D&D Glut?

[Funksaw]

Here's something I found odd.

Normally, in Austin, I go to Dragon's Lair, a big ol' store with everything kickass in it.

But at my new job, I'm two blocks from Thor's Hammer, and I've never been. So I take a look inside.

The only RPGs they carry on the shelf are D&D books. Not just D&D books, but only WotC D&D books-- no d20 suppliments.

I was just surprized at how many WoTC books there were - wasn't the whole point of the d20 licence to produce the evergreen core rulebooks and let other companies produce the suppliments?

 

[Corinth]

That it was, but when you have a turnover in the top leadership of WotC, coupled with a report on how the scenario actually played out, there's bound to be a change in strategy.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

No, I don't think the plan was ever to simply publish the core books and nothing else, under any management. The point was to let third party publishers provide support by taking on areas that traditionally weren't big profit generators - adventures being the main type of product that fits that description.

 

[Crothian]

No, that was never the point at all.

 

[Wombat]

My FLGS owner told me some interesting general facts about rpgs in his store. He stocks ccgs, board games, collectible minis (D&D, Hero Clix, etc.), non-collectible minis, and stuffed sillies.

Of his stock, 75% of his sales are non-rpg.

Of his rpgs, 60% of his sales are WotC D&D-realted; 40% is all others, whether D20-related or not, whether WotC or not.

But back on topic.

No, WotC didn't create the OGL out of the kindess of their hearts to expand the number of companies and titles that would be available. Instead, the OGL was a good way to get multiple companies to think in terms of D20. If a small horde of companies are putting out D20 supplements, most of which require the PHB, then WotC ultimately becomes the focus of all sales. In an odd way, the opening of the license helped accentuate WotC products even more. And since most Americans are also tied to the Brand Mentality ("I've heard of Company A; I've never heard of Company B. Company A must be better!"), many people see non-WotC products for D20 as not as good, lower quality, of questionable application, and probably not fully compatible to the game. (Again, this is born out through several small-scale, in-store surveys I have seen or particiapted in.)

The OGL/D20 is not a conspiracy, but it was a very good business strategy. Smaller companies get to try and get material out for niche markets, allowing WotC to concentrate on the core material.