[FDP] The Dragon's Breath #2 -- More About Counters!

[FDP Mike]

The second installment of FDP's new weekly article feature is available on our web site.

In The Dragon's Breath #2, Fiery James continues his discussion of the wonderful world of producing counters at FDP. Curious about how "The Counter Guys" do it? Come on by and find out!

If you have questions and/or comments for James, be sure to head over to our Dragon's Breath forum.

Thanks!


Take care,
Mike

 

[Staffan]

I'm not subscribed to your boards, so I'll make a small comment/suggestion here.

I don't know how realistic this wish is, but I'd absolutely love it if you guys could make a deal with WOTC to produce counter packs for their adventures - OK, maybe not the small ones like Sunless Citadel, but for bigger ones like Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. Of course, the viability would depend on how much WOTC would charge you for using the name of their adventure, but it might be worth checking.

 

[FDP Mike]

I don't know how realistic this wish is, but I'd absolutely love it if you guys could make a deal with WOTC to produce counter packs for their adventures - OK, maybe not the small ones like Sunless Citadel, but for bigger ones like Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil. Of course, the viability would depend on how much WOTC would charge you for using the name of their adventure, but it might be worth checking.

Realistic? I mean, we're talking about RGPs here!

While we completely understand your wish, Staffan, the possibility of this situation ever seeing fruition is pretty remote at best . . . particularly now that WotC plans on putting out a line of pre-painted plastic miniatures (which, by the way, I'll likely check out myself ). I imagine that the "licensing" fee(s) would be beyond our (current) means, and I cannot see why WotC wouldn't do such a product on its own.

That being said, however, I'm betting that with all our counter products combined, you could easily put together enough for an adventure such as RttToEE. Some time has passed since I read that adventure, but FDP's counter products certainly provide you with gnolls, a plethora of NPC "personalities," cultists, a bajillion undead, nearly every monster in the Monster Ma . . . uh, SRD (yeah, that's the ticket!), and so forth. The name recognition and product tie-in with WotC would be incredible, no doubt, but by now that seems relatively unnecessary.

Besides, I think that we enjoy hooking up with other 3rd-party publishers such as Green Ronin, Necromancer Games, and (soon) Malhavoc Press for product tie-ins with our counters.

Thanks for the comment!


Take care,
Mike

 

[Staffan]

While we completely understand your wish, Staffan, the possibility of this situation ever seeing fruition is pretty remote at best . . . particularly now that WotC plans on putting out a line of pre-painted plastic miniatures (which, by the way, I'll likely check out myself ). I imagine that the "licensing" fee(s) would be beyond our (current) means, and I cannot see why WotC wouldn't do such a product on its own.

Yeah, I figured that the licencing fees would be the thing that would make or break the possibility of making tailored counter packs... though one never knows unless one asks

That being said, however, I'm betting that with all our counter products combined, you could easily put together enough for an adventure such as RttToEE.

Yes, of course (well, certain monsters in the adventure aren't in the SRD, like grell). It's just that it would be incredibly cool to have a counter pack that's specifically tailored to the adventure. Too bad it likely won't work

 

[Darke]

So, will there be any new Counter Packs this year other than the one (or more?) for Arcana Unearthed?

And if, can you tell us something about them? (themes?)

das Darke

 

[FDP Mike]

So, will there be any new Counter Packs this year other than the one (or more?) for Arcana Unearthed?

And if, can you tell us something about them? (themes?)

Yes, we are definitely releasing other counter products!

Here's a list with some brief notes:

• Counter Collection III: Modern: This one was released in December. It's great for any "modern" era d20 game, not just strictly d20M. You can see some sample pics on the FDP home page.
  
• Counter Pack: Dragons: The title speaks for itself. It's got dragons of all colours and sizes, plus some minions thrown in. The scheduled release is this month.
  
• Counter Collection II: Revised & Revisted: We are re-releasing this one, but with an added page of counters. You should see it in March.
  
• Counter Pack IV: Occult Horrors & Arcane Investigators: This one's set to come out in April. It focusses upon the "eldritch horror" genre. As someone posted on our boards, "Sounds like a pack for my Hellboy games!" The scheduled release is for April.
  
• Counter Collection IV: Diamond Throne: This one is the tie-in product with Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed and Diamond Throne books. It's actually a full collection: i.e., 8.5 x 11" counter sheets, hundreds of counters. Release target is July (GenCon!).
  
• Counter Pack V: Space Adventures: Sci-fi and space opera, here we come! You should see this one in October.

At this point, no other counter products are planned for 2003, though we always like to hear suggestions, particularly for the counter packs. Again, drop by the counters forum at the FDP boards and let us know what you might want to see.

I hope this helps out! And thanks for asking.


Take care,
Mike

 

[CrazyMage]

Are you guys bringing Claudio to Gencon again? It was a pleasure to meet the man behind these cool counters.

 

[FDP Mike]

Are you guys bringing Claudio to Gencon again? It was a pleasure to meet the man behind these cool counters.

The last we heard, he certainly intended on coming to GenCon this year.

It's a long ride on his bicycle, mind you, so I imagine that he'll be leaving in the next few days. (Er, inside FDP humour . . . sorry! )

We certainly hope that he can make it!


Take care,
Mike