Meta-Buying
- Thread starter Dr. Harry
- Start date
BigFreekinGoblinoid
First Post
I AM prejudiced against some publishers, but that's nothing that a new, better effort can't cure. I try and keep an open mind for each release. The personalities involved definitely aren't much of a factor for me, BUT certain names I have come to look for no matter what publisher they work for.
I'm not afraid to say:
I bought a Fast Forward product and wasn't too pleased with it ( Enc. Demons & Devils ), so I haven't bought anything else from them based on that experience and reading reviews.
BUT: I'm looking forward to checking out theCrossgen licensed product they are printing soon.
I bought a couple Mongoose products and thought they were mediocre ( Gladiators and Demonology ) -
BUT: I understand many people have been happy with some of their products like Slaine etc... Even though I don't monitor their regular product output much, I will check out Sheoloth - City of the Drow...
AEG's stuff is very inconsistant depending on the line/author.
BUT: You usually can't go wrong with Mike Mearls. I'll research the Warlord RPG when it comes out
I'm not afraid to say:
I bought a Fast Forward product and wasn't too pleased with it ( Enc. Demons & Devils ), so I haven't bought anything else from them based on that experience and reading reviews.
BUT: I'm looking forward to checking out theCrossgen licensed product they are printing soon.
I bought a couple Mongoose products and thought they were mediocre ( Gladiators and Demonology ) -
BUT: I understand many people have been happy with some of their products like Slaine etc... Even though I don't monitor their regular product output much, I will check out Sheoloth - City of the Drow...
AEG's stuff is very inconsistant depending on the line/author.
BUT: You usually can't go wrong with Mike Mearls. I'll research the Warlord RPG when it comes out
Tsyr
Explorer
There are no companies I can say I *wouldn't* buy from.
There are quite a few that I can say it would take a *lot* to make me buy from. Avalanche, for example. I've bought a couple of their products (The oriental one and the celtic one), but only because my desire for what they were over-ruled my dislike of the company.
There are quite a few that I can say it would take a *lot* to make me buy from. Avalanche, for example. I've bought a couple of their products (The oriental one and the celtic one), but only because my desire for what they were over-ruled my dislike of the company.
Henry
Autoexreginated
Re: Re: Re: Meta-Buying
Thank you for not doing so.
One thing to keep in mind is that if someone has a slam for a company in mind, that it is far better to e-mail that company directly and express greivances with them, than it is to come close to libel on a messageboard. It's not against our board policy to give legitimate complaints about a company along with specific reasons, but is against it to trash someone with nothing to back it up. (Not saying you would, but I don't want anyone to get started.)
Dr. Harry said:
Thank you for not doing so.
One thing to keep in mind is that if someone has a slam for a company in mind, that it is far better to e-mail that company directly and express greivances with them, than it is to come close to libel on a messageboard. It's not against our board policy to give legitimate complaints about a company along with specific reasons, but is against it to trash someone with nothing to back it up. (Not saying you would, but I don't want anyone to get started.)
Mercule
Adventurer
It's pretty hard to really get that far under my skin.
Still, there are some companies that I'm inclined to avoid based on quality.
Actually, I think the earliest 3rd party products were so horrid (Creature Collection? -- don't quote me on that) that I've adopted a very skeptical attitude toward any non-WotC gear.
Then again, there's also good reason (Savage Species, some splat books) to be wary of WotC.
Still, there are some companies that I'm inclined to avoid based on quality.
Actually, I think the earliest 3rd party products were so horrid (Creature Collection? -- don't quote me on that) that I've adopted a very skeptical attitude toward any non-WotC gear.
Then again, there's also good reason (Savage Species, some splat books) to be wary of WotC.
Cthulhu's Librarian
First Post
Yes, there are two companies that I don't even bother picking up off the shelf. Doen't matter whats in them, unless I start hearing raves about them, they don't even hit my radar anymore. That said there are a 2 or 3 companies that I always take a close look at, and one that has been so consistantly good (IMHO) at filling my expectations, that I'd probably buy their books sight unseen. I'll refrain from naming any names here, just in the interest of fairness.
Drawmack
First Post
The way that I see it is that if you rule out the products from any company, carte blanche, then you are cutting yourself off from possible avenues of enjoyment in your hobby.
I judge every product that comes out the basis of it's own merit.
My FLGS doesn't do much with RPGs anymore so I have to do most of my shopping on line. This is cool with me, but this being the case there are some ways that a company can increase their chances of selling a product to me.
1) Give me a preview that includes 2 or 3 pages of rules and 2 or 3 pages of flavor and make damn sure the information in that preview can be used without the rest of the book.
2) Get some reviews of the product before it is released from at least three or four reputable reviewers.
3) Give me detail about the product on your web-site. Page Count, Trim Size, Columns/Page, etc.
That being said there is one company I will not buy direct from because last time I did it took me nearly three months to receive my products. I'll still buy their stuff just not directly from them.
I judge every product that comes out the basis of it's own merit.
My FLGS doesn't do much with RPGs anymore so I have to do most of my shopping on line. This is cool with me, but this being the case there are some ways that a company can increase their chances of selling a product to me.
1) Give me a preview that includes 2 or 3 pages of rules and 2 or 3 pages of flavor and make damn sure the information in that preview can be used without the rest of the book.
2) Get some reviews of the product before it is released from at least three or four reputable reviewers.
3) Give me detail about the product on your web-site. Page Count, Trim Size, Columns/Page, etc.
That being said there is one company I will not buy direct from because last time I did it took me nearly three months to receive my products. I'll still buy their stuff just not directly from them.
WayneLigon
Adventurer
I think that perhaps it could come to the point that due to the personal habits or opinions of Person X or Game Company X that I would never buy anything they had a hand in, but right now I can't imagine what that point would be.
Mirth
Explorer
Re: Re: Re: Re: Meta-Buying
Well, I'm going to try and say nicely what people here are avoiding. If this is stepping over the line, Henry, feel free to edit the post right out.
1. I am hesitant to buy any Fast Forward Entertainment product because of the way the company's owner, Jim Ward, has conducted himself on public messageboards and in his 900 words column. I would really like to see d20 versions of Crossgen comic titles like The Path and The Way of the Rat, but I have a bas taste in my mouth about Fast Forward Entertainment and they will have to prove themselves capable of producing quality work as well as being professionals before I will consider purchasing any of their Crossgen conversions. They can consider me a potential customer, however, no matter how small that potential might be.
2. There have been several Avalanche Press titles that I have been interested in such as I, Mordred and Celtic Age amongst others. However, their choice of artwork on the covers and interiors of their products has made me reconsider those self-same purchases. I find them not demeaning so much as unnecessarily titillating and completely irrelevant to the subject matter they are meant to illustrate.
So far I have not purchased any products from either publisher and, as far as I can tell, I have no plans to. If things were to change, I would reconsider that stance in the future.
I don't believe what I've said is slanderous in any way. I also believe these are two of the companies that people have been hinting at and mentioning in passing above.
Jay
Henry said:
Well, I'm going to try and say nicely what people here are avoiding. If this is stepping over the line, Henry, feel free to edit the post right out.
1. I am hesitant to buy any Fast Forward Entertainment product because of the way the company's owner, Jim Ward, has conducted himself on public messageboards and in his 900 words column. I would really like to see d20 versions of Crossgen comic titles like The Path and The Way of the Rat, but I have a bas taste in my mouth about Fast Forward Entertainment and they will have to prove themselves capable of producing quality work as well as being professionals before I will consider purchasing any of their Crossgen conversions. They can consider me a potential customer, however, no matter how small that potential might be.
2. There have been several Avalanche Press titles that I have been interested in such as I, Mordred and Celtic Age amongst others. However, their choice of artwork on the covers and interiors of their products has made me reconsider those self-same purchases. I find them not demeaning so much as unnecessarily titillating and completely irrelevant to the subject matter they are meant to illustrate.
So far I have not purchased any products from either publisher and, as far as I can tell, I have no plans to. If things were to change, I would reconsider that stance in the future.
I don't believe what I've said is slanderous in any way. I also believe these are two of the companies that people have been hinting at and mentioning in passing above.
Jay
MeepoTheMighty
First Post
I'll buy anything if it's cheap enough. Any publishers out there have a special "jaded bitter internet poster" discount? 
