Has the release of d20 material slowed down?

[trancejeremy]

Can you remember the last time you were really excited about a d20 product? And then the product came through on the promise you thought it held?

While you probably meant that as a rhetorical question, the last product I was excited about was Legends of Excalibur. And it was better than I hoped.

So, like a month ago.

But in general, I would agree. Though I don't think it's the idea well that's the problem, so much the execution. Maybe I buy too many Mongoose products, but it seems like so many books are halfway done, rushed out.

 

[Ranger REG]

Some producers of crap have (thankfully) gone away, but the worst offender soldiers on. Meanwhile, companies that made good stuff (like Atlas) are leaving d20 behind.

Is this true? I mean is there a press release or announcement that they're ditching d20/OGL-based products?

 

[DaveMage]

Can you remember the last time you were really excited about a d20 product? And then the product came through on the promise you thought it held?

Yes. Tome of Horrors II.

But you make an excellent point. There have been many, many d20 products that have come out that when first announced sounded like awesome products, but then ended up being much less.

I know there are those who are skeptical, but I'm really hoping the World's Largest Dungeon justifies my anticipation for that product.

I'm also looking forward to Beyond Countless Doorways, and hope that, if it's successful, that we'll see similar adventures from the same group.

 

[Pramas]

Is this true? I mean is there a press release or announcement that they're ditching d20/OGL-based products?

I don't think there's been a press release, but the news came out at Origins. They said they were doing one more d20 book and then getting out.

 

[Aaron2]

Can you remember the last time you were really excited about a d20 product? And then the product came through on the promise you thought it held?

Redline ... Ok, its old but it got me jazzed about the whole Horizon line and I've been buying them up as quickly as I can. I just need to find Mechamorph.

This brings me to another point. The Horizon books don't use the d20 Modern rules despite some of them being modernish. I'm getting the feeling that d20 Modern is really hurting 3rd party d20 stuff. I haven't seen many d20M books (outside of PDFs) and I don't know how well they sell. There are many directions d20 could go but anything outside of fantasy has the d20M problem; if you make it d20M your market automatically shrinks (the number of people who own d20M is smaller than those that own D&D) and if you don't use d20M you run the risk of pissing off d20M fans, a large number of whom are your target audience.


Aaron

 

[mroberon1972]

Redline ... Ok, its old but it got me jazzed about the whole Horizon line and I've been buying them up as quickly as I can. I just need to find Mechamorph.

This brings me to another point. The Horizon books don't use the d20 Modern rules despite some of them being modernish. I'm getting the feeling that d20 Modern is really hurting 3rd party d20 stuff. I haven't seen many d20M books (outside of PDFs) and I don't know how well they sell. There are many directions d20 could go but anything outside of fantasy has the d20M problem; if you make it d20M your market automatically shrinks (the number of people who own d20M is smaller than those that own D&D) and if you don't use d20M you run the risk of pissing off d20M fans, a large number of whom are your target audience.


Aaron

So make them duel compatable? Minimal effort with how close they are...

 

[JoeGKushner]

I don't think there's been a press release, but the news came out at Origins. They said they were doing one more d20 book and then getting out.

In what month would that be? Or do you just mean pure d20 books like their Quintessential line? Or do you mean new material? Or do you just mean generic, all purpose d20 material? I doubt that they're going to give up on B5, Conan or Lone Wofl so soon but I've been wrong before.

 

[Crothian]

In other words, the idea well is starting to run a bit dry. Can you remember the last time you were really excited about a d20 product? And then the product came through on the promise you thought it held?

OGL Ancients
Medieval Player's Manual
Legends of Excaliber
R&R: Excaliber
Magical Society: Ecology and Culture

and I'm sure there are others.

 

[Crothian]

In what month would that be? Or do you just mean pure d20 books like their Quintessential line? Or do you mean new material? Or do you just mean generic, all purpose d20 material? I doubt that they're going to give up on B5, Conan or Lone Wofl so soon but I've been wrong before.

That's Mongoose...the company Pramas is talking about is Atlas

 

[johnsemlak]

I don't think there's been a press release, but the news came out at Origins. They said they were doing one more d20 book and then getting out.

That's a great shame. They've put out some great stuff; plus, I think some poeple may have been hoping for more support of hte Nyambe line.