Dragon/Dungeon sold, Chainmail axed

[Glaurung]

Dragon and OGL

So does this purchase of Dragon and Dungeon make items published theirin subject to the OGL like other 3rd party products? If so, this is actually pretty cool. I know I see feats, spells, etc. in Dragon that I'd love to use in my writing all the time.
Let's hope this transfer of them mags works out well--I just renewed my subscription!

-Michael Gill

 

[Aven]

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.

Alternity was NOT a spin-off of DnD. It was completely it's own game. It wasn't that it had a short life span because of it's unpopularity, it was that it was shut down by wizards of the coast because they didn't see the need to compete with their new product.

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Any solid news on the fate of Polyhedron and living greyhawk?

Did they go with Dragon and Dungeon, are they just gone period, or are they changing format?

Anbody know? Mr. Mona perhaps, he's always been very volcal on these boards.

Polhedrons become so good, i'd really hate to see it dissapear.

 

[Staffan]

Alternity was NOT a spin-off of DnD. It was completely it's own game. It wasn't that it had a short life span because of it's unpopularity, it was that it was shut down by wizards of the coast because they didn't see the need to compete with their new product.

According to Jim Butler on the Alternity mailing list, Alternity was bleeding money big time. They were making OK money on the core books, but the supplements just didn't sell well enough.

 

[Kichwas]

This is strange news.

I'm right at resubscribe time for Dragon. I wonder who I'm supposed to contact now.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Actually, Hasbro also has a games line, which includes some downright ancient games, such as Monopoly, Clue, and Chutes and Ladders. To say they don't understand long term sales is completely incorrect.

Actually, those games were owned by other companies for decades (Parker Bros. for the ones you mention, I think); Hasbro just acquired them fairly recently. So, Hasbro doesn't necessarily understand long term sales. What Hasbro apparently understand is the explosion of "themed" Monopoly and Clue games.

 

[Jim Butler]

According to Jim Butler on the Alternity mailing list, Alternity was bleeding money big time. They were making OK money on the core books, but the supplements just didn't sell well enough.

True enough. And Alternity would have been a success at any other company; just not one with WotC's overhead.