Is it time for Free RPG Day?

[Glyfair]

Thanks to Matt Forbeck for this info.

Free Comic Book Day has been very successful with bringing attention and interest to comic books. Aldo Ghiozzi has come up with the idea for Free RPG Day.

Goodman Games & Troll Lord games are already on board. Can this get off the ground?

 

[Agamon]

Good idea, but WotC needs to be on board for it to be successful, I think. WW would help, too.

 

[Glyfair]

I'm not so sure. Sure, WotC and White Wolf would help it immensely. However, the idea is to get people to try RPGs (with quick start rules and adventures). This is a group that probably wouldn't be horribly influenced by their participating. Yes, the D&D brand is the best known brand, but that has negative connotations as well.

This could be a feed for companies into other RPGs. Admittedly, the two companies participating both have strong D&D ties.

 

[Agamon]

I dunno. If Marvel and DC weren't part of Free Comic Day, I don't think it would have had the success it's had. WotC would help it get off the ground, anyway. But then this might interfere with D&D Day in their minds, too. Hard to say.

 

[Glyfair]

If Marvel and DC weren't part of Free Comic Day, I don't think it would have had the success it's had.

Perhaps, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't have been a success.

In fact, it's possible it would have been more successful, at least in the sense of attracting new regular comic book purchasers. More people turned off by the superhero genre might be intrigued and find a niche comic they'd stay with long term. Sure, it may not be the most likely scenario, but it's something to consider.

IMO, if this is successful, it's very likely that it will be something that grows. This year it starts with a few publishers. Then next year more join the crowd. The year after that WotC & White Wolf decide that can't afford not to a have a presence.

 

[arscott]

Hmm... Apparently Goodman Games and Troll Lord Games have signed up for this.

If they're the front runners, then I don't see this going very well. First edition nostalgia sells to the veterans, but it's not going to attract brand-new gamers.

 

[Umbran]

Free Comic Book Day has been very successful with bringing attention and interest to comic books. Aldo Ghiozzi has come up with the idea for Free RPG Day.

Goodman Games & Troll Lord games are already on board. Can this get off the ground?

More to the point, do you want it to? Is it wise for these companies to spend their hard-earned money on such a thing.

Generally speaking, using a marketign ploy designed for a thoroughly different market isn't much of a help. Free Comic Book Day works because comic books are small, relatively cheap (in production and distribution), and easy for one person to pick up and get into quickly. None of those things holds for RPGs - even so called "quick start" ones.

RPGs need their own collective marketing ploy, that plays to their own strengths, rather than a ploy that plays to some completely different product. Heck, I think simply getting together (as the "RPG Publisher's Association", or somesuch) and pooling money for the occasional advertisement in a well-chosen national magazine with good distribution would be more effective. A "Got Milk?" style campaign would probably be more cost effective than a free game day.

 

[philreed]

. . . relatively cheap (in production and distribution),

How much do you think it costs a company for the pencils, inks, colors, lettering, writing, and editing of a single comic?

 

[theredrobedwizard]

Good idea, but lacking in big names. Heck, Malhavok or Green Ronin jumping on board would have *far* more weight with me than Troll Lord or Goodman Games. Don't get me wrong, DCC have been really good, but they just feel... amiss.

WotC, White Wolf, Malhavok, and/or Green Ronin getting on board with this would help out immensely.

-TRRW

 

[Glyfair]

First edition nostalgia sells to the veterans, but it's not going to attract brand-new gamers.

Are you saying that first edition nostalgia is the only reason to buy adventures from Goodman & Troll Lord?