Campaign Settings II

[MerricB]

In fact, Wizards does have the best market research possible for campaign settings - actual sales figures of product lines.

Honestly, I think that they've made the right choice in supporting the Forgotten Realms (current poll leader) and Eberron.

If they could support another couple of settings, Planescape and Greyhawk would probably be the next couple. However, I have a feeling that Planescape really needs the right design team (who are mostly no longer at Wizards... is anyone from that team, actually?) And Greyhawk has its own problems.

Cheers!

 

[Spatula]

I rather wish Wizards would just do that - put out at least a campaign setting book for Planescape and possibly a few of the other, more popular settings.

Like what WOTC has done with OA. One hardcover book, nothing more. Perhaps that was the test case, and it didn't sell enough books? I do think that is probably the way to go with the older settings (especially with the older settings) since there's already a lot of story material out there. All you need is a single volume that updates the mechanics and serves as an intro for those who've never seen it before.

Unfortunately, updates of "classic" material seems to cause only anger amongst the fan base (Spelljammer/Spider Moon, Pazio's Dark Sun, d20 Future's Star Frontiers, etc.), or rather, the more vocal elements of the fan base, so perhaps WotC just doesn't want to deal with the hassle.

As far as Planescape goes, there's already been two planar hardcovers. Aside from an in-depth look at Sigil and the factions (which would mostly be "fluff", and a repeat of 2E material), I'm not sure what's left to update.

 

[fanboy2000]

In fact, Wizards does have the best market research possible for campaign settings - actual sales figures of product lines.

Sales data doesn't tell you two things that real market research does 1) Why people bought the book and 2) Why people didn't buy the book.

Internet message boards tell you a little, but like someone else said, it's not particularly representitive. Ryan Dancy actually said once that TSR did no market research. They just cranked out books with out trying to figure out if that is what people wanted. Indeed, market research was one of the first things WotC didn't when they bought TSR.

Actually, I think that one of the reason's most of thouse old campaign settings aren't supported anymore isn't becaues they were unprofetable, but because they were supposed to have a limited life. TSR didn't plan on supporting the line after more than a few books. I'm sure that Al-Qadim falls into that catagory.

WotC still does that. The whole d20 Modern line is practily like that. Call of Cthulhu was always going to be a one shot and The Wheel of Time was a two book deal. Just because a system is out of print dosen't mean that it didn't sell well or that it's bad. I think its safe to say that, most of these campaign settings are available to most thouse who want them.

 

[MerricB]

Actually, I think that one of the reason's most of thouse old campaign settings aren't supported anymore isn't becaues they were unprofetable, but because they were supposed to have a limited life. TSR didn't plan on supporting the line after more than a few books. I'm sure that Al-Qadim falls into that catagory.

That sounds pretty accurate. I know Al-Qadim was intended for a limited lifespan as a supported product: Ed Greenwood said so several years ago when he visited Australia.

Cheers!

 

[Fiendish Dire Weasel]

I voted Eberron, Dark Sun, Spelljammer and Al-Qadim but would have to qualify it with "If the content was good", but I assumed that was an uwritten part of the question.

 

[VorpalBunny]

It's Forgotten Realms, Eberron, Greyhawk, Planescape, Dark Sun, Al-Qadim, Kara-Tur, and Blackmoor for me.

Seems to me Planescape is always at the top of polls like this. I wonder if anyone is listening over at WotC...

 

[Mark Plemmons]

I've decided to draw from Ravenloft's feel for certain elements of my current Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign.

Anyway, I can't recommend them highly enough. Hunt for someone to play these with.

Sounds interesting. I'd like to hear more about what feel you're adding, and in what regions.

 

[RFisher]

Instead of Kara-Tur or Rokugan, I'd like to see the setting for Dragon Fist expanded. (But, didn't I hear Green Ronin worked out a deal to do Dragon Fist products?) Although, while I don't know that the market would support them, there really is a place for all three.

I'd love to see more Lankhmar, but adapting a setting from literature has its own set of problems.

But I have strange tastes. I want static settings that remain in print. That's not a formula for high short term sales, but it'd win my long term loyalty. It should have limited expansion through adventure modules. (And, yeah, I know that WotC can't make money of modules.)

Plus, I'd rather see campaign settings that gave more details on a campaign sized area rather than trying to detail an entire world. Some modules did this OK, but I'd rather see something in between B2 & FRCS.

 

[Ranes]

I'd love to see more Lankhmar, but adapting a setting from literature has its own set of problems.

But I have strange tastes. I want static settings that remain in print. That's not a formula for high short term sales, but it'd win my long term loyalty. It should have limited expansion through adventure modules. (And, yeah, I know that WotC can't make money of modules.)

Plus, I'd rather see campaign settings that gave more details on a campaign sized area rather than trying to detail an entire world. Some modules did this OK, but I'd rather see something in between B2 & FRCS.

Ditto.

Additional: Tekumel.

 

[Shemeska]

Seems to me Planescape is always at the top of polls like this. I wonder if anyone is listening over at WotC...

If the PlHB is any indication... *sigh*