Spy-genre Poll

[BryonD]

Wow! Those poll results definitely surprised me. I voted True20, though I would have voted Spycraft if the line's future weren't currently in Limbo pending negotiations with Mongoose. The support for Spycraft has been very spotty for several years and, for me, it makes more sense to play (and design for) a system with a clearly defined future in terms of ongoing publisher support. Sometimes, though, it looks like Fandom may win out over Conservative Business Practice. Right now, the latter seems to be down for the count.

Being as the people voting in the poll don't have a single dime at stake, I greatly doubt business practice crossed their minds.

For me, I've got Spycraft 2.0 and as much as I'd LIKE to see more products, whether or not they come out has absolutely ZERO bearing on my desire to see 3rd party support for it. Seriously, what minute difference does it make?

And top that all off with: a well designed robust spy genre focused game vs a "rules light" generic game is a no-brainer (to me) when considering options for a spy genre game.

 

[jdrakeh]

Alderac Entertain's Spycraft support was spotty.

True, and this would have bearing on my personal decision to publish anything for the system.

Now that Spycraft is under the aegis of Crafty Games, things are looking good...

Well, what I meant is that future print support for the game seems to be entirely dependent on a third party (Mongoose). This isn't exactly what I'd call "looking good" as that third party has a considerable say in what gets published and when. That said, the imprint option is better than no Spycraft at all, though it doesn't build my confidence in the line's future like having the IP entirely in the hands of a single, self-sufficient, publisher would.

I'm hesitant (as a consumer) to invest money or time in a game line that is entirely at the mercy of somebody other than the actual IP holder. The line could end at any time, without notice -- there is no guarantee of sustained support. Now, true, the same can be said of any publisher, provided they manage themselves into a hole, though those who are solely responsible for their own IP seem to get more mileage of that IP, as a rule.

 

[Xyanthon]

I generally like 1st edition Top Secret for my spy games. However, I have True20 and like the system so I'd look into something done for that system.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Do I gather that it is your own House Rules page you were linking to, then? If so, well done.

You gather correctly. And thank you.

Y'know, just for interest's sake, you really ought to write this up - it's already pretty well done, and with a bit of polish, you could likely shop it to an existing PDF publisher for a bit of cash off sales. Seriously - I told HeapThaumaturgist the same thing, and IIRC, he's gotten on with a publisher. No reason to not make a bit of money, since you've obviously put some work in on this.

I've been tempted to do so a couple of times but at the moment I'm just too busy. (Suggestions are always welcome, though in PM please. I hate derailing threads with personal discussions.)

 

[solkan_uk]

I'd be tempted to say Duel Stat for Spycraft 2 and D20 Modern, in a .pdf release the extra stats aren't going to be an issue (and from a Spycraft PoV don't add a lot to the pagecount anyway).
The only thing is chases and other dramatic conflicts can be boring in D20 modern without add-ons whereas in Spycraft they can be a major point in the mission.

 

[GMSkarka]

As some eagle-eyed readers have discovered, we've shown our hand a bit. In the "Coming Soon" section of our website, we announce a product line launch coming later this month:

The Omega Briefing: The last word in d20 Espionage.

It will be a monthly ezine of material for d20-based spy gaming -- Featuring NPCs, gear, organizations, supplemental rules, and full-length adventures.

We've decided to base it purely on d20 Modern, which is familiar enough to allow for easy adaptation for those playing True 20 or Spycraft. Article support for those games might be doable in future issues, though -- we'll see.

 

[AscentStudios]

Wow! Those poll results definitely surprised me. I voted True20, though I would have voted Spycraft if the line's future weren't currently in Limbo pending negotiations with Mongoose. The support for Spycraft has been very spotty for several years and, for me, it makes more sense to play (and design for) a system with a clearly defined future in terms of ongoing publisher support.

For disambiguation's sake - we're most definately not in limbo Our deal with Mongoose is long since sealed, and World on Fire is already in final review stages over at the 'goose. The only thing that has been sketchy was the release date of 2.0 second printing, which was a distributor thing rather than a Mongoose thing. Crafty was created to ensure Spycraft's future, and though we've been slower out the gate than anyone (including ourselves) would have like, our support level has actually never been stronger. Next year's run of Crafty books will hopefully prove that, and our first 3rd party products for 2.0 should be rolling out too.

Well, what I meant is that future print support for the game seems to be entirely dependent on a third party (Mongoose). This isn't exactly what I'd call "looking good" as that third party has a considerable say in what gets published and when. That said, the imprint option is better than no Spycraft at all, though it doesn't build my confidence in the line's future like having the IP entirely in the hands of a single, self-sufficient, publisher would.

We're as close to the IP holders as we could possibly get. Yes, AEG didn't sell to us, but we have total control over the brand at this point. Your estimation of Mongoose's control over Spycraft is unfounded and fortunately incorrect.

I'm hesitant (as a consumer) to invest money or time in a game line that is entirely at the mercy of somebody other than the actual IP holder. The line could end at any time, without notice -- there is no guarantee of sustained support. Now, true, the same can be said of any publisher, provided they manage themselves into a hole, though those who are solely responsible for their own IP seem to get more mileage of that IP, as a rule.

Again, you're making a lot of assumptions about the business relationships we maintain. Suffice to say, we are in partnership with Mongoose and AEG to bring out these books - and bring them out we will. The creators of Spycraft are running the show here, and we will be getting a lot of mileage out of what we have spent the last 5 years managing and creating...finally

I hope this clears things up.

 

[GMSkarka]

We've decided that our Omega Briefing ezine, launching later this month, will be dual-statted for d20 Modern AND Spycraft, and will operate under the "Powered by Spycraft" banner!

Details available in the press release.

 

[EditorBFG]

We've decided that our Omega Briefing ezine, launching later this month, will be dual-statted for d20 Modern AND Spycraft.

Just a comment: kudos. A smart solution.

 

[jdrakeh]

Your estimation of Mongoose's control over Spycraft is unfounded and fortunately incorrect.

Isn't Mongoose printing and distributing your products? Between AEG dropping the line and Mongoose picking it up, have you printed or distributed any products on your own? They may not have the rights to the IP, but if you're entirely dependent on them for printing and distribution, I'd say that they have quite a bit of control over whether the line continues.

Again, you're making a lot of assumptions about the business relationships we maintain.

Just two assumptions, really:

1. Crafty Games can't afford to print and distribute heir own products.
2. The contract with Mongoose has escape clauses or a term limit.

And, honestly, neither of those assumptions seems too farfetched, given that Crafty Games hasn't published any printed support for Spycraft since acquiring the license (to the best of my knowledge, anyhow) and that they've subcontracted out said printing and distribution to another publisher.

I hope this clears things up.

Not really. If you'd care to officiate why Crafty Games ins't handling printing and distribution in-house, that would go a long way toward alleviating my concerns (unless, of coruse, I'm correct in assuming that they can't afford to do so, in which case it woudl confirm them). Ownership of IP or control of a license means nothing if you can't get stuff out the door on your own (as GoO, Eden, and a few other publishers have proven).