Are we on the cusp of a Tabletop Hollywood moment?

[RivetGeekWil]

But to make it definitive, let's list the properties we know are in development or have been optioned:

• Blades in the Dark: Blades in the Dark RPG is being adapted into a television series
• Exalted: Exalted – new live action TV Series announced - Jenkins & Tate Entertainment
• WoD: ‘World of Darkness’ Universe Coming to TV, Film With Eric Heisserer, Christine Boylan, ‘The Witcher’s’ Hivemind
• Alice is Missing: Silent RPG 'Alice Is Missing' Gets Film Adaptation

There are more I know about (for example, I know iHunt was on the table, but that fell through).

Is it some stratospheric increase in TTRPG properties that are getting optioned? No, especially not when compared to the number of other properties that are getting gobbled up. But comparatively, yes in the last year or so the interest in developing tabletop RPG properties has increased quite a bit.

 

[Ryujin]

And the other thing is... Hollywood is full of gamers. I'm not just taking actors. Directors, producers, writers. Critical Role is a product of this.

I never suggested that it was huge and "chomping at the bit". Just pushing back on the notion that because there was True Blood, there's no need for (or interest) in WoD-based media (or that comparing it to Kindred: the Embraced, which was made before the Stackhouse novels even existed, is even a good comparison). But the thing is that a WoD-based TV show as of last year is already in development. So apparently the interest was there.

Please let me disabuse you of a certain notion. I never said that because "Kindred: The Embraced" existed that it could never be done again. I also never said that because "True Blood" was made, another VtM property could not be made. I indicated that a VtM property had already been made and that "True Blood" was better. Anything more is something that you read into my comment.

 

[ART!]

Any flavorful* rpg that taps in to any zeitgeist or is reminiscent of anything else that was successful would be of interest to streaming services looking for content and IP. Given the scale of the rpg biz, optioning an rpg for adaptation would cost a lot less than optioning a book series. For similar reasons, it would also be easy to just steal some ideas from a flavorful rpg.

* Some mix of tone/vibe, setting, era, genre, art style

 

[Ryujin]

Any flavorful* rpg that taps in to any zeitgeist or is reminiscent of anything else that was successful would be of interest to streaming services looking for content and IP. Given the scale of the rpg biz, optioning an rpg for adaptation would cost a lot less than optioning a book series. For similar reasons, it would also be easy to just steal some ideas from a flavorful rpg.

* Some mix of tone/vibe, setting, era, genre, art style

And production companies option stuff all the time, though it rarely gets used. Oh, for the days when Netflix was giving pretty much anyone at least one season.

 

[RivetGeekWil]

Please let me disabuse you of a certain notion. I never said that because "Kindred: The Embraced" existed that it could never be done again. I also never said that because "True Blood" was made, another VtM property could not be made. I indicated that a VtM property had already been made and that "True Blood" was better. Anything more is something that you read into my comment.

The implication is still that because it had been done once, 25 years ago, that it can't be done again. Except, it is being done again.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I would guess that the built-in audience for a WoD game was bigger than that of the Stackhouse novels.

Wild ass speculation, but I am guessing the difference in audience numbers between a popular RPG and a multi-NYT best selling novel series is orders of magnitude (in favor of the novels)

 

[RivetGeekWil]

Wild ass speculation, but I am guessing the difference in audience numbers between a popular RPG and a multi-NYT best selling novel series is orders of magnitude (in favor of the novels)

At the time Kindred: the Embraced aired, the Stackhouse novels didn't exist.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's hard to show the ongoing toll to one's mental health exacted by battling the unnatural in 120 minutes.

The Exorcist says hello.

And then vomits pea soup all over you.

 

[Ryujin]

At the time Kindred: the Embraced aired, the Stackhouse novels didn't exist.

How is that material to the discussion?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Huh. There’s a reason the first property Marvel did as a movie was Iron Man. They sold the rights to Spider-Man, X-Men, and the FF so they could launch the MCU. And they picked Iron Man as the first to go. He’s not 2nd tier.

Iron Man was definitely second tier. The general public had no idea who he was, other than it was either going to be Robert Downey Jr.'s comeback vehicle or we'd watch the real life alcoholic play an alcoholic on the big screen and wince a bit.

Marvel's top tier were Spider-Man and X-Men, and that's it. The MCU has made household names of second and third tier characters (not you, Eternals), but they sure didn't start off that way.