3rd Party Poopers

[Dannyalcatraz]

As a DM, I present these options to players, and they're more inclined to go for the Core rules (either because they're min-maxers, care more about their character than the rules themselves, or have vanilla gaming tastes), or might nudge some WotC splat.

As a Player, I more often than not find DMs who want just Core only, or even if they allow other options, will allow a few splats. 3rd party stuff? That's broken, or doesn't fit their game, or they just don't own the book.

So, I end up with a player-focused product that I can neither get my players to use, nor get to play myself.

Anyone else find themselves in the same problem?

Who do you think you are? ME?

I've posted about this so often, it should be in my sig. I've been in this state since 3Ed rolled out. I've bought a host of 3PP, almost all of which goes unused.

I'm one of only 2 DMs in the group who uses 3PP- really anything significant beyond Core + Completes- and almost none of my players takes even a sniff of the non-WotC stuff.

IOW, several of my compatriot gamers- like them though I do- could reasonably be described as sticks in the proverbial mud.

Some of them have not and never will play anything but D&D. Not even other FRPGs. I'm not talking about n00bs, either- I've gamed with at least one since 1985.

Seriously, take them out of their comfort zone.

I've spent 2 years designing a post-apocalyptic homebrew fantasy setting. One of the first things I noticed as I was designing it was that if I eliminated Humans (as I had planned), I wouldn't have any players.

Its good to get your players out of their comfort zone, but if you try to take them too far, they won't follow.

 

[Aeolius]

...if I eliminated Humans (as I had planned), I wouldn't have any players.

"I don't need you. I can do this act alone. I often do." Steve Martin

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

"I don't need you. I can do this act alone. I often do." Steve Martin

I already do enough of that.

 

[Aeolius]

I already do enough of that.

preaching to the choir, brother.

 

[roguerouge]

Since [Blizzard]'ve made pretty much the most successful video game ever (is there an objective judge of that?) they might be on the right track.

Off Topic: If you use constant dollars (adjusted for inflation, cost of living increases), then I'd say that Donkey Kong might be the most profitable video game ever, especially since their costs look to be less. /OT

 

[Jack99]

Off Topic: If you use constant dollars (adjusted for inflation, cost of living increases), then I'd say that Donkey Kong might be the most profitable video game ever, especially since their costs look to be less. /OT

Doubtful. Not only does WoW sell a lot (no idea if they sold more than DK, but I am guessing yes), but the revenue they get from the monthlies is just .. well quite a lot. Had you just been comparing the sales, then DK might win, who knows. I know that Gone with the Wind beats the snot of out of Titanic, if you calculate using your method.

 

[Obryn]

The only 3pp books I had much use for in 3e fall into 2 categories:

(1) Modules
(2) Entire settings

Modules are easy enough to drop in on a moment's notice, and I seldom have to worry about any balance issues.

Entire settings are frequently Awesome. I ran an Arcana Evolved game for a long time, and have bought quite a few, like Black Company, Conan, and so on.

I tend to distrust the mechanics behind 3pp splatbooks. I bought several during the initial d20 bubble, and was generally disappointed... While WotC products can have their own balance issues, I think they tend to have a lot fewer, along with higher general production values...

-O

 

[Imban]

While WotC products can have their own balance issues, I think they tend to have a lot fewer, along with higher general production values...

I find it's about the same with the good 3rd-party companies, but I also find it pretty easy to see stuff that radiates an aura of Strong Brokenation or Questionable Design a mile away, so eliminating a few pieces of broken junk from a book doesn't bother me.

What does surprise me is how unwilling people - including some that I've played with - seem to be to pick out and discard pieces of junk from 3rd-party supplements. Like, Shivering Touch (from Frostburn for 3.5e) is just WotC being silly again, but Warriors of the Ancestral Bloodline (from Feudal Characters: Noble for 4e) ruins the entire supplement and possibly blights the name of both Alea Publishing Group and Joshua Raynack, that anything they release or he designs must be given the evil eye forevermore.

(EDIT: Not to say that certain companies (Fast Forward, Mongoose) didn't produce enough junk that the blight upon their names was deserved.)

 

[Scribble]

I ran a Scarred lands game in 3e... and it seemed like most of my players only really wanted to use the core books. Shrug.

I'm not sure exactly what will happen this time around. I've been making heavy use of the DDI when writing my adventures, so I'm not really sure 3pp will be as appealign to me this time.

 

[Dragonbait]

In 3E, I started banning 3rd-party books after a while. I trusted certain publishers, yeah, but for the most part it was strictly WoTC.

Since 4E is new, I am allowing the classes from the Advanced Player's Guide to fill the missing gaps. So far I have two players out of 6 using that book (their illusionist equivalent and their monk equivalent).