Shane Hensley comments on the RPG industry

[Crothian]

i would really like to see more options for modules available. i like the idea of mods that would run PCs from levels 1 to 20, but using the WotC mods wouldn't work with my group (too many have played them, heard about them, read them)

i also wouldn't mind seeing sets of these types of mods, each in different regions, or with a different flavor. (like a set of mods based in one large city, etc.)

i know there are some mega-mods out there, but they typically require PCs to be higher than first level. maybe some of those need lead-in mods, to get the PCs to the levels required (?)

Actually, I was thinking we need more higher level modules. But I do like the idea of ones that can be run as a series. Another interesting thing would be not just low level modules, but modules that are written to be the players very first adventure. It would be great to study the reasons as to why character begin their life as adventures. I also imagine thaat after seeing the dangers many would be adventurers would find something safer. So, you'd need some tangible reward besides treasure to keep the players going.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

Actually, I was thinking we need more higher level modules.

epic-type high level?

i was just thinking most of those mega-mods are high level, or at least end up that way.

 

[Crothian]

epic-type high level?

i was just thinking most of those mega-mods are high level, or at least end up that way.

I've never been a fan of the mega mods, to much game time spent in one preformed location. I like to deal with a place and be done, but with those it'll take a while to be done.

Hopefully, when ELH hits the SRD we will see some truely epic adventures.

 

[Synicism]

These games most likely get more exposure due to d20, not less. The OGL has expanded the market, which means more people in stores or looking at RPG products than before. These kinds of games never got that much exposure, but the whole open gaming movement was started as a means to increase the population of role playing buyers, which in theory (and practice, I believe) benefits everyone.

I'm not sure about this. A store only has so much shelf space, and they gotta get stuff from distributors. So there's a limit to what they can stock. While there is a lot of good d20 stuff out there, from folks like Kenzer, FFG, & Green Ronin, to name a few, there is an awful lot of crap that winds up on shelves because it has the little d20 logo.

A lot of games that I used to see just don't even make it to shelves anymore.

I don't really think the d20 segment is to blame for it. It's popular sure, but I think it's partly the fault of distributors for snatching up anything d20 and tossing it out there no matter how bad it is.

I also gotta admit - there is an awful lot of overlap. The WotC splatbooks, the FFG White Books, The Quintessential Whatever...

 

[William Ronald]

Overall, I think D20 is doing a lot of good for our hobby.

Traditionally, one of the biggest gripes that people in my gaming group had was having to learn a new rules system for a new game. Having common elements helps, and has proven successful for other companies. (White Wolf has its Storyteller system.)

I have seen many D20 products that I liked. Nyambe was cited as an example of an innovative product. There are a lot of good products, including those written by established writers. (Such as E. Gary Gygax and Necropolis.)

I suspect the companies that make quality products will do well. Some others will likely vanish. Overall, I think our hobby is doing a lot better than the mid 1990s. (My fear was that a few friends and I would be using a battered copy of the 2nd Edition Player's handbook in our retirement years.)

Does anyone have an idea of how many gamers are out there comapred with the boom of the 1980s and the bust of the 1990s?

 

[Crothian]

I also gotta admit - there is an awful lot of overlap. The WotC splatbooks, the FFG White Books, The Quintessential Whatever...

First off, I'm a sucker for class books, so I have them all. And I've been pleasently surprised to find out how very little overlap there is. I've found that I can use all three fighter classbooks for instance with the same character. Each book while focusing on a fighter, does take a fighter in a different direction. So, I'm for overlap of topics since they are being well done and work together.

 

[MGibster]

I'm concerned about d20

I don't make any living off of RPGs but I've been an avid player for about 15 years now. That doesn't make me an expert on the game industry and I won't make any such claims. I'll just go ahead and say what I feel about d20 as a consumer.

First the positive. I like the d20 system and in specific D&D. Since the release of 3E I've seen more new players then I did in the 90's, I've seen a wider variety of fantasy settings and products, and I've seen more new companies then I can shake a stick at.

Now the negative. I have no doubt that there are designers out there who dislike the d20 system nor do I think that the dislike stems from sour grapes. When Deadlands and L5R were adapted to the d20 system they became fundamentally different games. As I said I do like d20 but I do not like it for every game.

I think in some ways the d20 system is a step backwards in game design. For years designers had been moving away from strict class based character design. Deadlands, L5R, GURPs, and White Wolf all included character generation rules that gave players a lot of options right out of the box. In some ways D&D character creation seems to be more about what you can't do then what you can do and I've heard a lot of complains among players and DMs about it. I know some of you might say "The rules don't really matter it is how you play." The G in RPG stands for game so I think the rules are fairly important.

I've never heard a retailer complain about d20. I don't think they really care so long as they make money. I hope d20 continues to do well in the future but at the same time I hope they continue to come out with other systems.

Marc

 

[Synicism]

I am not sure where you get your information about Steve Long and DOJ/Hero Games but neither Steve or his company have "suffered". Both Steve and Darren Watts (DOJ's President) have remarked how well their HERO System products have been received. Many of those products are in third or fourth printing now.

I mentioned Steve Long because he (1) runs a game company, (2) doesn't do d20 stuff, and (3) makes his livelihood this way. He's also a friend of mine.

I never mean to assert that his company was doing poorly. And I'm thrilled to see HERO doing so well. It's a great game.

However, is Steve the exception rather than the rule?

 

[Thorin Stoutfoot]

i would really like to see more options for modules available. i like the idea of mods that would run PCs from levels 1 to 20, but using the WotC mods wouldn't work with my group (too many have played them, heard about them, read them)

In a previous thread last year, I talked about what I would like to see in a $100 product. The pre-built campaign was the concept I had in mind, complete with reoccuring NPCs, NPC illustrations, and modular pieces the DM can pull in and out as needed, as well as a "level map" indicating where the PCs should be at each stage.

The conventional wisdom is that adventures don't sell as well as crunch stuff or source books, since they can at most, sell to 1 DM per group. However, as a DM, adventures are the one item I'm willing to shell out money for: one reason why games like Spycraft won't get run as often as D&D is that while a subscription to Dungeon will allow me to run a campaign all by itself, I'd have to do a whole lot of work to run a Spycraft game, since the adventure support simply isn't there! For those of us with little time, a pre-built campaign would be a life-saver.

I'd like to see the d20 industry push the limits of adventure/campaign design, and get a commesurate reward for it. New companies won't be able to take this kind of risk, but I suspect many of the bigger design houses can.

 

[Griswold]

By the way, if you stick around long enough you'll see I'm not a d20 snob - I like it a lot, sure. But just watch me defend HackMaster some time. I did that a lot back when it came out.

Hehe, the Col. here was gushing forth praise about HM awhile backed when I inquired about it, thought I might need a bucket, BTW I picked up the PH, good stuff!

Originally posted by Mr Fidgit
i would really like to see more options for modules available

You know I had not thought about it until recently, when I was going through my 1st and 2nd edition stuff, that there do not seem to be near the amount of adventures availalbe for d20 as there were for the other editions. Now this is just going by what i see in my "FLGS". There do seem to be a cornicopia of "flavor" books out though.


Gris.