Project Javelin Cancelled

[TheAuldGrump]

Though I do wonder how many publishers, big and small, will continue supporting D20 Modern if WotC drops it.

My suspicion is not many.

Though I have some small glimmer of hope that Dark*Matter can rejuvinate D20 Modern. Heck, I am likely to pick up D*M to Spycraft it. My actual hope is that they choose to spin it off to another company rather than ditching it entirely, while I do not much love D20 Modern I don't hate it or its fans, and I do feel that it deserves a fairer deal than it appears WotC is giving it.

The Auld Grump, feeling pessimistic...

 

[Roudi]

Though I do wonder how many publishers, big and small, will continue supporting D20 Modern if WotC drops it.

My suspicion is not many.

What gives you that impression?

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Hopefully this is a refocusing instead of a dropping entirely.

I think the line would do better if they were to get behind something popular. They've been embracing the "everything to everyone" thing for a while now, but, honestly, I think some strong support for popular options would be encouraging.

I'm biased, but Dark*Matter is something that has a built-in fan base and is, I think, a good start. If they release some expansion products for it, it might revitalize things a little.

I'd like to see some adventures, as well. The adventures on the website were great, and I think Project Javelin was in the right direction, but something focused on an already released book would do wonders. Like some Dark*Matter adventures.

>.>

<.<

--fje

 

[The Shaman]

I'm biased, but Dark*Matter is something that has a built-in fan base and is, I think, a good start.

I've argued the same thing for some time now, and as I never played D*M or Alternity, I'm about as unbiased as they come.

The Wizzos made an unsubtle grab for crossover Dungeons and Dragons players, rather than attempting to reach both the existing Alternity and Dark*Matter fanbase and the gaming audience that is looking for something other than another D&D-like fantasy game. Modern cries out for a really cool setting, and from what I've read about D*M, it could be The One: magic, psionics, aliens, genefreaks, covert ops, all without the trainload of baggage that comes with Urban Arcana's "D&D with guns" approach.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

What gives you that impression?

Other games that have lost support after going out of print.

It happens. Take a look at the once thriving online communities for 2300 A.D., the old World of Darkness (the new one has no where near the web presence), Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (slowly reviving, I am happy to say), and Warhammer Quest. You can find the sites, last updated, two, three, or even five years ago, like burned out cars.

The Auld Grump

 

[2WS-Steve]

Other games that have lost support after going out of print.

It happens. Take a look at the once thriving online communities for 2300 A.D., the old World of Darkness (the new one has no where near the web presence), Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (slowly reviving, I am happy to say), and Warhammer Quest. You can find the sites, last updated, two, three, or even five years ago, like burned out cars.

The Auld Grump

One interesting difference is that those games didn't have a cadre of third party publishers who could continue to publish materials based on them.

Those publishers might all jump ship to Spycraft 2, but I figure only after they've seen sales from d20 Modern stuff decline to the point where the Spycraft 2 material has outpaced them.

 

[Vigilance]

Other games that have lost support after going out of print.

It happens. Take a look at the once thriving online communities for 2300 A.D., the old World of Darkness (the new one has no where near the web presence), Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (slowly reviving, I am happy to say), and Warhammer Quest. You can find the sites, last updated, two, three, or even five years ago, like burned out cars.

The Auld Grump

The big difference here is that publishers can continue to make money, produce derivative works, even produce core rulebooks to supplement the d20 Modern rule set once Wizards' core book is gone.

For my part, I know we at RPGObjects will continue to support the game as long as the fans continue to support.

What you're talking about are fan projects. There's a real, substantial difference when companies, employing and paying for people's time (both full and part time) are able to profit off something, as companies will be able to do for d20 Modern.

For my part, I don't know what will happen if Wizards drops it. It might increase our PDF sales since RPGNow will then be the ONLY outlet for new material.

Certainly the people who only buy "official" product will turn away to something else, but those people probably aren't my customers anyway.

Chuck

 

[Vigilance]

Those publishers might all jump ship to Spycraft 2, but I figure only after they've seen sales from d20 Modern stuff decline to the point where the Spycraft 2 material has outpaced them.

I find this notion interesting at best.

The idea has been put forth a couple of times now that somehow Spycraft II is more viable than d20 Modern and will be even more so if Wizards drops the product line.

How does d20 Modern being dropped by Wizards (after many publications being printed) and the product line being sustained by 3rd party companies kill d20 Modern when Spycraft II has ALREADY been dropped by AEG (themselves a 3rd party company) for other 3rd party companies to support.

So what has already happened to Spycraft might happen to d20M in the future but d20M is doomed while Spycraft is the wave of the future?

Don't get me wrong, I think Spycraft II is a fine design and would be happy to write products for it. But the idea that d20 Modern will be killed by winding up in the boat Spycraft is now?

Huh?

Chuck

 

[Greg K]

I say spin the d20M license off to Vigilance and let him run wild!

 

[Vigilance]

I say spin the d20M license off to Vigilance and let him run wild!

My point is, I could spin it to MYSELF.

I could put together a Modern 2.0 just based on the stuff I've already written over the weekend.

And if the core rulebook ever became impossible to find, I WOULD.

This isn't the same as Wizards dropping Alternity, because I can continue to write for it, GET PAID and PAY MY BILLS.

That allows me to be as much of a grognard as you, the reading public want.

Chuck