my attacks and lose my dex bonus for one round regardless of success and an AoO if I fail!)
The setting has its perks, but overall, it seems a little too detailed and too boring at the same time.
I really try to like and appreciate it, but... I can't.

[/RANT]

 

[Plane Sailing]

I dont think that Mongooses rep is all that good considering all the drivel they put out in 3.0's heyday. I've avoided the new Runequest, Traveller, and Conan games because of a few lame 3.X products I've owned and a multitude of reviews of "shoddy work" (editing, poor binding, general "broken-ness", power creep, etc etc)

It's a shame if you throw the baby out with the bathwater - the Conan game is great, very evocative of its setting, and the Runequest is pretty good all things considered.

Cheers

 

[Aus_Snow]

Hm. Now I've actually read the State of the Mongoose article itself, I'd say that Mongoose's 4e advertising shouldn't really be a problem for them at all. That's what I meant before, about advertising - specifically the advertising of 4e-compatible products. For some other companies going that way, I still wonder. . .

But wow - what an awesome bunch of news, overall. Not all of their upcoming stuff will be to my taste, naturally enough, but nonetheless. . . I'm certainly going to be keeping an eye on how a lot of it turns out. And Traveller's kickin' ass - yep, thought it would. Conan's still doing well for itself - again, not surprised, really.

Not to mention Judge Dredd, and yeah - Lone Wolf going mainstream! That could prove _very_ interesting.

Huh. Nice to see some good - and rather promising - news of this kind, these days.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've just finished reading the (long!) article, and I have to say firstly that I feel incredibly proud that a UK rpg company is doing so well.

I didn't realise that they had got so many irons in the fire, and I've pretty much taken my eye off them since I got Conan (which I love). I've got to check out their new version of Traveller, and I'm interested that they are using it as the basis for so many other sci-fi things. I'm sorry to hear that B5 is ending from a nostalgic point of view, but they've given it a terrific crack of the whip.

I hope that the tie-up with Rebellion proves to be all that is hoped for in the long term. It certainly sounds promising.

I really like Matt's desire and ability to take risks with new things, opening up new directions and preventing staleness from setting in to RPG settings.

Cheers

 

[Keefe the Thief]

Das Schwarze Auge... A game I love to hate. It might be the German equivalent of D&D, but in a way, it's everything D&D is not. Highly simulationist, complicated rules (the skill resolution alone is annoying!) without really getting a benefit. (Just look at those combat maneuver talents! If you use any of the maneuvers, your chances for success are slim and your chance for penalties are high, and a more complicated way to resolve your round is a given. It's as if I'd had to spend a feat in D&D 3E to be able to Grapple, except that I still take a -4 penalty to my attacks and lose my dex bonus for one round regardless of success and an AoO if I fail!)
The setting has its perks, but overall, it seems a little too detailed and too boring at the same time.
I really try to like and appreciate it, but... I can't.

[/RANT]

Ah, the pain you can do with maneuvres like Binden or Gezielter Stich if you know what you´re doing... Quite the contrary: they are a leetle bit overpowered, you just have to spend enough on weapon skills.
But don´t let me stand in your way of dissing TDE. It´s all good!

 

[dmccoy1693]

I've got to check out their new version of Traveller,

Yes, you really should. It really is a great game and some of the 3PPs for it are going to do some great things with it. There are some really amazing stuff coming in the future for it (as soon as a certain company gets off the ground ... who shall remain nameless for the time being).