Are there too many settings out there?

[johnsemlak]

Lets look at the various settings that have just been released or will be released soon, just for D&D/d20

Off the top of my head:

The Diamond Throne
Wilderlands
Warcraft
Morningstar
Dawnforge
Blackmoor d20
Dragonlance
Frostholm
Midnight
Testament

That's without thinking hard. I'm sure more would come to mind real fast.

This is all with the specter of a new WotC setting on the Horizon, Eberron.

With all the other fully supported settings already out there (FR, SL, Kalamar, Sovereign Stone, Arcanis, etc), will there actually be enough interest in all these new settings?

 

[KDLadage]

There are many more.

And to answer your question (Are there too many settings out there?) -- No.

 

[Arnwyn]

Too many for whom? Consumers? Publishers? The industry?

Are there too many for consumers? No, of course not. Lots of different choices is good for consumers!

Too many for publishers or the industry? Yes, likely. TSR/WotC discovered this back in 2e, and the different publishers will certainly feel this soon, if not now. Their benefit, though, is that they have much smaller print runs, so they might make a profit depending on where their break-even point is. But generally, gamers (noteably DMs) can only make use of some number of settings before there are too many to bother with.

The result will be lack of sales, leading to lack of support, leading to a wasteland of dead campaign settings. When that occurs, though, is anyone's guess.

Edit: Typo.

 

[edbonny]

This kind of questioning is dubious in where it can lead. You could ask this question of just about everything out there. Too many brands of cereal, cars, mystery novels, soda, etc. And the answer will always be: some will survive, some will have a short life span, others will fail. Perhaps steering this discussion into factual areas such as the number of gamers out there, their ages and their income as well as ranking setting by sales will get a more detailed picture of what to expect in terms of campaign setting "hardiness."

- Ed

 

[Umbran]

...will there actually be enough interest in all these new settings?

That depends, because the question isn't really complete. Enough interest in the new settings to do what? Enough that none of them will flop horribly? Enough that they'll all become as big as FR? What are you afraid might happen if there is insufficient interest?

Seems to me that at worst a seting or two simply won't sell well. No tragedy.

 

[fusangite]

I'm baffled that people purchase settings; creating a setting is my main source of fun as a DM. I'm always kind of confused by the popularity of these things.

I suppose there aren't too many. Who knows, maybe I will turn my current two campaign worlds into published settings and then there will be more!

 

[Starman]

I'm baffled that people purchase settings; creating a setting is my main source of fun as a DM. I'm always kind of confused by the popularity of these things.

I suppose there aren't too many. Who knows, maybe I will turn my current two campaign worlds into published settings and then there will be more!

I occasionally run something in a published setting. However, I usually use them for inspiration (other people come up with a lot of cool stuff) and "crunchy" bits (new spellcasting rules, races, etc.)

Starman

 

[Aaron2]

Consider that not too long ago, most of those setting would have been released as complete game systems as well; something far less easy to use bits and pieces of. Some of those settings mentioned will either be one-shots or, like Midnight, will publish the main book, a couple supplements and then stop.

Keep in mind that not only are setting the easiest game material to write but there is a large percentage of game buyers that buy for reading material. I know a guy who has a huge room full of RPGs, easily four times what I have, and he hasn't actually played a single session in that last 10 years*.

So, the answer probably is NO.

Aaron


*I invited him to join my D&D campaign, I've even told him that I would run any game he wanted to play, but he always had some excuse.

 

[Crothian]

Are there too many settings? Yes

Are there too many quality settings? No

 

[Desdichado]

I'm baffled that people purchase settings; creating a setting is my main source of fun as a DM. I'm always kind of confused by the popularity of these things.

I suppose there aren't too many. Who knows, maybe I will turn my current two campaign worlds into published settings and then there will be more!

Dude, that's exactly what I do too, but having something I can potentiall raid for ideas is of more value to me than just about anything else published.