German publisher of D&D 4E won't renew contract

[Betote]

That may be the one I'm thinking of. Is that the one with lurid Satanic witchcraft in it?

Yes, it is

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Since I haven't seen anyone mentioning it and I thought it might be of interest in light of some of the recent news regarding WotC and Hasbro:

The German publisher for D&D 4E (Feder & Schwert) has announced to allow their contract with Hasbro to expire on December 31st, 2008 (source). They want to concentrate on translations of their novel lines, the Warhammer rpg, and 'new projects' instead.

A representative of 'Feder & Schwert' elaborated somewhat on this (source):
- This means that after publishing the translated versions of the three Core books they'll be allowed to sell their D&D publications until March 31st, 2009.
- It was a very short-term decision. It's worth noting that translations for D&D 4E supplements had already begun.
- It seems that Hasbro has no plans regarding the future of German D&D products beyond that, at this time.

Another item worth noting is that I was made aware of this by a newsletter from Dragonworld, an (online) rpg/boardgame shop. They also mentioned that they were having problems with the current WotC sales and distribution department responsible for Europe (e.g. having to make making binding preorders 8 months in advance to find that the purchase price had gone up).

Taken together, these are dire news for D&D 4E here in Germany. Imho, this practically guarantees that except for the (few) hardcore 4E fans who've been buying the English books anyway, D&D is dead over here.

For me personally, it probably means, I'm never going to play 4E, unless some other German publisher is willing to put up with Hasbro's terms. Sad news, indeed, since I was really looking forward to switching after finishing my 3E campaign.

I've heard from the decision from Feder & Schwert on this board before, IIRC. I also get the Dragonworld newsletter.

As I understood, Dragonworld will still have the non-translated books available, they are just switching their supplier. Which is good news for me.

Feder & Schwert... Well, I never got into the "German" D&D books. The first books took just too long to translate, and if the translation is sub-par anyway, and the costs are higher, there is really no point for me.

Yet I still know a lot of few D&D players in Germany. Not all of them switching to 4E, but the more notable things seems to be that most use English versions. I suppose it's not just a matter of Hasbro or WotC terms for publishers, it's just that not enough people bother to wait for the translations to justify the expenses from any German publisher. Now, maybe it would change if they would get it done faster and better, but the chances of this happening are slim, aren't they?

Maybe I should visit the DnDGate forum I "discovered" recently what fellow Germans think on this matter.

 

[Olli]

i surfed a little on the F&S site and found this:

http://www.feder-und-schwert.com/downloads/FSWebKatalog1HJ09.pdf

this is from october.

it looks like they planned to publish translations of quite a few things. Makes me wonder if wotc choose to not renew the license??

btw, i don´t think it matters, because i think in germany there is a great bias toward english rulebooks. They are cheaper, earlier available and have the correct rules (there come quite a few memories of wrong translated rules).

 

[Jhaelen]

Feder & Schwert... Well, I never got into the "German" D&D books. The first books took just too long to translate, and if the translation is sub-par anyway, and the costs are higher, there is really no point for me.

Well, I've preferred the 'original' rules since AD&D 1E. Now 1E had a really bad translation. It seemed pretty obvious that the translators didn't realize they were translating a game since they sometimes chose different translations for defined terms. It's worth noting that AD&D was my main incentive back then to learn English

So, by comparison the Feder & Schwert translations were quite good. There's also no way to avoid the German versions to be more expensive - that's a function of the much lower number of copies printed. How many Germans do you know reading English novels?

You can get them for half the price or less than the translated novels, but I don't know anyone (except myself) who prefers reading the originals.

Most D&D players I know, gladly payed the higher price for a German version of the books. They also had the advantage that they already included all known errata.

The one thing I'd criticize is the time it took them to translate the books. I've been pleasantly surprised they've managed to translate the 4E Core books this year rather than over the course of about two years... Imho, they should follow the example of computer games: Release the nationalized rpg books simultaneously across the world.

Yet I still know a lot of few D&D players in Germany. Not all of them switching to 4E, but the more notable things seems to be that most use English versions. I suppose it's not just a matter of Hasbro or WotC terms for publishers, it's just that not enough people bother to wait for the translations to justify the expenses from any German publisher. Now, maybe it would change if they would get it done faster and better, but the chances of this happening are slim, aren't they?

I agree that everyone who already played and enjoyed D&D and happens to have no problems reading and understanding the English books will just (continue to) buy them.

But what about new players? I don't see D&D attracting any new players in Germany if there's no German version of the game available.

As others have mentioned in this thread, imho, DSA is probably still the most relevant rpg system here in Germany. While the ruleset lacks the elegance and polish of D&D's rules, the setting is extremely well developed. I also think it caters better to German preferences. It really has a different focus than D&D, I guess it's more simulationist and less gamist.

I don't believe that a rpg system that's only available in English could ever hope to compete.
Well, I guess it'll be good for the Warhammer RPG, which will continue to be available in German and fits the same niche as D&D.

 

[Jadeite]

There'll also be the German translation of Pathfinder bei Ulisses Spiele.

 

[Oldtimer]

Now 1E had a really bad translation.

That would have been FSV, right? I still curse that name in my darkest dreams.

 

[Keefe the Thief]

There'll also be the German translation of Pathfinder bei Ulisses Spiele.

And a translation of Anima. It´ll be really interesting to see how those will do. I love what Ulisses is doing with DSA, but frankly, sometimes i find their choice of RPGs to develop further a little odd. Trying to establish Pathfinder when even D&D is a hard sell? Time will tell.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

But what about new players? I don't see D&D attracting any new players in Germany if there's no German version of the game available.

I think thanks to Das Schwarze Auge and Shadowrun, D&D in Germany doesn't have the role of being the introduction to Roleplaying Games. Maybe it would be better for D&D if it was, but can it even hope to get there? How many people pick up RPG without an existing group? And how much more likely is it that this group plays DSA instead of D&D. And if it is playing D&D, don't you think the players will teach the new ones the rules and some English, if necessary?

As others have mentioned in this thread, imho, DSA is probably still the most relevant rpg system here in Germany. While the ruleset lacks the elegance and polish of D&D's rules, the setting is extremely well developed. I also think it caters better to German preferences. It really has a different focus than D&D, I guess it's more simulationist and less gamist.

Well, if you are right, and you probably are, the only way to D&D (4 or any other edition) to be succesful in Germany would require it being a different game then the one I like.

I don't believe that a rpg system that's only available in English could ever hope to compete.
Well, I guess it'll be good for the Warhammer RPG, which will continue to be available in German and fits the same niche as D&D.

As long as it keeps being translated, probably. Warhammer might also benefit from its pseudo-German setting. (Schwangergasse... Professor Vierstein... Hehe)

 

[Thanael]

I mentioned it offhand a few days ago in another thread, but I don't think anyone picked up on it. Or they all ignored me... *sniff sniff*

Waitaminute... Shemmy, are you german?

 

[WhatGravitas]

Waitaminute... Shemmy, are you german?

I am surprised how many fellow Germans can pop up on ENWorld, all out of a sudden... just to vanish again! Well, except for Mustrum, of course.

But AFAIK, Shemmy isn't German.

Cheers, LT.