Is the AD&D 1E Revival here to stay?

[tx7321]

C&C, PPP, GG, OSRIC (about 5 publishers from my count) are putting out or promising to put out a good amount of 1E compatable material in the very near future. The pace of OSRIC products alone is remarkable. Yet, given the sales numbers (under 500) for each product, it seems a "revival" is still a long way off (if at all).

True, you have to start someplace, but do these sales numbers suggest a revival of 1E is under way, or are these a few old-time players from the late 70s who are getting nastalgic.

 

[diaglo]

old timer from the 70's here.

i'm not really interested in that new fangled edition.

OD&D(1974) is the only true game. All the other editions are just poor imitations of the real thing.

 

[Ian the Mad]

I wouldn't say that nostalgia and a revival are mutually exclusive terms. My personal criteria for reviving a game system (economically, at least) would be enough people buying the new stuff to keep the authors making new stuff. If nostalgia accomplishes this, then so be it.

 

[Henry]

A little bit of both, actually. I've known several individuals who have "evangelized" AD&D to new gamers, and there is a small movement of people who enjoy it. For the most part, I imagine the sales of such material is mostly to those who still use AD&D in their weekly gaming, and in all likelihood, these are people that never stopped using it.

I hope it does prosper, at least to the point of being a self-sustaining niche, because I do feel the need in general for a D&D that isn't as codified as 3E as an alternative.

 

[diaglo]

... because I do feel the need in general for a D&D that isn't as codified as 3E as an alternative.

just like Crothian i'll get you to convert one of these days.

 

[frankthedm]

There is enough cash in the 1E market to float a few companies. Not enough for a companie that has the bottom line as their driving goal, but maybe that is for the best.

I hope it does prosper, at least to the point of being a self-sustaining niche, because I do feel the need in general for a D&D that isn't as codified as 3E as an alternative.

Same here.

 

[Voadam]

C&C, PPP, GG, OSRIC

Castles and Crusades, Pied Piper Publishing, and OSRIC I recognize. What is GG?

 

[WayneLigon]

or are these a few old-time players from the late 70s who are getting nastalgic.

That one.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

True, you have to start someplace, but do these sales numbers suggest a revival of 1E is under way, or are these a few old-time players from the late 70s who are getting nastalgic.

I don't know about revival, but I think it just shows there is a decent number of players who get by fine with older editions, don't care about new books with shiny art, and will purchase materials that fit their style. Hell my group is currently playing The Fantasy Trip while on hiatus from my C&C game and apparently there is still new material being made for it. So there is a market for old school gaming. However IME most players of older editions are fine with the stuff they have and aren't really searching for new materials unless they happen to run across them.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Castles and Crusades, Pied Piper Publishing, and OSRIC I recognize. What is GG?

Goodman Games.