Relationship between S&SS, NG, Malhavoc, Fiery Dragon, and White Wolf

[johnsemlak]

Can someone explain the how the relationship works between S&SS, NG, Malhavoc, Fiery Dragon, and White Wolf. I understand they're part of some 'umbrella' but I don't always get it. Also, what's the history of the relationship?

Some things I don't understand include how NG's Webb and Peterson seem to be listed as authors/producers of some of the Scarred Lands books, like Relics and Rituals. Do they work for both S&S and Necromancer Games?

 

[haiiro]

I'll get the ball rolling:

White Wolf owns and runs Sword & Sorcery.

Sword & Sorcery does print versions of Malhavoc Press products (which are generally released first as PDFs).

 

[Henry]

Moved to d20 Publishers forum.

 

[EricNoah]

White Wolf is the large publisher, with its smaller "studios" Sword & Sorcery and Necromancer Games under that publisher. These three are truly part of one company.

Malhavoc's stuff is published in print by S&S, I believe.

Fiery Dragon's stuff was published by S&S for a while but I believe they chose to go "independent" more at least a year ago.

 

[tabrumj]

Lets see if I can remember how the whole mess works.

White Wolf owns Sword and Sorcery.
Sword & Sorcery acts as a publisher and unbrella corporation for Malhavoc, Fiery Dragon and the rest. Basically White Wolf handles the print publishing, marketing, distribution and legal services for these companies. Leaving the people in those companies to handle the developing and writeing. In Malhavoc's case I am pretty sure that Monte has complete freedome to do whatever he feels like, White Wolf is more than willing to just act as publisher.

Sword and Sorcery itself is a bit different. The various Developers report directly to the Wolf and need to gain approval of all projects and WW can and will change product lineups and schedules to meet it's needs. Effectively Sword and Sorcery is just WHite Wolf under a slightly different name.

 

[tabrumj]

White Wolf is the large publisher, with its smaller "studios" Sword & Sorcery and Necromancer Games under that publisher. These three are truly part of one company.

Malhavoc's stuff is published in print by S&S, I believe.

Fiery Dragon's stuff was published by S&S for a while but I believe they chose to go "independent" more at least a year ago.

I thought Necromancer games was a bit more independant of White Wolf than S&S? I think that Necromancer does whatever they feel like and just uses White Wolf as the publisher, but I could be wrong.

 

[Nightfall]

Alright well even though Jeff and I are hardly the ones to discuss this, what happened is this, (and please Clark, correct me if I mess up!) Clark Peterson and Bill Webb, wanted to make their own company. I believe then Ethan Skemp or one of the leaders at WW wanted some guys to do stuff to get S&SS of the ground. Necromancer Games was born, not as a part of S&SS but as a separate entity. Bill and Clark however, were asked to help get S&SS/Scarred Lands off the ground and thus since they had the most knowledge of the 3rd edition/SRD at the time, they got the copyrights for both R&R and CC1. This way there wasn't some issues as I believe Clark was in some contact with then head man, Anthony Valterra. That's why both S&SS books have the Necromancer Guys on board. What happens is that thanks to their ownship, Bill and Clark some times use Scarred Lands/S&SS stuff to help suppliment their own company's stuff. But Necromancer IS a separate gaming company. I hope people followed that.

 

[Fiery James]

You want the truth?

White Wolf had photos. Threatening to release them to the public, FDP had no choice but to publish high-quality adventures and accessories under their Sword & Sorcery imprint.

However, during GenCon 2002, while distracting the boys from S&S, Jason and Todd managed to break into their hotel room and destroy all copies of the photos -- and the negatives.

Without the dreadful images in their possession, Sword & Sorcery had no choice but to let us return to our independent roots, full of joy and pixie-dust once more.

As for what they've got on Necromancer and Malhavoc? Well, Clark's a lawyer in Vegas, you can only imagine the sorts of things he's been up to!! And Monte -- well, perhaps you'd be interested to know that there's at least ONE copy of the Book of Vile Darkness written in blood and bound in human flesh -- the original manuscript, I believe...



The truth is out there.

- James

*All in jest, of course. Sword & Sorcery is a publishing company that has worked out deals with several "design studios" in order to provide quality material to gamers everywhere. Also, the Monte stuff is totally TRUE!!!

 

[Nightfall]

James...you scare me some times.

But that WAS a great tale.

 

[Henry]

All right, James -- but the REAL question is:

Whose blood and whose flesh?

...unless Sean K Reynolds REALLY didn't move away, and his responses to this message board have really been Monte impersonating him...