Is WOTC headed for a TSR-ending? :/

[mxyzplk]

Hmm, most of the reasons here that WotC won't go the way of TSR (their TCGs) aren't real comforting given that the more likely scenario is that they decide to give up on RPGs and just use D&D as a brand to sell movies, Heroscape, sneakers, computer games, and sody pop.

 

[mac1504]

The sky fell over a year ago. Now we're all drowning in sky pieces.

Also, the world is going to end in 2012, but humanity will survive because the government has made a deal with the gray aliens (who are causing global warming, BTW) to transport us all to Earth 2, where we'll all live under a socialist regime ruled by atheist lizard people.

Get your catastrophes straight, for Pete's sake!

I, for one, welcome our non-god fearing lizard overlords.

 

[Mouseferatu]

'There's a problem with the printer'? Can someone let me in on the cult reference?

When TSR's business had tanked so badly that they couldn't afford to pay their printing service--not just for current projects, but past ones that were still in arrears--"problems with the printer" was the excuse company management gave to the fans for why promised books weren't appearing on shelves.

 

[Zelligars Apprentice]

This. This is just AWESOME!

Here, have a cookie (and by cookie, I mean XP).

I just tossed a dollar in for the $170M lottery. If the stars align and I win while DnD goes up for sale, I will purchase it and promise to hire diaglo as lead designer. His hand chosen staff will be nicknamed the 'Cultists of ODD' as an ironic nod to the most recent Wilderlands of High Fantasy box set.

Hmmm... and Frank Mentzer, Rob Kuntz, Tim Kask, and Jim Ward will also be brought in as part of the R&D team. Their motto will not be Work Hard, Play Hard but will be instead modified to Work Hard, Nap Long.

Nicolous Logue and Wolfgang Bauer can be in charge of adventure creations, though kept in a large cell and watched closely as they are not quite right in the head. James Jacobs would be assigned their guard and beat them back when required by a replica built to look like the Rod of Seven Parts. Their books will come with a warning label "Warning: Do Not Read Before Going To Bed Unless Accompanied By A Nightlight".

Ed Greenwood and the remnants of Judges Guild will head Campaign World Development. Following Ed Greenwood's original vision, all inns of this world will be replaced with wench-filled Meadhalls along with associated debauchery. The Gygax brothers will be invited playtesters. The Cooks would be brought back part-time to keep Planescape alive.

Clyde Caldwell, Larry Elmore, and that really good artist from Troll Lords Games will wallpaper our interior with scantily clad women while Brom will be brought back to give some candy to the ladies while also delving in the surreal. Boris Vallejo swings both ways.

Finally, smoking and beer would be allowed at GenCon along with baked treats to be sold from the Mentzer clan. GenCon festivities would end outside with a ring of dancing girls in summer dresses in time to minstrels, the top of the last of the kegs being cracked open by an axe-wielding Conan-look-alike, and the fallen night accentuated with a firecracker being lit and tossed off the top of the GenCon building by a long-bearded elderly man in gray robes and crooked, pointy hat.

So in conclusion, WOTC losing DnD would not be the end of the world... if the stars align.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Thanks! Woot!

 

[Truth Seeker]

A great dream, oh yes...a great dream that can made true. By hard work.

Louisville Game Store over on Bardstown Rd does War machine tournies, sells a variety of gaming stuff. Something To Do Games at Oxmoor Mall has tables, runs magic tourneys, believe they have people who play RPGs instore as well. Decent selection. Book and Music Exchange, Half Price Books and Great Escape (comic shop) all sell lots of used gaming product and Great Escape also sells a good chunk of newer stuff.

Book and Music and Great Escape are also on Bardstown, as is the best guitar store in the area (Guitar Emporium) and the best cd/record store (Ear X-tacy). Depending on your interests outside of gaming

My wife and I both play a wide variety of games, as do anotehr couple we're good friends with. We have some other friends in the area who like to game but aren't that experienced yet. Scheduling is our worst problem between all of us and we get to bring our 4yr old and 18mo old daughters w/us too

Send me a PM when ya move here or look me up on yahoo or AIM. Feel free to PM me for contact info if needed

Oh and marshmallow gelatinous cubes are great. I could see the different puddings and oozes selling well, esp in teh category of "food that looks icky but tastes great so your kid will beg for it"

 

[Nikosandros]

When TSR's business had tanked so badly that they couldn't afford to pay their printing service--not just for current projects, but past ones that were still in arrears--"problems with the printer" was the excuse company management gave to the fans for why promised books weren't appearing on shelves.

Not only promised books, but subscription copies of Dragon and Dungeon as well...

 

[AllisterH]

There's also the novel line to consider.

I've always been under the impression that the novel line is not only more profitable but brings in way more revenue than anything WOTC produces not named M:TG or Duelmasters.

Those "A Practical Guide to" as cheesy as they look, are a very strong seller and certainly do the business moreso than any non M:TG product.

RPGs I'm sorry to say, just aren't that profitable. Hell, look at Steve Jackson Games. They were a RPG company but found a way more profitable line in Munchkin.

 

[vagabundo]

Was there any finished TSR books that never got published?

 

[AllisterH]

Was there any finished TSR books that never got published?

Birthright.

The line got cancelled smack dab in the middle of TSR's woes.

I always wondered if Birthright's lack of popularity was due more to the line closing down or the fact that it was "too medieval" (this is the campaign setting you want if you trly are looking for medieval D&D) or was the "running kingdoms" really that unpopular.