If I were a Big Game Company...

[Snoweel]

If I were a Big Game Company,

I wouldn't appreciate homebrewers. Homebrewers don't support product lines tied to campaign settings.

But I know what I'd do about that.

I'd develop a new campaign setting for 3e, since the old ones have 2nd edition, and even 1st edition baggage.

Then I'd pull off one of the most brilliant marketing ploys of all time.

And it would be aimed DIRECTLY AT HOMEBREWERS!!!!1!!

What I'd do is, I'd advertise a competition. I'd call it the 'Big Game Company Setting Search Competition' and I'd invite all the homebrewers to invest a lot of time and emotional energy into trying to pimp their homebrew to us.

"See your homebrew ON THE SHELVES!!!!!!1!!"

Because deep down, most homebrewers truly believe theirs is superior to all others. I know I do.

So all these homebrewers submit their settings, many of them expecting to win, but all of them INVESTED in the competition, all of them eager to see whose is the best.

And then we'd tell them "THIS IS THE WINNER!!! RIGHT HERE!!!

The one we prepared earlier.

And the homebrewers would be told, on a subconscious level, that their own setting had been tested against many, and found to be inferior to the winner.

Such is the nature of competition.

And then in the lead-up to the release of the setting, people would speculate on the "winning" setting, and why it was so good, and there would be many cases of sour grapes and even more cases of fanboyism, and a whole new generation of gamers who are crying out for a setting to call their own, because they feel that the older settings belong to an older generation.

And much interest would be generated over our new setting, and consequently, sales.

That's what I would do, if I were a Big Game Company.

 

[Snoweel]

And for the record, I think Eberron looks pretty cool, and I might buy it.

As for sour grapes, no, I didn't submit my homebrew. The internet (and WotC's market research division) has shown me that my gaming tastes are far too different from the norm for my setting to sell, and therefore win the competition.

Love,
Snoweel

 

[I'm A Banana]

Just seems like conspiracy theories to me. I've got no reason not to trust 'em, so I will.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Snoweel,

This seems like kind of a complicated and cruel plot, don't you think?

 

[Snoweel]

Keeper of Secrets,

This is just between you, me and everyone else, kay?

 

[Orblivia]

Snowy-

I think it is a good idea. It would tap into that inner vanity we all have when we modify something because 'it just doesnt work right'.
Plus they can do limited release kinda stuff to keep costs down or do what White Wolf did with Changeling, pawn it off on Arthaus.

Hmmmm.
By the way. Miss you you little anger monkey.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Eberron shot JFK and sold Elvis to the aliens.

 

[Henry]

If I were in charge, I'd realize that the two most successful D&D settings of all time were Homebrew settings, created by people who loved the game. I'd realize that fans love a central figure to gather around, who can tell them reams of minutiae about their favored setting, and who is on good working terms with me.

I'd find the best campaign setting I could from multiple homebrews, one that is different but not so far afield (as in the case of Dark Sun) that it drives away all but a small core group. I'd hire that talent and keep friendly with them, not not try to grossly contradict them in their minutiae, so as to make fans happy.

I'd rid myself of the troubles of upgrading the old to the new, because some of the new has no analog to the old.

Then I'd throw a lot of resources behind it, and gamble in the drawing power of a good campaign setting, made by fresh minds who love the game - and I'd trust them and the fans.

 

[Gez]

If I were a big game company...

I would devise a clever ploy to gain money without ever needing to work anymore. I would first create a good game with solid recognition, and then I would put it in some kind of custom-made open license so that anyone can create material for it, but in doing so, automatically agree to let me use what they've done.

Then I'll let other people create stuff, let this stuff gets massive playtesting, and once sorted out enough, I'll reprint it myself with errors corrected and with my Official Stamp on it, so that it would sell better than the original made by someone else.

 

[Henry]

Then I'll let other people create stuff, let this stuff gets massive playtesting, and once sorted out enough, I'll reprint it myself with errors corrected and with my Official Stamp on it, so that it would sell better than the original made by someone else.

Pretty cool idea. Wouldn't it work better with some kind of Open License, 'n stuff?