Primitive Screwhead
First Post
So, lots of threads on the state of the game business and thoughts on all sorts of things. I haven't caught them all.. but the ones I did made me dream up what I would try if I had the power to do so.
First: the primary problems facing the gaming business as I understand them are:
- higher cost to distribute and market books with dwindling retail options
- segmented community that restricts new gamers from joining and reduces the purchase rates of any books
- dying FLGS
To correct this, we would need to restore a core mechanic and open the gates of imagination to others, and encourage FLGS and local groups to rebuild the community with less segmentation.
In order to do that, the game system has to be flexible and better than what Pathfinder/Saga/etc.. has to offer.
So, here are my thoughts:
DnD turns into an OLGish core game mechanic that has built in 'dials' for complexity and options. more on this a bit later in the post.
WoTC gains revenue through the DDI subscription and character builder, excluding others from selling electronic charater builders.. and push the VT to an external producer like MapTools. In the Character builder you buy digital content as a mix and match from what is available.
The other thing you can do is select portions of your purchased content and order Print on Demand for customized player handbooks. Instead of binders of scribbled notes, you can have a professionally bound and personalized handbook delivered right to your door.
** FLGS can register as distributors and users can get a discount for having their print on demand material sent to the store... trading savings on shipping for slightly slower delivery.
They also gain revenue by publishing adventure arcs modules similar to War of the Burning Sky or Scales of War, these go through the FLGS. On the book front, they continue the novels and convert campaign setting books into crunch free gazetters that can be sold to both the novel readers and gamers alike.
They crowdsource errata, and under the OGLish.. any new mechanics can be submitted to WoTC for inclusion into the character builder... but WoTC then owns the mechanic {no royalties, but the submitter gets it added free of charge}
3pp can do campaign settings, modules, and new material... opening up the market like the original OGL did.
So.. with all this, what game mechanic can support all this?
Well, this is a conglomeration of a number of threads...mostly from the 'game of fours' and its ilk.
The game comes in tiers of play, with each tier adding complexity and having a slightly different feel to it.
The game could be based on feat trees, with every major game element built on them. So classes, races, etc would be combinations of feats.
Power sources would be hard coded and be one of the 'dials' that can be used. The 'Fey' power source could include Elves and fairies, Bladesingers, etc.
The major dial to include is the different methods of handling combat, from gritty to four color fantasy. The challenge is to have weapons/spells deal the same amount of damage.. so these changes would be inclusion of healing surges, use of VP/WP, or wound tracks.
Another dial would be the availability of magic items, the scarcity of spells, etc.
Individual game settings could be saved and shared.
I think this would reinvigorate the community support of the game and provide a larger 'entry' game system.
Anyway, that is enough rambling from me. Have a wonderful day!
First: the primary problems facing the gaming business as I understand them are:
- higher cost to distribute and market books with dwindling retail options
- segmented community that restricts new gamers from joining and reduces the purchase rates of any books
- dying FLGS
To correct this, we would need to restore a core mechanic and open the gates of imagination to others, and encourage FLGS and local groups to rebuild the community with less segmentation.
In order to do that, the game system has to be flexible and better than what Pathfinder/Saga/etc.. has to offer.
So, here are my thoughts:
DnD turns into an OLGish core game mechanic that has built in 'dials' for complexity and options. more on this a bit later in the post.
WoTC gains revenue through the DDI subscription and character builder, excluding others from selling electronic charater builders.. and push the VT to an external producer like MapTools. In the Character builder you buy digital content as a mix and match from what is available.
The other thing you can do is select portions of your purchased content and order Print on Demand for customized player handbooks. Instead of binders of scribbled notes, you can have a professionally bound and personalized handbook delivered right to your door.
** FLGS can register as distributors and users can get a discount for having their print on demand material sent to the store... trading savings on shipping for slightly slower delivery.
They also gain revenue by publishing adventure arcs modules similar to War of the Burning Sky or Scales of War, these go through the FLGS. On the book front, they continue the novels and convert campaign setting books into crunch free gazetters that can be sold to both the novel readers and gamers alike.
They crowdsource errata, and under the OGLish.. any new mechanics can be submitted to WoTC for inclusion into the character builder... but WoTC then owns the mechanic {no royalties, but the submitter gets it added free of charge}
3pp can do campaign settings, modules, and new material... opening up the market like the original OGL did.
So.. with all this, what game mechanic can support all this?
Well, this is a conglomeration of a number of threads...mostly from the 'game of fours' and its ilk.
The game comes in tiers of play, with each tier adding complexity and having a slightly different feel to it.
The game could be based on feat trees, with every major game element built on them. So classes, races, etc would be combinations of feats.
Power sources would be hard coded and be one of the 'dials' that can be used. The 'Fey' power source could include Elves and fairies, Bladesingers, etc.
The major dial to include is the different methods of handling combat, from gritty to four color fantasy. The challenge is to have weapons/spells deal the same amount of damage.. so these changes would be inclusion of healing surges, use of VP/WP, or wound tracks.
Another dial would be the availability of magic items, the scarcity of spells, etc.
Individual game settings could be saved and shared.
I think this would reinvigorate the community support of the game and provide a larger 'entry' game system.
Anyway, that is enough rambling from me. Have a wonderful day!
