Bye Monte!

[woodelf]

Well, this is unexpected. It will save me a lot of money, as his company is one of the few that I buy from. I am glad I didn't buy Ptolus now, as lack of continued support from the author is usually a bad sign for the long-term viability of a line of gaming products.

Um, huh? Fact: i'm not publishing any more to support this. Conclusion: 'this' must be insufficient. Huh? Isn't it more reasonable to assume that, if the author doesn't plan any further 'support' for a product, it's because they believe the product is complete and doesn't need support? Yes, a product that was planned to have support, and then the support goes away, is something to be wary of--you could end up with only half a game. But not necessarily--at least some games operate on a model where all of the support is extras, and the core book *is* complete. But a product that was always planned to have no add-ons or extensions (which has been widely announced regarding Ptolus) hardly seems deficient, to me, just because it has no add-ons or extensions. It's not like a car, where you can expect it to eventually wear out and break down; an RPG works as well in the future as it works right now.

 

[bowbe]

Actually, they probably do. When you are saying someone pays "a whole lot more than RPGs", you don't actually have to pay that much to make the statement true.

BINGO!

HaHAHA.

At any rate, just speculating, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE!

Besides, I think a monte written/developed video game would probably kick some major ass.

Case

 

[buzz]

Like James Wallis, Greg Costikyan, and Sandy Petersen? Unfortunately, they don't always come back.

I'm being glass-half-full here. Monte loves D&D too much to leave permanently, IMO. He also makes a really good living in RPGs, which cannot be said for a lot of other great folks who have moved on to other industries.

 

[Monte At Home]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. That's much appreciated.

 

[Zaukrie]

I'll be more clear to a couple of people:

First, I'll miss Monte and his work a lot. I own most of the Malhavoc products, even though I haven't role played in a couple of years (only off and on, so it doesn't count, though I've been teaching my sons and their friends lately too). I am getting back into it more, so I'll actually get to use the products I've so loved to read and imagining how to use. He is also a class act that has taken time to interact with all of us, and I hope he has great success. I had the chance to meet him in person in MN a couple of years ago, and already thanked him personally for 3E and getting me back into the game.

Second, I see Ptolus as a setting book and book of adventure ideas and lots of other really, really cool stuff. However, I'm cramped for time, seriously. So, if I'm going to buy a setting, I want follow on products that advance stories/ideas for me. Some people hate that, some people love that. I'm in the love category. It appears to be one of the most beautiful, complete settings ever, but my needs are different than some of your needs, and for me to get the most out of he money I've spent, I need more follow on products. That's all I meant.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Here's an odd thought.

Ptolus is completely D&D compatible.

More D&D and d20 products come out every day.

 

[Nightfall]

Var,

Now let's not confuse the silly people any more than they already are!

 

[Monte At Home]

I'll be more clear to a couple of people:

Second, I see Ptolus as a setting book and book of adventure ideas and lots of other really, really cool stuff. However, I'm cramped for time, seriously. So, if I'm going to buy a setting, I want follow on products that advance stories/ideas for me. Some people hate that, some people love that. I'm in the love category. It appears to be one of the most beautiful, complete settings ever, but my needs are different than some of your needs, and for me to get the most out of he money I've spent, I need more follow on products. That's all I meant.

But Ptolus isn't like other campaign setting books. It has pre-made adventures in there for you. In other words, it's like I wrote the "follow on products" ahead of time and put them in the book.

Normally I don't get too involved in this kind of discussion, but the cramped for time DM is exactly the person who will likely get the very most value out of Ptolus.

 

[Nightfall]

Hey monte!

So how retirement treating you? *is kidding*

 

[buzz]

So, if I'm going to buy a setting, I want follow on products that advance stories/ideas for me.

Monte already responded, so this is probably moot...

Zaukrie, how is getting 1000 pages across multiple books different/better than getting 1000 pages in one book? Monte could have easily spread the Ptolus content across multiple releases. Would that have made you feel like the material is more "supported"? Why?

I'm really puzzled by these reactions to the book. The conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe that we've been trained by the industry to buy into the supplement mill.

Seriously. 1000 pages.