In defense of Open Gaming

[JohnNephew]

Re: Re: Re: In defense of Open Gaming

If the game has only sold a hundred thousand copies of it's core books, how many third-party supplements will sell?

I just want to make sure you understand, very very few RPGs have sold more than 100,000 copies. It would surprise me if more than about 10 RPGs (counting D&D as a single game in its various incarnations) have in the entire history of gaming...and most of those would have taken a decade or more to sell that many.

An RPG today that sells 10,000 copies is generally considered a major hit. If a small press core rulebook sells 2,000 copies, that's quite respectable.

(I don't know that this has any impact on your point, just that the numbers you're tossing out need to be adjusted by a rough order of magnitude. I'm not sure if the 3EPHB has broken the million mark in sales, for instance.)

 

[pennywiz]

I think the only companies that have gone under because of d20 are companies that began because of d20. It's a shame to see a company go under but at least they had a shot. Something that before d20 would probably not have happened.

 

[GrimJesta]

I am an avid fan of d20. I buy loads of WotC, Kenzer&Co, Mongoose Publishing and S&S books each month (dont ask me where my poor collge student self gets the cash; and dont ask me why I cant do my laundry or afford food either...lol ).

But I fail to see as to how this is affecting the gaming market. I still buy tons of White Wolf books, as well as hunting on Ebay for Earthdawn books. I still play the old Cthulhu and Runequest games, and every once in a blue start playing (and therefore buying) GURPS.

D&D has always outsold the other companies. How is d20 any different to what D&D was before the OGL? And other companies still we able to make their other systems sell. Again, why should this be any dofferent under the OGL?

Like it was mentioned before, I can name a few companies that were actually saved by d20!

-=grim=-

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Re: Re: In defense of Open Gaming

Who's buying only d20 stuff?

Me!

 

[Ranger REG]

Y'know, I wonder if they realize that some of the Decipher design crew run a D20 publishing operation on the side?

I doubt it. Although I did recall mentioning them about it, a looong time ago. But they're in denial.

Nowadays, I prefer to hang out in the TrekRPGNetwork message boards.

 

[Ranger REG]

I think the only companies that have gone under because of d20 are companies that began because of d20. It's a shame to see a company go under but at least they had a shot. Something that before d20 would probably not have happened.

Which d20 companies have gone under and what product have they published?

 

[pennywiz]

Which d20 companies have gone under and what product have they published?

Without naming names, or pointing to those and tried and may have given up before giving it a fair chance, check the page from any collection of d20 links. You'll find a few, if not a lot, who have given it a shot and not stuck around. It hardly serves anyone's purpose to point fingers at specific companies.

 

[Ranger REG]

You mean I have to do the research myself to confirm your conclusive statement without having given any fact?

You have got to be kidding me.

I will agree that some d20 companies will come out as the top publishing source of d20 products and some won't. But then, that's what everyone in the RPG industry are trying to do: put out the best products and market it so people will buy it.

 

[pennywiz]

You mean I have to do the research myself to confirm your conclusive statement without having given any fact?

You have got to be kidding me.

I will agree that some d20 companies will come out as the top publishing source of d20 products and some won't. But then, that's what everyone in the RPG industry are trying to do: put out the best products and market it so people will buy it.

If you're saying that to prove my statement that some d20 companies have already come and gone, I have to name them specifically, then I would rather decline mentioning them by name. It's one thing to acknowledge a situation, and another to rub noses in the papers.

 

[Ranger REG]

Fine. Leave me in the dark.

But until you present proof to your statement you made above, then I won't accept it. Now if you cannot because you wish to be polite, then maybe someone else will.