Adamant Ventures 4th early as well

[Henry]

I know many people who started with 3.5 who will switch to 4E, but how many that will start with 4E will even bat an eye at 3E?

Answer: Enough that 3e gamers should be hoping for a wildly successful 4e, as well, because for the past thirty years, the way the majority of new players enter the market is through D&D, before moving on to other RPGs.

 

[Man-thing]

You know from GMS's interactions in other discussions on the GSL. It seems to me that he is going to do this just by using the copyright law.

- Mark

 

[The Little Raven]

You know from GMS's interactions in other discussions on the GSL. It seems to me that he is going to do this just by using the copyright law.

I hope he's prepared for what could happen. Palladium didn't even have to win their case against WotC, and they nearly buried them. Now, WotC's a bigger dog than Palladium has ever been, and they even offered a license to allow people to produce supplements for 4e. Win or lose, he might not survive the kind of protracted legal battle that could occur.

 

[BryonD]

If people shrug when they hear RPG, but nod when they hear D&D, then the brand is definitely worth something, especially when the affirmative response towards the brand comes from those not normally associated with it.

No, you are still casually replacing "people who spend money on gaming" with "people at large". It doesn't work like that.

 

[philreed]

I hope he's prepared for what could happen. Palladium didn't even have to win their case against WotC, and they nearly buried them. Now, WotC's a bigger dog than Palladium has ever been, and they even offered a license to allow people to produce supplements for 4e. Win or lose, he might not survive the kind of protracted legal battle that could occur.

I don't think it would be difficult to create a system that's compatible with 4e and stay well within copyright limitations. There's no need to use the trademark, for example, when "4e" is enough for the customer base to understand.

 

[The Little Raven]

No, you are still casually replacing "people who spend money on gaming" with "people at large". It doesn't work like that.

New customers are "people at large" until they buy gaming stuff, which is when they become "people who spend money on gaming." What you don't seem to get is that brand management is all about converting "people at large" into "people who spend money on gaming." That's called growing your customer base.

 

[philreed]

I'm all for GSL being more like the OGL . . .

I'm not even sure it has to be more like the OGL. It just needs to not include language that gives WotC 100% control over a publisher's products. There is nothing stopping WotC from destroying any company that uses the GSL.

The very fact that the GSL language is written the way that it is makes me think D&D sales have been much lower than the company claims. If sales are better than ever, and there are more players than ever, then there's no rational reason to give a damn about every little PDF publisher on the market.

And it's not "product quality" that concerns them. Because if it was, the GSL would include a license fee and approval guidelines.

 

[GMSkarka]

Thank you for the interest in VENTURE 4TH, folks!

Just FYI -- the first adventure, Scourge of the Rat-Men will be released on the 10th. We've just opened up pre-orders on our website, where you can also find some more info.

 

[catsclaw227]

Thank you for the interest in VENTURE 4TH, folks!

Just FYI -- the first adventure, Scourge of the Rat-Men will be released on the 10th. We've just opened up pre-orders on our website, where you can also find some more info.

Gareth, can you fill us in on how you can release these prior to the October date set by the GSL?

 

[Alikar]

Gareth, can you fill us in on how you can release these prior to the October date set by the GSL?

Simple. He doesn't accept the GSL and thus is not restricted by it.