Favorite non-WotC publishers
- Thread starter Elodan
- Start date
physicscarp
Explorer
It changes so often
Had you asked this four years ago, I would have answered AEG hands down, for the great L5R and 7th Sea lines. However, since those have undergone so many changes (and this is a d20 forum), I'll update my choice.
Right now, I'll pick Malhavoc Press only because the material they publish is inspiring in addition to useful. Each of the Malhavoc products that I've read has inspired new stories and campaign ideas, along with providing me new material to use in my games. A very close second though is PandaHead, who produce the XCrawl game. What I had originally thought would be the single stupidest game for d20 turned out to be one of the most fun and unique experiences of my 13+ years of gaming. The passion and pride for their game shines through in the writing and design of the game. In addition, the people behind PandaHead are some of the nicest folks you'll meet at a con.
Carp
Edit: spelling
Had you asked this four years ago, I would have answered AEG hands down, for the great L5R and 7th Sea lines. However, since those have undergone so many changes (and this is a d20 forum), I'll update my choice.
Right now, I'll pick Malhavoc Press only because the material they publish is inspiring in addition to useful. Each of the Malhavoc products that I've read has inspired new stories and campaign ideas, along with providing me new material to use in my games. A very close second though is PandaHead, who produce the XCrawl game. What I had originally thought would be the single stupidest game for d20 turned out to be one of the most fun and unique experiences of my 13+ years of gaming. The passion and pride for their game shines through in the writing and design of the game. In addition, the people behind PandaHead are some of the nicest folks you'll meet at a con.
Carp
Edit: spelling
Last edited:
Will
First Post
SSS (whom I do freelance work for, but hey)
Green Ronin (whom I have not, at least not yet)
One frustrating thing about being a freelance writer is that I have very little money to actually buy a lot of game products and keep abreast of cool stuff. I basically have to limit myself to the minimal purchases immediately necessary for whatever I'm working on.
Irony, I think.
Green Ronin (whom I have not, at least not yet)
One frustrating thing about being a freelance writer is that I have very little money to actually buy a lot of game products and keep abreast of cool stuff. I basically have to limit myself to the minimal purchases immediately necessary for whatever I'm working on.
Irony, I think.
StumpwaterJack
First Post
Kenzer Co., Malhavoc, and Green Ronin.
-SJ
-SJ
Alaric_Prympax
First Post
In no order:
Necromancer Games
Malhavoc Press
Green Ronin
S&SS
Bad Axe Games
Mongoose
FFG
Darn that's seven.
So many books, so little money.
Necromancer Games
Malhavoc Press
Green Ronin
S&SS
Bad Axe Games
Mongoose
FFG
Darn that's seven.
So many books, so little money.
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Gothmog
First Post
#1 Fantasy Flight Games- the Path of ... books are the BEST classbooks out there, and all of their Legends & Lairs stuff is what the industry should shoot for (take note WotC). Midnight is phenomenal- hands down the best campaign world out there. And the recent release of Redline has me itching to run a post-apocalytic game ala Fallout.
#2 Green Ronin- Consistently great stuff, very adaptable, never a stinker. Legions of Hell, Armies of the Abyss, Book of the Righteous, Hammer & Helm, Testament, and Unholy Warrior's Handbook are masterpieces.
#2.5- Mystic Eye Games- Great stuff, I love the Foul Locales series, and its suitably dark and gritty for my tastes. Also, one of the more innovative and unconventional publishers out there.
#3- Mongoose- When they are good, they are REALLY good, and rarely they aren't so good.
#4- Necromancer Games- I'd rank them higher, but I usually write my own adventures. That said, the Tome of Horrors is great, and the adventures I do have and have run by them have been incredible- the best adventures out there for d20. They are very adaptable, and easily accomadate extra DM plot hooks and RP opportunities.
#2 Green Ronin- Consistently great stuff, very adaptable, never a stinker. Legions of Hell, Armies of the Abyss, Book of the Righteous, Hammer & Helm, Testament, and Unholy Warrior's Handbook are masterpieces.
#2.5- Mystic Eye Games- Great stuff, I love the Foul Locales series, and its suitably dark and gritty for my tastes. Also, one of the more innovative and unconventional publishers out there.
#3- Mongoose- When they are good, they are REALLY good, and rarely they aren't so good.
#4- Necromancer Games- I'd rank them higher, but I usually write my own adventures. That said, the Tome of Horrors is great, and the adventures I do have and have run by them have been incredible- the best adventures out there for d20. They are very adaptable, and easily accomadate extra DM plot hooks and RP opportunities.
Darrin Drader
Explorer
In no particular order of preference:
Bastion Press: Yes, I do freelance for them, but the material is top notch. Torn Asunder and Airships are probably their best core D20 products to date, and Oathbound is very cool, in my humble opinion. I think people are really going to enjoy the stuff that made it into Oathbound: Arena. Of course lets not forget that Jim Butler is a veteran of the RPG industry, as are many of the people writing Bastion books.
Necromancer Games: As far as I can tell they're the only company producing a successful D20 line by offering a steady stream of printed adventures. And they're good "harkening back to the old days of D&D" adventures too. Sometimes they get a little too hack & slash for my tastes, but they balance those out with releases like The Hall of the Rainbow Mage.
Green Ronin: From the beginning they've stood for quality and they're never afraid to "go there." The first product they released that really made me go "Wow!" was Legions of Hell. Since then they've followed that up with other excellent releases such as the The Book of the Righteous and Plot and Poison. Add to this the fact that they've added the Game Mechanics Imprint, and its evident that they are a solid publisher.
Fantasy Flight Games: What can I say about these guys? The fact that the majority of their books are hard cover and are actually good speaks volumes not only about their success but their committment to the community. Their crown jewel is the Midnight setting, which is very cool. Despite the number of settings I own and never use, I've been thinking of actually using this one.
Bastion Press: Yes, I do freelance for them, but the material is top notch. Torn Asunder and Airships are probably their best core D20 products to date, and Oathbound is very cool, in my humble opinion. I think people are really going to enjoy the stuff that made it into Oathbound: Arena. Of course lets not forget that Jim Butler is a veteran of the RPG industry, as are many of the people writing Bastion books.
Necromancer Games: As far as I can tell they're the only company producing a successful D20 line by offering a steady stream of printed adventures. And they're good "harkening back to the old days of D&D" adventures too. Sometimes they get a little too hack & slash for my tastes, but they balance those out with releases like The Hall of the Rainbow Mage.
Green Ronin: From the beginning they've stood for quality and they're never afraid to "go there." The first product they released that really made me go "Wow!" was Legions of Hell. Since then they've followed that up with other excellent releases such as the The Book of the Righteous and Plot and Poison. Add to this the fact that they've added the Game Mechanics Imprint, and its evident that they are a solid publisher.
Fantasy Flight Games: What can I say about these guys? The fact that the majority of their books are hard cover and are actually good speaks volumes not only about their success but their committment to the community. Their crown jewel is the Midnight setting, which is very cool. Despite the number of settings I own and never use, I've been thinking of actually using this one.
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