dm4hire
Explorer
Despite, on numerous occassions, Paizo saying they have no interest in 4e because the system doesn't support the type of stories they want to tell? They're more or less mentioned on several occassions that it's not necessarily the GLS but the system and that they have no people currently working for them that know the 4e system (strange since Wolfgang has published 4e material under his own banner but whatever.)
I think you missed the point of that section. Clark was referring to the fact that had everything gone smoothly Paizo would have continued to support WotC and embraced 4e. Unfortunately things didn't go smoothly and fortunately we have Pathfinder as a result.
So distributors fear a glut, but WoTC could start reprinting all editions? Uh... yeah, not seeing that happening. Now WoTC doing something more awesome like making an OGL for previous editions of the game and letting other people support it? That's more likely but still pie in the sky I believe.
If WotC embraced POD there would be no glut as only those interested in earlier editions would order and purchase the products. Whether done by WotC or by Lulu, doesn't make a difference as it would be strictly on demand.
Now we're getting back to glut and printing costs among other things. If Dragon and Dungeon go digital because WoTC wants to make them part of the DDI, I can't see how pushing people towards print products of niche products would be the way to go. And my god! The bitching! Imagine how much a AD&D 1st edition Player's Handbook would cost off the line newly printed. People would be weeping in the streets that WoTC is doing things to their backside because that's not what it cost in 1984.
Actually POD costs are reasonable, especially given the size of 1e books or most of 2e. Cost could also be lowered by the availability of softcover alternatives.
That new editions come along for virtually all game systems and that most companies don't support the previous editions? Yeah, I think they got that one. (Notable exception is the guys doing Rolemaster with their Rolemaster Classic line. Thumbs up!)
This is a some what flawed view as most publishers try to stick close to the original design for the sole purpose of retaining customer loyalty. There are quite a few RPGs with revisions and new editions that require very little backward compatibility. Many of those that do made the proper decision to separate the new edition from the old edition to eliminate the necessity, i.e. WoD changed complete mythology.
Huge grain amigo. I love Necromancer products. Still convert some ToH beasties now and again for my 4e game. BUT, as you were so gun ho on supporting the latest edition, this whole post seems like it came from Bizzaro Clark. If from the get go you had been on this multiple edition frame, then it would make sense but unless I'm missing something, Necromancer Games isn't doing a Tome of Horrors OSRIC, not Swords and Wizardry, nor Castles and Crusades, etc... If YOU, Clark, feel that there is value in supporting all editions of D&D, step up to the plate man. Let's see those various systems for Tome of Horrors. Let's see you beat wizards at their own game.
Again I think Clark was implying that there are ways for WotC to fix a lot of the division forming within the community and gather back what has already been lost already. The real focus should be "D&D the game" and not "D&D the edition" which is what everyone has been shouting since 2e hit the streets way back then (heck even I just wanted TSR to edit and hopefully consolidate all the non-setting books and update the settings in 1e). If WotC brought back earlier editions via POD or even open sourced them, but then supported said product by creating edition neutral material I think they would see a huge resurgence, not just in revenue but in the hobby in general.
The effective stance would be to sell it like McD, saying "Have it your way." WotC could sell the core books for whatever the new edition is in store, but make the old editions available through POD for those who just aren't satisfied or don't want change.