Alternatives to D&D

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 16, 2009

In addition, Green Ronin is putting out Warriors & Warlocks, a FRPG based on their M&M system. It will probably do quite well.

Pramas · Jul 16, 2009

Dannyalcatraz said:
In addition, Green Ronin is putting out Warriors & Warlocks, a FRPG based on their M&M system. It will probably do quite well.

It came out last month, in fact. And to be clear, it's not a stand-alone game, but a fantasy genre sourcebook for M&M.

Mutants & Masterminds overall is doing great and it's still the #1 supers game in the industry. This year we also launched A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, a brand new system for adventures in George R.R. Martins' Westeros. And coming up in the fall is my Dragon Age RPG.

I can't speak for other companies, but Green Ronin has a lot going on.

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 16, 2009

"Speak of the Devil and He shall appear!"

I'm eagerly awaiting the hardcopy of W&W- can't stand gaming pdfs, personally- and as an aside, I may get a great deal of use out of it.

I just started a M&M campaign set in 1912, and after 2 sessions, the feedback has generally been positive...for both the campaign and the system.

This matters- the guys were itching for a new FRPG to play, since 3.5 is a fun but now stagnant game- what with there being no new products- and not a one of us likes 4Ed. I'm planning on picking up Pathfinder and True20...but really think the flexibility of the M&M system (rivaling my fave, HERO) would be great for the group.

Lots of luck on it, Pramas!

Kunimatyu · Jul 16, 2009

I think Savage Worlds is doing pretty well - Pinnacle just expanded their staff a bit, and the game does a pretty good job of being a "not-d20" RPG that still involves tactical minis.

I would dearly love to see a 4e supplement that used a substantially different system to produce the fighter/rogue/magic-user/etc, but was still compatible with 4e monsters and adventures. Sort of a way to play the game without a bunch of fiddly bits, basically.

Thanee · Jul 16, 2009

Yeah, while there is no other game that can truely compete with D&D for the top spot, there are several, which are still doing well...

World of Darkness, Shadowrun, Warhammer, Dark Heresy, Savage Worlds, GURPS, Mutants & Masterminds, just to name a few of the dozens of RPGs out there.

Bye
Thanee

Ahnirades · Jul 16, 2009

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2e has been going strong for a few years now, with many well received supplements and a strong fanbase. Fantasy Flight Games recent acquisition of the license has sparked not entirely baseless rumors of a third edition, which has generated no small amount of online speculation.

Dannyalcatraz · Jul 16, 2009

I see the current RPG market as similar to the cable renaissance.

Early on, the "Big Networks" were still king, but there were several cable channels that were starting to produce quality programming. Over time, the cable companies actually started eating into the market share of the networks in a significant fashion. The networks are still dominant players, but not so much that they can ignore cable channels and independent content producers.

Now, more than ever before, there are a horde of quality RPGs out there. No one game is likely to challenge D&D for market supremacy, but there are enough of them out there- including 4Ed's immediate and still quite popular predecessor- that the gamers out there have an embarrassment of riches.

The question, of course, is how many of those very good games can sell enough product to remain profitable. With good game design decisions overseen by people with an eye towards the bottom line, the answer could be "dozens."

Jürgen Hubert · Jul 16, 2009

Kunimatyu said:
I think Savage Worlds is doing pretty well - Pinnacle just expanded their staff a bit, and the game does a pretty good job of being a "not-d20" RPG that still involves tactical minis.

Yeah, Savage Worlds is one of the few RPGs which Google Insight has noted as having higher interest over the course of the last few years. So it seems to be doing fairly well for RPGs these days...