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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jdrakeh" data-source="post: 4667059" data-attributes="member: 13892">Well, first off, I don't think that "generic" is the same thing as "non-system specific" — so, let's dispense with that comparison right off. That said, you seem to be overlooking a lot of other factors where the popularity of the Catalyst line is concerned.First, the Catalyst line is largely out of print (it has been for years), has always been underadvertised (it still is today), and for years, was only available from Flying Buffalo directly (one or two other places now act as dedicated distributors). These three have things kept the Catalyst line out of the spotlight for years. Seeing as how it still suffers from comparatively arcane distribution and a near total lack of advertising, I don't see the line gaining in popularity again any time soon. Second, I think another big factor that you're overlooking is that none of the setting books in the Catalyst line are dedicated to detailing a specific fantasy setting in totality, like most setting books for RPGs are. Frex, there is no Catalyst book dedicated to detailing Specific World X in depth. The City Books, for example, only describe generic quarters of a larger city that is itself not associated with any specific setting. Green Ronin published similar products thick with game mechanics that didn't seem to blow up in the consumer market, either, FWIW. The Lejentia books focus on only a tiny portion of a much larger world and do nothing to address the rest of that world. Further, the portion of the world that is discussed is sparingly discussed at best, with most of the pages being dedicated to describing characters from an underground comic book that has been OOP for years. In short, these books are lacking the kind of non-system specific content that people will pay for and are paying for in modern non-system-specifc supplements. FWIW, this is the difference between "generic" and "non-system specific" with regard to RPG settings. Finally, you have to consider that the Catalyst books were released more than a decade ago (almost two decades ago). This was a time when there was little or no demand for non-system specific material. If you want to understand the popularity of non-system specific products, I think what you need to do is focus on modern products that are in print, well advertised, and easy to obtain — rather than holding up a poorly advertised, rarely in print, difficult to obtain line of generic supplements that is nearly two decades old as some kind of proof that there is no market for non-system specific supplements today.</blockquote>

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