Shane Hensley comments on the RPG industry

[Corinth]

I see D20 as a godsend to gaming. Millions of gamers who'd never set foot outside of fantasy how explore over genres that support adventuring, and companies arise to meet this demand. Stores that stock D20 do well, and companies that publish D20 do likewise (usually). So what if the non-D20 stuff gets crowded out? It's not like D20 can't do it all; it can, and soon enough it will. When the day comes that there is nothing but D20, I'll break out the good stuff and celebrate. Why? Because it means that I will never again despair for finding players to play what I want- a conumdrum I've dealt with far too often in my 21 years in gaming.

 

[d20Dwarf]

It seems to me that d20Dwarf's position has as a base assumption the idea that retailers and the buying public are well-educated and aware. I expect that's a bit naive.

I see the market from the manufacturer's side every day, and I'm quite aware of the challenges we have as producers to get our products into the hands of D&D players. I'm not sure what you are basing your assumption on, but you are attributing things to me that I have never said. Perhaps you confused someone else's post with mine.

I don't think we would see a marked change in what consumers buy even if every game produced had 100% exposure. Of course fans of niche products like to believe otherwise.

 

[MGibster]

I see D20 as a godsend to gaming. Millions of gamers who'd never set foot outside of fantasy how explore over genres that support adventuring, and companies arise to meet this demand.

The vast majority of d20 products are geared towards the fantasy market. I know there are more modern settings such as Call of Cthulhu, Deadlands, Star Wars. and Spycraft but the majority of gamers I come into contact with stick with fantasy settings like Ravenloft, Forgotten Realms, Living Erde (sp?), or Rokugan. Maybe that's just the way it is in my area.

Stores that stock D20 do well, and companies that publish D20 do likewise (usually). So what if the non-D20 stuff gets crowded out? It's not like D20 can't do it all; it can, and soon enough it will.

I don't wish for any business to go down but I don't think the d20 glut will last forever. Nor do I think that d20 can do it all. As I said earlier d20 Rokugan was a radically different game then the orginal L5R rules. (Whether you hated the original rules or not isn't the point.)

When the day comes that there is nothing but D20, I'll break out the good stuff and celebrate. Why? Because it means that I will never again despair for finding players to play what I want- a conumdrum I've dealt with far too often in my 21 years in gaming.

Until d20 came out I never had difficulty getting people to try new games. There are many new gamers and even some old timers who refuse to play anything that isn't d20. I like d20 but I just don't think it is all that great for every game. I really dont' think it would have gained any popularity if it weren't released as the D&D rules.

Marc

 

[Buttercup]

Thorin & ColonelHardisson - a $100 mod/mega-mod/campaign is actually something i'd consider buying, as long as it was 'all inclusive'. (as in - you'd need nothing else but the core books to run.)

Yeah, I'd buy such a package in a heartbeat. If it really did have everything you would need (except the core books) to take your party from level 1-20, or maybe even just 1-10, then it would be well worth it to me. By 'everything' I mean all maps and other handouts for players & DM, all NPCs complete with illustrations, floorplans for shops, and random, scalable encounters, all the monster tokens needed, all of the adventure booklets, and possibly a few props. Wrap it up in an attractive box, and it would be worth every penny.

Now I'll just go back to lurking in this fascinating thread.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

I like d20 but I just don't think it is all that great for every game. I really dont' think it would have gained any popularity if it weren't released as the D&D rules.

Awww, I disagree. It is a good system. Granted, it wouldn't have done as well without some brand recognition, but if it were released, say, as the FALLOUT rpg it would have done just fine. I certainly wouldn't say it wouldn't have gained "any popularity;" if it suffered at all, it would be on account of the state of the industry-- which, prior to d20, was pretty crappy.

Let me put that another way... Released under any other license (or none at all) it might not have done as well, but I still think it would have done well and received recognition as a good RPG system. An awful lot of painstaking research and design from some top game designers went into the making of d20. Don't discount that.


Wulf

 

[Xeriar]

I see D20 as a godsend to gaming. Millions of gamers who'd never set foot outside of fantasy how explore over genres that support adventuring, and companies arise to meet this demand. Stores that stock D20 do well, and companies that publish D20 do likewise (usually). So what if the non-D20 stuff gets crowded out? It's not like D20 can't do it all; it can, and soon enough it will. When the day comes that there is nothing but D20, I'll break out the good stuff and celebrate. Why? Because it means that I will never again despair for finding players to play what I want- a conumdrum I've dealt with far too often in my 21 years in gaming.

That, fortunately, will never happen. I know many people who have varying degrees of hate for WotC. Some won't play anything that isn't Storyteller, others won't play anything made by TSR/WotC, and by extension d20. It's a quarter of the D&D market, but that's still sizeable.

It has something to do with the systems themselves, you expect a system set in modern times, or the future, to have a grittier feel, 'hit points', 'levels' and 'base attack bonus' don't conjure up the same feeling.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

That, fortunately, will never happen. I know many people who have varying degrees of hate for WotC. Some won't play anything that isn't Storyteller...

I think I know these guys. We're talking about those herds of non-conformists, right?

 

[jasamcarl]

That, fortunately, will never happen. I know many people who have varying degrees of hate for WotC. Some won't play anything that isn't Storyteller, others won't play anything made by TSR/WotC, and by extension d20. It's a quarter of the D&D market, but that's still sizeable.

It has something to do with the systems themselves, you expect a system set in modern times, or the future, to have a grittier feel, 'hit points', 'levels' and 'base attack bonus' don't conjure up the same feeling.

Which is of course BS. Show me any real movement towards the above as a matter of preference for most rpg consumers. As many have pointed out, it was the creator driven fad towards the 'grittier' point-based systems you noted above when rpg sales were at a low-point. Of course, such an argument rarely relies on reason, instead throughing loaded, yet vague terms such as 'modern' and 'advanced' without specifing how such systems are progressive in the first place. d20 does exactly what most consumers want...it supports rp 'fluff' while also providing a varied, balanced 'gamist' pardigm; its advanced in that regard.

Please, argue that point...i need a good laugh.

 

[Crothian]

I think I know these guys. We're talking about those herds of non-conformists, right?

No, just stubborn. Just as stubborn as the people who will play only d20 and nothing else.

 

[Sulimo]

That, fortunately, will never happen.

Yeah. I dont know what I'd do if it happened. I'd have more cash in my pocket thats for sure. Personally, I love using a variety of systems. Using one all the time tends to bore me. And I rather disagree with the notion that one system can fit all genres.

I know many people who have varying degrees of hate for WotC. Some won't play anything that isn't Storyteller, others won't play anything made by TSR/WotC, and by extension d20. It's a quarter of the D&D market, but that's still sizeable.

Yeah. I have one such player in my group. A huge GURPS fanatic, who dislikes D&D with a passion...couldnt even convince him to try 3e. Its one onf the reasons I havent played much 3e.