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<blockquote data-quote="Pyske" data-source="post: 344904" data-attributes="member: 3567">I will agree with the people here who have said that brands and trademarks are very clearly about expectations and product differentiation.&nbsp; This is the value to the consumer of the brand.The issue does not seem to get fuzzy until you try to define exactly what that set of expectations is.Whisper_jeff seems to feel that the expectation is &quot;Task resolution using D20+mods vs. a difficulty number.&quot;&nbsp; Advantages to the consumer:&nbsp; you never have to ask which dice to roll, and given your DC and mods you generally know your probability of success.&nbsp; Others think that the basic character components should be in place and consistent.&nbsp; Advantages:&nbsp; cross-product character portability with minimal conversion.Still others think that the task resolution system should be generally compatible, with the addition and subtraction of components which confict with the intended feel of the game.&nbsp; Advantages:&nbsp; Any rule which IS used functions as expected, decreasing need for rulebook lookup and reducing learning curve.&nbsp; Rules lookup / system learning may be required for new options or components.A fourth group think that the task resolution system should remain in full, with additions to provide extra options, but not new components.&nbsp; Advantages:&nbsp;&nbsp; cross-product character portability with NO conversion required.I submit that there are D20 consumers in all 4 camps.&nbsp; I don't feel qualified to speak tot he size of these demographics, but feel it is definitely worth investigation.I also submit that customers lower on the scale than the product they buy are likely to be dissatisfied, while those higher on the scale than the product may be unfulfilled (if they feel that a variant mechanic would have better represented the &quot;reality&quot; they were trying to model).&nbsp; Lastly, I submit that dissatisfaction is damaging to a company, and thus it becomes critical that products which are high on the scale be able to communicate this to their potential customers.&nbsp;. . . . . . . -- Eric</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Pyske, post: 344904, member: 3567"] I will agree with the people here who have said that brands and trademarks are very clearly about expectations and product differentiation. This is the value to the consumer of the brand. The issue does not seem to get fuzzy until you try to define exactly what that set of expectations is. Whisper_jeff seems to feel that the expectation is "Task resolution using D20+mods vs. a difficulty number." Advantages to the consumer: you never have to ask which dice to roll, and given your DC and mods you generally know your probability of success. Others think that the basic character components should be in place and consistent. Advantages: cross-product character portability with minimal conversion. Still others think that the task resolution system should be generally compatible, with the addition and subtraction of components which confict with the intended feel of the game. Advantages: Any rule which IS used functions as expected, decreasing need for rulebook lookup and reducing learning curve. Rules lookup / system learning may be required for new options or components. A fourth group think that the task resolution system should remain in full, with additions to provide extra options, but not new components. Advantages: cross-product character portability with NO conversion required. I submit that there are D20 consumers in all 4 camps. I don't feel qualified to speak tot he size of these demographics, but feel it is definitely worth investigation. I also submit that customers lower on the scale than the product they buy are likely to be dissatisfied, while those higher on the scale than the product may be unfulfilled (if they feel that a variant mechanic would have better represented the "reality" they were trying to model). Lastly, I submit that dissatisfaction is damaging to a company, and thus it becomes critical that products which are high on the scale be able to communicate this to their potential customers. . . . . . . . -- Eric [/QUOTE]

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