Is WoTC even relevant to you anymore?

[jonathan swift]

Not really. My latest RPG purchases have been Zorcerer of Zo, Exalted 2nd Edition, Spirit of the Century, Esoterrorists, Savage Worlds, and Children of the Horned Rat for WHFRP.

And the next thing I buy is either going to be Soloman Kane or Witch Hunter.

WotC just isn't hitting my gaming sweet spot these days.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I buy FR setting stuff and adventures. I buy the occasional rules sourcebook, but that's more for completeness of my D&D collection than anything. I haven't actually used a WOTC product that wasn't a FR sourcebook, adventure, or core rulebook in ages (which probably means I am supporting a poor business model by buying products I neither need nor use).

I do buy some Paizo stuff, and should buy more third-party adventures than I do, but I've started shifting that money to other hobbies.

 

[Bacris]

That would really suck if you ran your own publishing company and your DM didn't even allow you to use that in his game.

I once played under a DM that was pure "WotC-only" - and yes, it did suck, because he had these blinders on to any possible other options

And since learning about all these new-fangled 3rd party pubilshers - mostly by discovering Malhavoc's Mindscapes way back when I was playing a 3.0 psion (/wards off evil) - I really have to say that I'm glad I play with more open-minded DMs now.

But WotC still puts out some good stuff that I'll still purchase Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave was my most recent - I'll likely be picking up the sequel to that this month, and am getting MM5 for my DM as a birthday present, as well.

 

[wedgeski]

I buy all sorts of stuff from all sorts of publishers, including choice Wizards output and a few mini's here and there. I really enjoy their podcasts... I think the articles on the D&D site pose a lot of good questions... I *like* the guys that work for them... and am pretty excited to see what's going to happen with the DI and Gleemax. Wizards are very relevant to my game, and extremely relevant to the industry. Anyone with even a passing interest in d20 and the future of the game can't really afford to just forget they exist.

 

[Eytan Bernstein]

That would really suck if you ran your own publishing company and your DM didn't even allow you to use that in his game.

Happens to me all the time LOL.

 

[Anti-Sean]

I think I've mostly shaken my addiction to their minis (thanks to a lack of storage in a small apartment more than anything else), but I still need regular hits off of the crackpipe they call 'Eberron' if I want to avoid those nasty withdrawal symptoms.

Anyone want to buy this VCR I found for five bucks? I need another fix! *twitches*

 

[DaveMage]

I still have lots-o-love for WotC.

MM5 was very cool, and I love the dungeon tiles...

 

[Dragon Snack]

I'll say yes, since I'm playing D&D and a new SWSE game. Quite honestly though, I haven't been enthusiastic about their releases lately.

Looking at my D&D Product list, the Dungeon Tiles have been my most recent purchases (all of them, after seeing them in use from my Savage Worlds GM). PHBII and MMIV were Christmas presents and I won Dragonsdown Grotto at GenCon last year (while I've used it, I wasn't impressed). That makes Red Hand of Doom and Races of the Dragon my 'latest'* book purchases (both released over a year and a half ago). I haven't been keeping up on my DDM purchases either (WotDQ being my last case purchases).

I do plan on picking up the Magic Item Compendium, but don't have a burning desire for it just yet. If the SW game looks like it's going to last, I'll pick up SWSE eventually.

*I recently picked up Sandstorm and Races of the Wild for half off, including shipping, however that's only because I passed on them when they first came out.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

I'm sure you'll find plenty of WOTC haters on this board. Was this supposed to be a discussion, or a gathering of yes-men?

Hah hah hah...

I say it was supposed to be both.

PS: I like WotC stuff.

 

[dragonlordofpoondari]

Yes, WotC is relevant to me. I always try to support Necromancer Games, Goodman Games, Green Ronin, and Paizo FIRST since they generally have smaller print runs and actually need the support a little more. Smaller print runs mean that their product is harder to find once it goes OOP. WotC books will always be easy to find (and reasonably priced) even years after its been published, so buying WotC is less of a priority for me. This works out well since I can check out reviews first (thank you ENWorld) and be more selective.

Believe me, I'd be happy to write off WotC if their product was shoddy (especially after they killed Dragon and Dungeon), but about half of what they make seems to be pure gold. I'm just glad I'm not a completist. For example, I love the Monster Manuals, Draconomicon, Libris Mortis, Lords of Madness, DMG II, PHB II, Spell Compendium, Magic Item Compendium, Slaughterguarde, Ravenloft, and Red Hand of Doom. Those titles are wonderful! I plan to purchase the Forgotten Realms trilogy, Dungeonscape, and their books on Demons and Devils since they sound like the quality. I also have tons of DDMs, but generally prefer Reaper's sculpts.

Plus, WotC recruits writers from these smaller companies. They often borrow their ideas too, and incorporate the best. WotC must be as relevant as these other companies, since they all are kind of in this mess together, you know?