Project Javelin Cancelled

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I, for one, liked the D20Future/D20Past concept ... perhaps not the execution at all times ... but it does allow for 2-day-notice genre games. "Let's play Ghost In The Machine!" ... and, having been in college and whatnot, I know that type of game is pretty common among the "hobbyist gamer". The rules didn't have to be GOOD ... they just needed to be THERE and easily accessible.

Oh no, I don't agree. The rules killed our D20 Future campaign after only two sessions. I ran an eight session or so campaign set in AD 200 China. I don't own D20 Past and didn't need or even want it for that campaign.

I do, however, think it is time for a solid run that would enable a popular "campaign".

--fje

Yeah. It's only been, what, five years?

 

[Roudi]

How did the "rules" kill your campaign?

 

[2WS-Steve]

I agree, but even this isn't 100% guaranteed. It's also going to be difficult for third party writers to use Dark Matter material.

I was surprised to discover that the d20 system trademark license actually allows third party publishers to say (and advertise) that their books require Urban Arcana, in addition to an amazing amount of arcana material being in the SRD (including things like organizations and NPCs, which are almost always kept out) -- so maybe there's some small hope that they'll do likewise for Dark*Matter.

If so, I'm certain there will be a bunch of Dark*Matter stuff coming out from all kinds of publishers -- enough to keep us happy for years.

If not, then there will still be stuff, but it will feel a little more generic and I suspect third party companies won't make as much of it.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I have several project pitches I'm putting together that will allow for both eventualities and should be both IP-free and yet high enough in genre-focus recognition that customers should know what they're "for" ... and which I could quickly edit should certain IP become OGC.

Can't wait for September.

--fje

 

[Ranger REG]

I agree, but even this isn't 100% guaranteed. It's also going to be difficult for third party writers to use Dark Matter material.

Yeah, I suspect that the brand will be treated as with their other brands like Forgotten Realms and Eberron (i.e., off-limit).

But to be brutally honest, d20 Modern is in dire need of a signature published setting, just as Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Dark Sun, Mystara/Known World, Jakandor, and Eberron is to D&D. Unfortunately, Urban Arcana didn't catch on.

 

[Ranger REG]

The rules didn't have to be GOOD

Oh, yes, it have to be, according to Aussiegamer's universal law of gaming principle.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

How did the "rules" kill your campaign?

That would take it's own thread. Even if I ignore the Wealth stuff it would still be a long OP. I've sold D20 Future, so examples would be a bit skimpy then.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Ve haff veys ... ve haff veys ...

One hopes they'll decide to support this particular product with some additional material, though.

I, for one, liked the D20Future/D20Past concept ... perhaps not the execution at all times ... but it does allow for 2-day-notice genre games. "Let's play Ghost In The Machine!" ... and, having been in college and whatnot, I know that type of game is pretty common among the "hobbyist gamer". The rules didn't have to be GOOD ... they just needed to be THERE and easily accessible.

I do, however, think it is time for a solid run that would enable a popular "campaign".

--fje

And they were not good, nor for the main were they even there in regards to D20 Past at the least. There was not enough even for a two day notice, two session quicky game, let alone enough to hang a campaign on. I have not purchased anything for D20 Modern since. If you are going to support a game then make the support worthwhile, or don't bother, and let the game die. (A touch of bitterness there? Maaayyybe... )

I will purchase Dark*Matter, but I will admit that has a lot more to do with liking the setting than any liking for the rules. But if D*M can get the game the support it needs from WotC (I am not talking third party here, I know that you are all doing your best to keep D20 Modern going, my plaint is only with WotC) to keep WotC/Hasbro interested in keeping the game afloat then all will be good for all concerned. (Even I would like seeing D*M continue past the first book.)

The Auld Grump, feeling Aulder and Grumpier than usual...

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

Auld Auld Auld ... yer not a hobbyist gamer.

--fje

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Auld Auld Auld ... yer not a hobbyist gamer.

--fje

And what, pray tell, is a hobbyist gamer?

If you mean, by the use of that phrase, people who are willing to customize rules to fit a setting then I am indeed a hobbyist - without such a supplement I have been running a Spycraft 1800s game. I would have been happier had WotC not bothered creating that waste of dead trees that they chose to title D20 Past. It was not a useable book. If they were going to bother doing it at all then they should have made it worth doing.

The Auld Grump