Dragon/Dungeon sold, Chainmail axed

[Psychotic Jim]

For me, it was only a matter of time before Chainmail got the axe. Several D&D "spin-off" games, like Alternity and Dragon Dice, have already came and gone in the same pattern. I don't know how to view the selling of Dragon and Dungeon. However, there have been people preaching that it was the end times for D&D for a long time. D&D survived the financial troubles of TSR in the 90s, and I doubt the game will die off now. There might be some scary changes, but I think it is a little bit too early to pronouce the fate of D&D .

 

[Staffan]

Flashback

I recall finding an old White Wolf magazine at my former gaming club. It had a letter from some guy named Peter Adkison, saying more or less "Thank you for the article on starting up your own gaming company. I am trying to do so myself, and some of the tips were really worthwhile." If I'm not mistaken, Lisa Stevens was the one responding to the letter which I suppose lead to her being wooed away from WW to WOTC and getting mentioned in the forward to Primal Order.

 

[Codragon]

Idea

We, the ENBoarders, should pool our resources and buy the D&D brand off of WotC/Hasbro.

 

[Tonguez]

Morrus you are a cunning schemer aren't you

Now that you've managed to get Dragon shut down Asgard and Midgard can rise up to take their place as THE D20 Magazines of choice all downloadable pdf for $5.00

Your BRIILIANT

 

[Harlock]

Wow. Run, Chicken Little, run!

Game lines fail. It was Chainmail. Did YOU buy it? If you did, did YOU read the rules? Now ask yourself why it failed. Sure some people loved Chainmail. Some people loved "new" Coke too. It's just business, they can't all be winners. As for Dragon and Dungeon mags: So someone else owns them. From what we can tell it is someone that bought them not for profitablity (though I can assure you they sure as heck HOPE it is profitable) but because they love this game. Jut like me. Just like you. She wouldn't have bought it if she did not think she could make it be as good or better than it was. Can she screw it up? Duh, yeah, anyone could do that. I just think I'd rather see my favorite magazine in the hands of a kind and nurturing parent rather than in the hands of some suits who are always only looking at the bottom line.

The State of the Game: Seems pretty fair to me. The people worried about D&D just dying because Hasbro refuses to sell it off when they dont see it making them money need to remember one thing. Why wouldn't they unload it for as much as they can possibly get if it gets that bad? Why hang on to a name brand that's not making you any money, but refuse to sell it so you get at least SOMETHING for it? The sky isn't falling, friends, there's just a little storm brewing. Sunshine always follows the rain and sometimes, we even get to see a rainbow. 'Nuff said.

 

[Neowolf]

Am I disappointed that Chainmail was canceled? Of course. It's always sad to see the end of a game. Am I surprised? Not a bit.

I remember thinking when it came out that it was not only a risky move, but also one with some huge over-head. They've gotta design, create, and manufacture the minis, alter the rules to fit a war-game scenario, and then they've gotta try and compete with the established and entrenched games like Warhammer 40k.

I'm not gonna say it was a bad business move necessarily, just one where the risk might have outweighed the pay-off.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Salutations,

Do you think this will stop the magazine staffers from coming here after their drinking benders and teasing us with the most vague of hints of things to come?

Cruel monsters, all of them.

Though, I hope this works out the best for them.

FD

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Personally, I hope D&D does get sold, and quickly. Even if there is a lag time, and the line halts (I doubt that), somebody will pony up the money for the game. Now that Peter Adkison has bought GenCon, maybe he'll buy it. Anyway, now that everything I feel is essential is out (the Epic book will be the last of these), I think D&D can easily survive being in limbo for a reasonably good amount of time.

I'm just curious about how Dragon and Dungeon's content will change. Although I like the mags now, I'd love to see the return of stuff like book and game reviews. It would very cool to see articles and adventures for other d20 games, or even other systems entirely, from time to time.

Let's relax. I get the feeling things will get better after the current chaos.

 

[Yuan-Ti]

But if SSS gets it there'll be a new edition every two years...

Frankly, I don't expect Hasbro to sell D&D. Even if they just print and sell core books, that's easy money.

As for Chainmail, well, it'll sure be fun accepting an Origins Award next week if the game wins...

That Pramas guy is right. I mean, all indications are that WotC is not doing that well, but that the D&D line is doing very well. So, if you are in trouble you aren't terribly likely to sell off your best product. On the other hand, if you are in enough trouble, you get the most bail-out money selling off your best product. So, it is not impossible, just really unlikely.

 

[Yuan-Ti]

Personally, I hope D&D does get sold, and quickly.

You don't really mean that.

No. You don't.

A new owner could mean new policies... like new OGL rules or even an end to OGL. Keep D&D where it is for now, please.