d20: The Death of Roleplaying! (not really)

[thomden]

I'm writing a piece called "d20: The Death of Roleplaying?" for a national rpg mag (in Sweden), and I'm going to examine the claim that d20 would stifle competition and eventually lead to only d20 rpgs being produced.

Orkworld - Wicked Press (unsure about this one)

Since roleplaying as an industry was already "dead", the claim that d20 would kill roleplaying is really a contradiction. Essentially the market had become an outlet for fans to entertain themselves by publishing their little niche ideas at little to no profit or more often at a loss.

The few companies doing RPG's were essentially financially anemic, and the larger ones like SJG, WW and others heavilly supplemented their income with non-rpg material (novels, card games, whatever)

As far as Orkworld is concerned, which I illustrated, it came out the same day as d20. We were fortunate in that we sold out at Gen Con, and the few remaining copies in the warehouse quickly went to distributors. But there were a variety of factors involved that I don't think had much to do with d20 (other than an exceptionally busy Gen Con).

 

[Maggan]

Well, Umbran...

...as I said, I do not intend for this thread to actually BE my research. It's a starting point. I am a professional writer, after all.

But hey, if you could give me that sales data, I'd sure be a happy camper. Or if you could point me to a place where to find it, that would suffice.

But, alas, data like that is notoriously difficult to find, and I'm not getting paid enough to spend six months trying to sweet talk every publisher in the industry to supply sales data. The controversy over that here in Sweden is enough to make me want to run for cover.

But point taken, all the same.

Ahh, and Mr Denmark, you are very correct in pointing out the fallacy of the proposed title of the article. Thanx (and for the Orkworld update).

It should be more like... erm... "d20: did it kill the rest of the best?" or something like that.

Actually, come to think of it, it will be more like an opinion piece than a bona fide article, considering I've already made up my mind as to the answer to my rethorical question. Ah, well, that's for the editor to decide.

Cheers!

Maggan

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I'd say you have given yourself a dificult task. It's only been two years, how long did it take microsoft to take over the world? And if there is a downward trend in non-d20 success is it because of d20 or because of the economy? Yes this would be better as an opinion piece, as you said it is turning into.

But I mainly just wanted to confirm Hero5 came out after D20. It was mostly finished well before D20, but financial/business who knows what problems delayed it a couple years. Also I understand the Hero crew is pleased with its success so far, but I'm not sure what they would consider a success.

 

[2WS-Steve]

Other RPGs that have come out since d20:

The Riddle of Steel (lots of indie-fan recognition for its detailed combat system)
Dust Devils (Johnathan Tweet's pick of GenCon 2002)
Godlike (my pick of 2002 in general)
EABA (BTRC's latest book)
Starchildren: Velvet Generation (not really sure if the title is exactly right but in this one you play Glam rockers in space!)

Also, Pinnacle will release a new game system based around small unit tactics that looks pretty exciting.

Anyway, it strikes me as unlikely that there have been fewer non-d20 new games this year than in the years prior to d20. Between TRoS, Children of the Sun, and Godlike we have 3 major new releases, all hardback, and all with lots of pages.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I believe Dreams of Steel is out now. EDIT: Oops...I meant Riddle of Steel, but I see someone already posted it while I was typing.

Is F.A.T.A.L. pre- or post-d20?

I saw that Palladium was re-issuing Beyond the Supernatural, but I haven't seen it anywhere yet.

 

[Xeriar]

Buffy the Vampire came out and sold through a dozen copies at my FLGS the week it got them I believe Eden had other releases as well.

I have ordered $400 worth of GURPS books, new and old, in the past month. I'm having problems with some of the basic ones (GURPS: Magic and GURPS: Traveller, specifically) being hard to get ahold of.

Call of Cthulhu (by Chaosium) is still doing better than any non-WotC d20 product, and many of WotC's products, according to Amazon.

Mage had a new release during d20 as well as Werewolf, and Hunter came out, and is still going pretty strong, around that time. Mummy has as well. Wraith and Changeling have been discontinued, though :-(

Exalted came out with a bang, alright. I don't like it as much as White Wolf's other products, but that is sorely my opinion. There is a lot of support for it.

Shadowrun is still being printed, and new products still being designed, after the dissolution of FASA. Wizkids just has a guy handling licensing. Very, very impressive.

Legend of the Five Rings came out with second edition around d20, but it kind of got drowned out by Oriental Adventures and Rokugan, and AEG will from now on be printing its future 7th Sea and L5R products in hybrid format. The 'd10' main books are still being printed, it seems, though.

And, obviously, with Rokugan's success, the hybrid format is going to make people curious, a brilliant move on AEG's part, IMO.

Decipher's Lord of the Rings and Star Trek have been released... A bit mangled, though, if they fail it will be Decipher's fault IMO.

As far as I know, the only company that actually died 'due to' WotC was West End Games when they lost their Star Wars license. People (myself included) still play d6 Star Wars though

 

[Voadam]

I think Earthdawn 2e came out around the time of 3e, check with living room games who bought the earthdawn rights and publish 2e.

 

[Umbran]

Re: Well, Umbran...

[BBut hey, if you could give me that sales data, I'd sure be a happy camper. Or if you could point me to a place where to find it, that would suffice.[/B]

I don't have the data. Never looked for it, personally. I have no idea how available it is. But it's what you need for an accurate measure.

You might try over in the d20 Publishers Forum on these boards for a start. Seeing as that's a place where game pulishers post stuff...

 

[Maggan]

Thanx again for all the pointers

Umbran suggested looking at sales figures, and not titles released.

Regarding sales figures for d20 stuff, I've got that pretty much nailed down through following discussions on the d20 publisher boards. But since I'm looking for non-d20 data, I think it's a bit difficult finding that information on the d20 publishers forum.

Well, I'll pop the question anyways... later, when it's not 2 o'clock at night, and I can put togehter a coherent question.

Sleep tight all!

Cheers

Maggan

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmm, Silverage Seninels, Dark Ages: Vampire, Dark Ages: Mage, Dark Ages: Inquisitor, Unknown Armies, and Pinnacle has a new system soon as well. Oh, and Engel.

The Auld Grumo, looking for his Pheobe Snowe