How to handle my Campaign Setting

[dmccoy1693]

If you release it system neutral, you can also come out with an OSRIC book, a RuneQuest book and so on. Hell, you might even be able to talk to West End Games about making a d6 book. System neutral has certain advantages: players that just want the setting don't have to buy the crunch (considering they shouldn't know the capabilities of those they never met or heard of), homebrew gamers/DIY DMs aren't buying anything they don't need, and world customization based upon system is easier. On the otherhand, if you design it with to many systems in mind, then it can loose the system specific flavor (the grittiness of MRQ, the heroic nature of d20, cinematic appeal of d6, etc), it might be largely ignored. So I'd be careful in choosing which systems you choose to make it for.

 

[dren]

3.X is a lame duck, wait and release it as 4E. The players interested in 4E will buy the new setting, and some who may be cautious about 4E may be intrigued and buy it as well.

 

[kensanata]

So, if I'm getting you right you suggest releasing Base Setting (fluff), then follow up with "Base Setting - d20 3.5E", "Base Setting - d20 4E", "Base Setting - True20", etc?

Well, I'd make sure not to aggravate customers. What I'd do, therefore, is sell the fluff-only book and offer the rule conversions as free downloads.

 

[Sun Knight]

I say neither. Use True20.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Release it as 4E. The biggest chunk of a campaign setting is non-crunch anyway. You'd probably do better to publish a "3E adaptation booklet" later, converting the crunchy bits to 3E if you percieve a demand for it.

While resistance to 4E clearly exists don't be misled by the fact that opposition is VOCAL on web forums. Don't kid yourself - the majority of players WILL be moving to 4E.

 

[Desdichado]

Do you think the customer base would be okay with "I have to buy the setting, AND buy this other book to tell me how it acts within X system??"

That's what Green Ronin is counting on.

Then again, they're Green Ronin, and you're not. And this is Freeport, and your setting isn't. They may be able to do stuff like that because of brand equity they've built up over the years that wouldn't work for you. :shrug:

What's your ratio (roughly) of fluff to crunch here anyway? Most settings don't have tons of crunch in them; maybe you could just release the setting book and have various crunch web enhancements or something for various systems. Have a 3.5 web enhancement now, release a 4e one when the 4e SRD is available, use the True20 SRD, etc. If your setting is relatively high on crunch, of course, that becomes less attractive as an option.

 

[Turanil]

Do you think the customer base would be okay with "I have to buy the setting, AND buy this other book to tell me how it acts within X system??"

I don't play 3.5, but if I still were playing it, I would have everything I want with all the books already released by WotC and other publishers. In fact, a setting book being filled with another set of game mechanics (variant of 3.5) would repel me. So, I would be interested in the setting only if it was without game mechanics. But then, if the seting is really good, I could be intrested in purchasing a specific rules supplement.

 

[TerraDave]

Do it 4.0.

(unless 4ed is a disaster, which is not looking likely) 4th ed is actually doing you a favor by giving you an edge over all that vast amount of 3rd ed stuff out there. It is not a big edge, and it will be fleeting, but if well timed you might be able to benefit from it.

 

[Flynn]

I suggested that you go with a 4E solution. I like the idea of a fluff master book and separate system books, but to be honest, you'll do better if you write it for one system. Consider peeling off the 3E/v3.5 stuff into a separate PDF for sale as a v3.5 conversion document.

Hope This Helps,
Flynn