aramis erak
Legend
It's been working for 50 years... and it's clearly working still, with the speed at which Alien Evolved Edition funded.
Do you buy new versions of TTRPG games when you haven't had time to play the older version sitting on your shelf?
- Thread starter MNblockhead
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Thomas Shey
Legend
I have to point out that outside the D&D-sphere, using pre-canned adventures isn't always nearly as much of an expectation. They're viewed in a lot of cases as a useful supplement or springboard, not the core of the play-cycle.
Old Fezziwig
this is a low-flying panic attack
I'm not sure what would be better, but the number of RPG publishers that come and go with the industry working this way suggest that it's not entirely sustainable as a long term strategy. The fact that the industry has turned over just about entirely since I started gaming 40 years ago doesn't fill me with confidence that the model as it is works at all -- off the top of my head, the two survivors out of all the big hitters from that era are Steve Jackson Games and Games Workshop, and neither has RPGs as its primary line of business. (Yes, the Chaosium is still about, but they've had some interruptions in normal service.)
Jd Smith1
Hero
Given all the complaining about low wages and the regular reports of game companies folding, I would suggest that it is not working very well.
schneeland
Hero
The thing is: publishers need to sell something to people if they want to keep the lights on. Theoretically, that could also be pre-made adventures, setting books, etc., but from what I know, core rules sell best, and then we have supplements with new rules/player options, and then nothing for a while, before we get to adventures. So I suspect, we're stuck with the current approach of new editions every 5 to 7 years, because no one has found a better model so far (potentially because there is none).
It's arguably slightly better with publishers like Free League, because they usually give us new games instead of new editions (at least right now, Alien EE is IMO more of an exception than the rule in their portfolio).
It's arguably slightly better with publishers like Free League, because they usually give us new games instead of new editions (at least right now, Alien EE is IMO more of an exception than the rule in their portfolio).
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Thomas Shey
Legend
I have to point out that's true in a lot of the entertainment industry though. And some of it is just that RPGs in general don't exactly have a stable position, D&D notwithstanding.
MrGrenadine
icastbrainstorm.beehiiv.com
Right now I'm playing both 2014 and 2024 5e. I've been playing D&D since the early 80's, and have all my rule books and supplements going back to to 1st edition, as well as various box sets going back that far, too. Not everything, but a lot.
Which is to say, I can't seem to NOT buy the latest iteration of my favorite game, even if I don't switch to the new version, which has happened a couple times.
Which is to say, I can't seem to NOT buy the latest iteration of my favorite game, even if I don't switch to the new version, which has happened a couple times.
Thomas Shey
Legend
There used to be more companies with multiple game lines, but there's often some problems with that approach, too, and it gets even worse if the lines have entirely independent mechanics.
chuckdee
Explorer
Is it a remake? I though similar to the Expanse, it was going to be compatible with the other version?
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