Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aberzanzorax" data-source="post: 5490779" data-attributes="member: 64209">In this thread, <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpg-industry-forum/302466-open-letter-wizards-coast-chris-dias.html" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpg-industry-forum/302466-open-letter-wizards-coast-chris-dias.html</a> , which has become more about analysis of the letter than about a brainstorm of possible reasons why WotC should or should not support third party publishers (3pps), I tried to come up with a few reasons why it MIGHT (again, it may not, or the boat may have sailed) but why it MIGHT be a good reason for WotC to support third party publishers (3pps). I'm looking to see what reasons people might have why it would, and this is important: Benefit WotC to support 3pps. I'm not looking for why it would benefit 3pps, as I think that's a given for most (it's usually nice to get support from a larger and more powerful company). Instead, I am looking for reasons why WotC should support 3pps (as well as hearing any disagreement with those reasons...but not for reasons why 3pps would benefit from WotC doing so.). EDIT: I'd also be interested in why WotC should NOT support 3pps or should withdraw support.  From that thread, here are three of my own possible reasons why they might support 3pps:  1. Goodwill. Many people don't like WotC right now, and PAIZO has a ton of goodwill. Sure, lots of people don't decide on what to buy based on goodwill, but some DO. Heck, there's not really that much I want from ENworld at the moment (EDIT: apart from the great discussion I already get for free, so would not gain by paying/END EDIT.), but I keep almost purchasing a membership based solely upon goodwill. (To Morrus, the main barrier is actually the monthly sub of $3...I'd more happily pay an annual fee of $36.) 2. Draw in people that want to play other worlds. If the producers of, say Oathbound, or Arcanis, or Iron Kingdoms thought that they could make money in 4e, they just might draw in some sales for themselves and more importantly draw in customers to switch to this newfangled 4e thingy. 3. Market perceptions. There has been (and will likely continue to be) debate about if PAIZO is getting to be as big of a market force as WotC. We've all seen the government carefully use the word "recession" and never "depression" because people's market perceptions affect spending. Further, "market leader" can mean much more than "total sales" in terms of volume or profit. Market leader can mean total assets (which includes goodwill and partnership). Market leader can mean that they are actually leading others; that are others following them. We are beginning to see WotC as no longer the market leader in that sense.  Market leader can also mean "power to control the market". I posit that, as things are now, should WotC change to 5e in two years that they will have very very few 3pps moving with them. This will likely affect the number of freelancers interested in learning the system as well as affect goodwill and customer interest in 3pp IP as "not synergistic" with their system. On the other hand, should, in two years, PAIZO release Second Edition Pathfinder, I would imagine quite a few of the PATHFINDER OGL companies will follow.</blockquote>

Verification