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  1. Alphastream

    Vote For Your Favourite TTRPG Podcasts (TALK Category)

    I just listened to the latest Morrus' Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk Podcast, and no spoilers, but I want to thank our unbelievable fans, congratulate and thank any podcast defeating us, and encourage any podcast that was below ours and has Morrus on it. I'm kidding! Sincere thanks for the kind...
  2. Alphastream

    DriveThruRPG numbers for 2022

    Fascinating! But, is this saying that if there was growth due to the pandemic... it only had an impact during three months? Or, that if it was an impact, other than the three months, that impact was really small? That's surprising.
  3. Alphastream

    Anyone else in the TTRPG community moving to Mastodon? Share your handle below!

    I am having fun on Mastodon! I can be found at https://dice.camp/@Alphastream
  4. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2024) WotC On One D&D Playtest Survey Results: Nearly Everything Scored 80%+!

    The survey didn't actually ask us whether we wanted feats at first level. This is something that really troubles me with these surveys. They ask us to rate specifics (each feat, each background), but they aren't asking the larger questions. I may very well rate a feat full stars, and I may...
  5. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    It's really hard to say. Big IP companies are very unpredictable regarding their IP. I was on a PAX West panel a few years ago discussing IP projects, and one of the panelists shared how with one company, the visuals are super-sacrosanct. Every image has to be checked thoroughly to make sure it...
  6. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    Uhhh... I'm going to strongly disagree. I have friends who have and do work at Paizo and I love them dearly and always wish them well. But Paizo as a company was strongly into disparaging D&D and profiting off of the edition wars. They did so at the top level of the game/edition, but they also...
  7. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    Excellent question. We don't actually know the number sold. Stan! says around 800k. I've heard over a million in 2017. I think 2017 is around the time 5E really took off. I would guess that shortly after this is when it stopped feeling at all like a regular game. But, it's just my guess. I also...
  8. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    Along these lines, I recall coming in to my FLGS and seeing five 4-foot stacks of one brand-new D&D supplement (not a core book). I couldn't believe they had ordered that many. "Oh, we should sell out of these in a week." My jaw dropped.
  9. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    Please don't stop! I'm enjoying this discussion. I'm a fan of D&D and of other RPGs and this subject is a lot of fun for me. I think many of you are thinking along the lines I am when it comes to part two. (I'm finishing it up and should have it up early next week.)
  10. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    I agree that GMs can feel that way. And companies too. But there are a lot of gamers and potential gamers out there. Trying to take on the ones that love D&D is skating up a steep hill when you have level ground right next to you. Find the audience that wants to be found. A lot of RPG creators...
  11. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    There have been a number of super-interesting international developments. CoC being number one in Japan. Italy crashing the Roll20 servers playing RPGs (mainly D&D) during covid. And Tormenta being so big in Brazil it shows up on overall Roll20 charts. These are really good indicators that RPG...
  12. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    Thanks! I've always kept numbers. I collect them almost like I collect minis! I have a file full of data from across the years and when I read or hear something interesting, I make a note. I make sure to track things I think may be in confidence and I only share that if another source can...
  13. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    It's come up a fair bit in the past couple of years. Usually its from fans, who want to believe a particular RPG will become dominant. I also think, however, that we can see it in some small and medium companies who act like they are competing with D&D. This can lead them astray, focusing on the...
  14. Alphastream

    D&D 5E (2014) Alphastream - Why No RPG Company Truly Competes with Wizards of the Coast

    My apologies to both of you (and anyone else impacted by the ending)! I wanted to lay down the more obvious reasons first, and then get to the bigger angle. It's useful feedback, and I'll take it into account for next time!
  15. Alphastream

    Nominate your favourite RPG podcasts of 2019!

    Here are some Talk podcasts I enjoy that may not have been nominated yet: Down with D&D from the Misdirected Mark Network Bone, Stone, and Obsidian, a Dark Sun podcast by the MMN Tabletop Voices, by the Don't Split the Podcast Network Table Top Babble, by the Don't Split the Podcast Network Ego...
  16. Alphastream

    TSR TSR Cutting Writers Rates (In 1994!)

    No... they are saying that if you want to do extra work, you can't do it as a regular freelancer. Before, you could do your normal job, and then at night write a freelancer Dragon article for 10 cents an hour. With the change, they made it so you can take that, but you get 6 cents an hour and...
  17. Alphastream

    TSR TSR Cutting Writers Rates (In 1994!)

    Current and recent rates for most authors have been shared at times, and are below 10 cents a word. There have been articles here on ENWorld and elsewhere that shared various rates for smaller companies, and those rates can be horribly low... I've been offered below 1 cent per word (and I turned...
  18. Alphastream

    How Expensive is Too Expensive?

    There are all kinds of industries with premium pricing. Individuals might never consider a premium price. So long as enough do, it's a viable product. Strong industries can support a variety of prices and offerings. We can see that in almost anything. I'm sure all of us at some point saw a movie...
  19. Alphastream

    How Expensive is Too Expensive?

    I wrote about the cost of the D&D Tomb of Annihilation hardback here. When I polled people, the $49.95 price was deemed too high by 36% of respondents. That $50 book ended up costing each of us a total of 3 cents an hour! RPGs are stupidly cheap. Sure, many of us have or have had problems...
  20. Alphastream

    Top Games Played On FG In 2018: D&D, Pathfinder, Savage Worlds

    Could the author provide a link to the original article? I would like to be able to see the source. Thanks!
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