D&D 4E New Campaign Setting for 4e (Part 2)

[Najo]

Redo of the previous poll, this time with multiple choice.

If a new campaign setting with the same production values as Eberron or Forgotten Realms was released for 4e, would you buy it? Would you play it? Would you buy it only from WOTC, what if a 3rd party released it?

When referring to level of quality, I mean art, layout, graphic design, writing and editing, game mechanics and the like. Think the best levels of WOTC production as the top end, and the worst 3.0 d20 material as the bottom of the barrel.

Feel free to elborate on the things you want to see in a 4e setting.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I cannot say what I would buy. I would take a look at any of the above listings, but I would only spend my money on the one setting that appealed to me most.

 

[Dykstrav]

I can't say what I would or wouldn't buy without seeing the product... But even so, I'd be interested in a setting that has a cool background or told a good story more than one that has excellent production values.

I really don't care about eye candy like layout or illustrations, so if another setting came out with full-page comic book style spreads like Eberron, that wouldn't incline me to buy it. In fact, if I did see a setting book with flashy art and graphics, it'd make me wonder if the designers thought that the content couldn't stand on its own...

 

[TerraDave]

Its hard for me to answer the poll. Would I buy: probably not. But if it some cool ideas in it, or I could use parts for my homebrew, maybe. Publisher not really important.

For 3rd ed I got a bunch of Green Ronin Mythic Vista stuff and actually the FR book for these reasons. Thought seriously about Midnight. 4th ed buying habits will probably be the same.

 

[Daniel D. Fox]

They're already putting forth the building blocks for 4th edition with a rich history for the core races, a new pantheon and the backboard of DnD Insider for flavor articles.

I would not be surprised to see a core setting developed and released in the DMG/PHB.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I voted for anything by WotC. My future purchases can be reasonably predicted by looking at my past purchases which include Forgotten Realms 3e and the Eberron Campaign Setting. I've never bought a non-WotC/TSR campaign setting for D&D so I'm unlikely to in future even if it was really good.

I've bought a fair number of well regarded 3rd party D&D products such as Tome of Horrors, Denizens of Avadnu, Beyond Countless Doorways and a few Dungeon Crawl Classics from Goodman Games. All left me distinctly unimpressed.

 

[Core]

I think Paizo has already stated they are putting out a new campaign world

 

[Aristotle]

I don't know that this poll is going to get you the answer you are looking for. The issue, as I see it, is a little hard to dissect. Some people only purchase what they need, so they will only grab a campaign setting if they are going to run it. The quality of the art, editing, and layout are factors that catch the attention of these prospective buyers... but they will only purchase if they ultimately like the content. It's impossible for them to say they would buy it based purely on production values. They'll buy it if they fall in love with the setting, races, setting specific rule supplementation, and so on.

Then you have your collectors. They'll collect anything that Company X puts out. In the age of d20 and third party publishers some collectors have established a few such companies that they purchase from, but very few collectors have the time or cash to collect everything put out.

If your setting (I assume these polls are market research) is good there is a chance it will find an audience (settings are a harder sell than adventures or even rule supplements). If your company develops a reputation for quality and gathers a loyal fan base, it will sell better. If it's released by Wizards of the Coast it'll sell even better. Even then, and even if it is truly great, it may simply fail to find it's audience.

All of this is just the opinion of humble world builder who still hopes one of his worlds will someday prove good enough to take the gamble and try to find it's audience.

 

[Dausuul]

Yeah, I suspect you're going to see a lot of "It depends" answers--because most gamers aren't going to buy a setting purely on the basis of which company made it, or even what the production values are. I may like a given restaurant, and they may do a really good job with all of their food, but if one of the items on the menu is "Gourmet Pickles," I'm not going to order them, because I hate pickles.

Likewise, I would not buy an Eberron-type setting. I don't care who makes it and I don't care how good the production values are; I don't like steampunk, so Eberron is not for me. On the other hand, if the same company came up with a good low-magic heroic fantasy setting, I'd give it serious consideration.

The question should be "Would you buy from this company if you liked the setting concept and execution?"

 

[I'm A Banana]

I may like a given restaurant, and they may do a really good job with all of their food, but if one of the items on the menu is "Gourmet Pickles," I'm not going to order them, because I hate pickles.

I might try it....heck, you only live once.

And I'm a big glutton for campaign settings. The more different and distinct, the better. Can't get enough of 'em. SO GIVE ME ALL OF THEM.