TSR settings sales numbers from Ben Riggs, starting with Lankmar, Maztica, Al-Qadim and Planescape!

[grimslade]

Hmm, so my experience with Planescape sales was not just anecdata or at least corresponded with the actual data. What is interesting is what happened after WotC acquired TSR and what happened with setting sales. 3E focused mainly on FR and Eberron with 2 small Greyhawk books to promote RPGA. 4E focused on FR and DS. We know WotC was skeptical of releasing Eberron in 5E. VRGtR and Spelljammer 5E will also give a lot of data on how sales of campaign material will do in the current market.
I am omitting the MtG setting books and Exandria because the data would be determinable by the size of those properties' fandoms. They were much easier decisions to make.

 

[CleverNickName]

I think that Eberron was the first completely new and original D&D campaign setting produced by Wizards of the Coast...is that right? And it was the only completely new and original campaign setting for almost two decades, until Exandria was released in 2019. Every other campaign setting they've published has either been a re-release of older campaign settings, or was based on other games and IP (Diablo II, Warcraft, Magic: the Gathering). And it can be argued that Exandria isn't a WotC original, since it was first published by Green Ronin two years earlier.

For better or worse, TSR released 14 new and original campaign settings in 16 years, while WotC has only published two in 22 years. Is this an example of "less is more," or maybe "quality over quantity?" It seems like the safer strategy for WotC, at any rate: if they only spend money developing things that are tried and true, that already have a fan base, they can eliminate a lot of market uncertainty.

TSR took a lot more risks than WotC. To their ruin, it would seem.

 

[Zardnaar]

Bad pizza is not a rare resource, my friend. It is depressingly common.

True I was referring to common sense. Can't really export that though.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

I think that Eberron was the first completely new and original D&D campaign setting produced by Wizards of the Coast...is that right? And it was the only completely new and original campaign setting for almost two decades, until Exandria was released in 2019. Every other campaign setting they've published has either been a re-release of older campaign settings, or was based on other games and IP (Diablo II, Warcraft, Magic: the Gathering). And it can be argued that Exandria isn't a WotC original, since it was first published by Green Ronin two years earlier.

For better or worse, TSR released 14 new and original campaign settings in 16 years, while WotC has only published two in 22 years. Is this an example of "less is more," or maybe "quality over quantity?" It seems like the safer strategy for WotC, at any rate: if they only spend money developing things that are tried and true, that already have a fan base, they can eliminate a lot of market uncertainty.

TSR took a lot more risks than WotC. To their ruin, it would seem.

You forgot Ghostwalk, and technically Jakandor.

 

[Guest 7034872]

It's probably derived from God's own.

Kinda pretty here early colonists "Gods own land". Nickname basically.

Found it! It's The Wizard's map (and it turns out I still had my copy down in my basement):

 

[Reynard]

You forgot Ghostwalk, and technically Jakandor.

If I recall, Jakandor was one of the "left over" products?

 

[Zardnaar]

Found it! It's The Wizard's map (and it turns out I still had my copy down in my basement):

Well we're on the map I suppose that's different.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

If I recall, Jakandor was one of the "left over" products?

Sure, that’s why I added technically. And Ghostwalk was one and done. I suspect WotC knew the proliferation of settings had contributed to TSRs issues and was gun shy for quit a while. Eberron arrived when 3E sales started to flag perhaps.

 

[Reynard]

Sure, that’s why I added technically. And Ghostwalk was one and done. I suspect WotC knew the proliferation of settings had contributed to TSRs issues and was gun shy for quit a while. Eberron arrived when 3E sales started to flag perhaps.

I think Eberron's timing proves that 3.5 was planned from the very beginning.

 

[grimslade]

Sure, that’s why I added technically. And Ghostwalk was one and done. I suspect WotC knew the proliferation of settings had contributed to TSRs issues and was gun shy for quit a while. Eberron arrived when 3E sales started to flag perhaps.

I believe the setting contest was a brilliant marketing device. Eberron was a campaign by committee ultimately, but Keith Baker's passion for the setting has been a constant. I think that is what a lot of the smaller selling settings lacked, a champion and face to put to the setting. FR has Ed Greenwood. Greyhawk is Gygaxian and has had many champions over the years. Dragonlance has Hickman and Weiss. Dark Sun? Troy Denning was the author of the DS Prism Pentad, but he is a prodigious author of lots of material in lots of settings. Planescape? Ravenloft? There is no 'go to' person for answers about what is the setting about.