Necromancer Games-update by Orcus

[DaveMage]

Not exactly since 4e was announced almost a year before it came out. the last necro product if I recall was earlier the same year when we learned 4e was coming out.

The last Necro product was City of Brass, released at Gen Con 2007 - the same time 4E was announced.

 

[Dark Mistress]

The last Necro product was City of Brass, released at Gen Con 2007 - the same time 4E was announced.

Ok thanks, i wasn't sure I knew CoB was the last product and the same year, but wasn't sure when it was.

So been less than 2 years with no products and they only stopped cause of the 4e annoucement. Good to know. Maybe this time i won't forget it.

 

[BryonD]

This

The main successes in 3PP during the second half of 3rd Edition's timeframe came from 3PPs releasing non-D&D systems using the OGL. True20, M&M, Iron Heroes, Retro-Clones, ect.

That is probably true.

But support for 3.5 D&D was also still viable, there is no evidence of that being true for 4E now. And there is evidence to the contrary.

And besides, the market was flooded at that point for 3E. It is a whole need field ready to be plowed in 4E.

And that is the bottom line. There is plenty of reason to believe that there is a clear lack of adequate demand for 3PP market under 1 year old 4E. We can argue about why, but the people who make a living at it all appear to agree on that.

 

[Orcus]

Basically, I think the die was cast before the 4e announcement. The GSL fiasco just prevented a hoped-for rebirth of an already-dying market.

I agree with that. Sales in the waning days of 3.5 were not good at all.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

This is what Necromancer should do:


Take the 4E system, and fluff it out Necromancer style. Take races, classes, monsters and fluff them out 1E/3E style, and include the new 4E arrivals. Give the new 4E arrivals a place in the old school fluff. Expand the Points of Light with more specifics, using Necromancer's old school feel. Make it similar to a campaign setting, but focus on fluffing out all the facets of 4E available in the GSL Necromancer style as opposed to focusing on the setting itself.

Think of the fluff in the 1E/2E core books. The fluff in the complete 2E handbooks. Fluff as an interesting read for its own sake.

One thing that WotC with 4E is noticably going short on is fluff. Some people have been asking for it. If you want some low hanging fruit, Necromancer or other 3pp, this is it. Not fluff on medieval equipment or mounts or fringe things, detailed fluff on the core details of the game. I point this at Necromancer, as from what I've seen/heard this is the sort of thing I could see from them.

 

[Orcus]

If 4E fans were buying Mongoose would sell to them.

Truer words were never spoken (or typed and posted on the inter-web thingy).

Though, in fairness, the problem isnt necessarily 4E gamers and product buyers. The issue is distributors.

 

[Orcus]

The last Necro product was City of Brass, released at Gen Con 2007 - the same time 4E was announced.

Jeez, Dave, dont rub it in

Clark

 

[Obryn]

But support for 3.5 D&D was also still viable, there is no evidence of that being true for 4E now. And there is evidence to the contrary.

Such as? I'm still puzzled how you're using the fact that few people are producing high-quality third-party products as evidence that few people want high-quality third-party products.

I'll agree that nobody wants crappy third-party products. I'd also say the market tolerance for crappy third-party products is much, much lower than it was in early 3e.

Really, show me an Arcana Evolved or a Wilderlands or a WLD for 4e and we can talk about evidence. Right now, what you have is conjecture.

-O

 

[joethelawyer]

edit delete

 

[Glyfair]

Why is M&M a better seller for GR than 4E? Or, at least, why are they placing their bets that way?

Chris has pretty much stated that the nail in the coffin for GR doing 4E was that the license could be yanked at any time. He is not going to build on a business model that counts on WotC's own business decisions.

The OGL couldn't be yanked, so a game line that is very successful based on the OGL can't be forced off the market. A game line based on the GSL can. I think no major RPG company can afford to put too many apples in that cart.

I agree, though I feel their modules are weaker in 4e. I think third parties could really take advantage of that and produce some great adventures.

I agree. I haven't seen or heard about any great adventures for 4E (except somewhat for a couple of the WotC ones that are headed in that direction).

Goodman has a decent line of adventures, but none really seem to be "great." The ones I have seen seem OK, and I haven't heard of any of their others getting a strong response.