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

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

It's 1990 or 1991 and it is clone of basic D&D which was published the first time it was possible - after the fall of Iron curtain.

I meant the "Plus" version, I had the impression that came later?

Fair enough, but the problem is actually in the fact, Slovakia has no D&D network. Most of attempts to build one were derailed (usually via indie gamers) and the rest of the people visits our site. I have friends in Slovakia who desperately want to play D&D but the lack of community prevent them from find each other...

Interesting. So particularly gamers outside of America might turn out to be interested in the Game Table?

I wonder if WotC is spending any resources and thoughts on globalizing the game table, because that sure could be an extra benefit.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Interesting. So particularly gamers outside of America might turn out to be interested in the Game Table?

I really hope so - would be really cool, it's hard to find a new gaming group if you're not very stationary. I'd totally love finally getting the Game Table, being able to play or DM in a German group while being in the UK (sometimes, you just want to do stuff in your native language).

Cheers, LT.

 

[Kalinski]

[Edit: I have also been told that Dzikie Pola is very popular in Poland, possibly moreso than D&D.]

Not at all. Sure, it has some players but not nearly as many as D&D, although they are very active what can't be said about D&D players.
As far as I know, most popular systems in Poland are WFRP2, D&D and Neuroshima (polish, post-apocaliptic game) and some others (WoD, Earthdown, CoC) used to be rather popular few years ago. D&D is usualy played by younger players and is generaly considered to be worse game that is only about killing monsters and taking their stuff
4th edition has not been translated into polish yet, and chances for having it published within a year are pretty low. We just got 3.5 core books and no other 3.5 books will be published here.

 

[Alnag]

I meant the "Plus" version, I had the impression that came later?

Right. That's just few years old. 3 years? "Plus" version is strange mixture of everything and struggle its own problems with popularity, because although it should be superior to the "basic Draci doupe" it is overcomplex and unloved.

One of the problems with "Plus" is that each class has its own ruleset (and its own book) which is so ridiculous its unbelievable.

 

[Roman]

Hey, that bonus chart idea looks very much like Torg - how old is the game? (If it plays anything like Torg, you should really try it )

The game is a bout 3-years old. I hadn't know about Torg, before you mentioned it, but looking it up on Wikipedia, the chart idea does look similar, so maybe the game is not quite as innovative as I thought and actually copied the idea from Torg. Still, the other aspects of the game seem very different from how Torg was presented on Wikipedia.

Right. That's just few years old. 3 years? "Plus" version is strange mixture of everything and struggle its own problems with popularity, because although it should be superior to the "basic Draci doupe" it is overcomplex and unloved.

One of the problems with "Plus" is that each class has its own ruleset (and its own book) which is so ridiculous its unbelievable.

Actually, it's 3 'class-rulebooks' each containing two classes - there are six classes in total. Each class has its own rules to the extent that say a Wizard in D&D 3.5E has his own rules, but they all use the same underlying mechanics. It is indeed weird that 'Player's Handbook' contains the ruleset, yet the class rules are contained in separate rulebooks, but it is still the case that the full set of all rulebooks will probably set you back less than the three D&D core rulebooks and this is despite the weak U.S. dollar at the moment - it was definitely true three years ago when the game was released and the dollar was much stronger.

I personally like the "Plus" system - at least in theory - I have not yet had a chance to DM it - my two groups want to continue with the ongoing 3.5E/Pathfinder campaigns and to be honest I like D&D and don't really feel the need to switch or to learn an entirely new ruleset. Still, the system seems very elegant to me.

 

[Roman]

It's 1990 or 1991 and it is clone of basic D&D which was published the first time it was possible - after the fall of Iron curtain.

That sounds a bit resentful. Yes, it is a clone in as much as taking a similar name (Yay, let's have a two word name where both words start with "D") and also due to the use of a similar fantasy genre/millieu. Than again, D&D is the grandfather of all modern RPGs (where 'modern' stands for new, rather than for the setting period), so all RPGs can be said to be inspired by D&D. Mechanically-speaking it is reasonably different from D&D, see my post about its combat mechanics, for an example.

The honor or Draci doupe be the nr. 1 system is solely based on the fact it is the only game anyone who doesn't speak english (which is most of the younger population) can buy and play.

Again, that sounds just a tad resentful. I think it's a good game in and of itself. I agree that the language issue gives Draci Doupe a large boost, but even if D&D were translated into Czech or Slovak, I suspect it would remain the dominant player in the market. After all, it was the first to the market in the former Czechoslovakia, so it established the largest player network and tradition, thus securing its dominance. Why do you think D&D became dominant in the U.S.? I would say the reason is exactly the same - it was the first to the market... and it is actually a good game.

Personally, I prefer D&D and no longer play Draci Doupe (I haven't for many, many years now), but I think Draci Doupe is a decent game too.

 

[Alnag]

That sounds a bit resentful. Yes, it is a clone in as much as taking a similar name (Yay, let's have a two word name where both words start with "D") and also due to the use of a similar fantasy genre/millieu.

Actually it is much more than that. I heard a story from the source very near to original authors (although not directly from them) how the were abroad and wanted to buy AD&D book yet they have not enought money so they bought some older version of Basic D&D instead. The mechanics and elements of Basic D&D and Draci doupe are not just similar fantasy genre. They are cloned with just few tweaks and additions - alchemist class etc.

Again, that sounds just a tad resentful. I think it's a good game in and of itself. I agree that the language issue gives Draci Doupe a large boost, but even if D&D were translated into Czech or Slovak, I suspect it would remain the dominant player in the market. After all, it was the first to the market in the former Czechoslovakia, so it established the largest player network and tradition, thus securing its dominance. Why do you think D&D became dominant in the U.S.? I would say the reason is exactly the same - it was the first to the market... and it is actually a good game.

I am not resentful, I just have informed opinion. If the game would be any good it would outself its older and simpler brother - Draci doupe. It has not happened. Draci doupe Plus is obivously a product of very disconnected team and the product is obviously disconnected as well. The classes are unbalanced and the system needed 3 or maybe 4 revision in one year even if the development take like a decade...

I don't think that D&D dominance can be explained by simply being the first. Network and brand is important but not that much important IMO.

 

[Shadowsong666]

I meant the "Plus" version, I had the impression that came later?


Interesting. So particularly gamers outside of America might turn out to be interested in the Game Table?

I wonder if WotC is spending any resources and thoughts on globalizing the game table, because that sure could be an extra benefit.

I really look out for the game table cause it allows you to play with people who simply live to far away or have not the time to attend the game locally. Combined with a voice software like teamspeak you can play the whole game locally with dice and the poor guy around the world will need to roll in game and the DM adjusts the output for him so that he knows whats going on.

I don't need the game table for a online game but as a tool to develop a better experience at the table. Rolling real dice just is a part of DnD and i don't want to miss it. If i want to play a diceless game i just attend our local Marvel game.