D&D 4E Green Ronin's Pramas blogs on 4e or not 4e

[SteveC]

Hey now! GR did no such thing and I'd really appreciate it if no one starts running around saying we did!

Green Ronin has been a longtime supporter of RPGnow. We sold our PDFs there, exclusively, before we ever had our own PDF delivery on our website and we remained there exclusively even when other PDF delivery outfits tried to lure us away. We made no demands on anyone about anything, except when specifically ASKED for our opinions by RPGnow reps. (Our opinion on the RPGNow DriveThruRPG merger was not solicited. We were informed when that was a done deal.)

I just wanted to echo this and say that Green Ronin's PDF support has always been excellent. I picked up the PDF of True20 when it was in its infancy, and when the book finally launched I was very pleasantly surprised to receive a download for the full version. It was very classy, and I think it's indicative of GR's attitude towards their PDF customers.

With that said, I hope to be able to buy Green Ronin 4E PDF and print products, but I can certainly wait until January. Just make sure to give me some good stuff to buy in the meantime!

--Steve

 

[Zaruthustran]

First, I don't care what's out at launch. I'll need time to digest the new rules, and I won't be buying any supplements out of the gate except for maybe a WotC adventure to see how they're doing things.

I think you nailed it, there. The way to make money at launch is with adventures.

At launch, even experienced DMs will be newbies when it comes to 4E. They won't be able to immediately scope out custom adventures on the fly. I think it will be very tempting to just buy an adventure module where someone else has already balanced appropriate encounters, treasure, and pacing. After all, that's the fastest way to jump right in and start playing.

I think the other big opportunity is settings. The 4E rules don't contain a setting but do contain names for historical governments and certain locations: the deliberately vague "PoL setting". I think there's an opportunity for third parties to tie all those tidbits together with a full timeline and map, and try to seize the place as "default" 4E setting. Hmmm. The problem here is that OGL would have to let third parties use those proper names, which it probably won't.

Well, still, right now at launch there are no announced plans for any 4E settings to be available for purchase. FR4E doesn't come out until August. That's a two-month window for a third-party setting to build a foundation.

 

[Sitara]

@Chris Pramas: if you are indecisive, it would be best to just get the rules with everyone else (i.e. June) and then if you decide to publish under 4E, do so in january.

By the way, why is it that you think the WOTC environment is not always a conductive place to work? Politics, management pressure ($$$>Fun kinda thing) or something else?

 

[DaveMage]

The benefits of GR waiting are threefold in my opinion:

1) More time to evaluate and, if they are agreeable, master the rules (leading to better products)
2) No disruption to current 2008 product schedule & prior plans
3) Save $5,000!

Being "first" will generate some sales, but being "first" with crappy products that misinterpret the rules may leave a bad taste in people's mouths.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I think GR is well-positioned to hold off and join the market in Phase II due to their name recognition, but I also think that if GR were to jump into Phase I they could put out some quality work that would be as likely as anyone else to recoup the $5000. Of course, I don't know how the RPG market works in very great detail, but it seems plausible to me. I think there will be a 4E "mini-boom" not nearly as big as the initial d20 boom, but a significant jump up from current d20 sales, and as a result that $5000 could buy the chance to get into some big sales numbers. I'm glad my business doesn't rest on my ability to predict those numbers!

 

[Celebrim]

I think GR is the best publisher in the RPG business right now. I have more of thier d20 compatible stuff on my shelf than I have from any other publisher, including WotC.

I'm already strongly leaning away from 4e, but if GR doesn't go 4e, based on my past buying habits it would increase the chance that I buy nothing that is 4e compatible.

 

[glass]

Right now Green Ronin has four important lines: Mutants & Masterminds, Freeport, True20, and the upcoming A Song of Ice and Fire RPG.

Are you guys not involved with WFRP anymore? (That was you, wasn't it?)


glass.

 

[Azgulor]

Are you guys not involved with WFRP anymore? (That was you, wasn't it?)


glass.

I believe they develop the game for GW/BI but don't "own the license" so to speak. So it's not Green Ronin's line of products per se.

I may not be 100% on the mark there but I guess the bottom line is they don't own WFRP so GR doesn't count it amongst "their lines".

 

[Simon Marks]

WHFRP, and WH40kRPG are both Black Industries.

WHFRP was briefly published by Hogshead publishing (the 3rd ed in '95) but not any more.

*edit* Beaten to the post!

 

[Zaukrie]

Chris,

I've always enjoyed your company's work. I own quite a bit of it. I hope you do 4e products, as I'm likely to move my family and others that direction.