The status of RPGA Campaigns

[MerricB]

Posted by Chris Tulach, the new RPGA content manager, on the Wizards boards:

So, here's some insight into the RPGA's campaign offerings.

Living Arcanis - it was purely a business decision to let them go; the campaign is very healthy and I'm sure will continue to strive forward without the RPGA

Living Spycraft - see Living Arcanis

Legacy of the Green Regent - this campaign was over long before I even took my post; I was not thrilled with how it "faded away" either, which brings me to ...

Mark of Heroes - this campaign was already slowing way down by the time I got on board, and it was due to end at D&D Experience anyway, so rather than prolong the existence of another Eberron campaign beyond its natural lifecycle (2 years), I wanted it to go out with a finale adventure (which will be available for everyone to play after the extended premiere season) so it has "closure"

Living Death - obviously, this reached its natural lifecycle, and is ending on schedule

Living Force - ended long before I took my post

Bronze Head - was discontinued for business reasons, long before I got here

Classics - play for classics has not been very high ever since people became very invested in "Living" style campaigns (particularly after Living Greyhawk launched); they're not permanently "gone", just on a hiatus for now

Our existing campaigns are:

Living Greyhawk - a phenomonal success, Living Greyhawk keeps growing and growing from year to year

Xen'drik Expeditions - our current offering in the D&D Campaigns program, Xen'drik is very healthy (and hopefully, I can reduce the blackout period to a couple weeks next time instead of a month)

Living Kingdoms of Kalamar - officially licensed by Wizards, Kenzer's campaign is the "cert alternative" Living campaign

Of course, I'll be at D&D Experience, and I'd love to chat with anyone who wants to sit down and has ideas how we can create a classic adventure model that's enticing for players in today's RPGA.

Oh, and make sure that you're at the members' meeting on Saturday evening as well.

Cheers!

 

[Piratecat]

Classics - play for classics has not been very high ever since people became very invested in "Living" style campaigns (particularly after Living Greyhawk launched); they're not permanently "gone", just on a hiatus for now

I'll start being an RPGA judge again when - sadly, 'if' is more realistic - these start being run again. I strongly suspect that those days are gone, though.

Interesting summary. I had thought that Living Spycraft wasn't healthy, though. Anyone know?

 

[Khairn]

The RPGA has proven in the past that it can't take the drug store approach and try to offer everything to everyone. If they focus on just a couple of settings and run those well, they'll be successful.

Although some of the dropped campaigns are personal favorites, I'm glad to see them focusing on just a few.

 

[qstor]

Although some of the dropped campaigns are personal favorites, I'm glad to see them focusing on just a few.

I'm not, I mean if they're *only* going to support WOTC products, what about a d20 Modern Horror campaign or a LF for the Saga Edition?

And the D&D campaign model has left a lot of people mad with the late modules and short ordering times. Not to mention, I dislike the level bumps. They're supposedly popular yet the order numbers aren't released. I think a 'living' Eberron would be more popular than Xen'drik Expeditions.

And if people want D*D classics and there's a lot of people that like them, then by all means bring them back. I think variety is the spice of life. The RPGA *could* use new sci-fi and horror campaigns.

Mike

 

[Aeolius]

...I'd love to chat with anyone who wants to sit down and has ideas how we can create a classic adventure model that's enticing for players in today's RPGA.

Living Seas?

 

[mhensley]

If Forgotten Realms is the most popular campaign setting for D&D, how is it possible that there is no rpga campaign for it?

 

[kenobi65]

If Forgotten Realms is the most popular campaign setting for D&D, how is it possible that there is no rpga campaign for it?

I think it's a combination of hard feelings among some longtime RPGA players over the demise of Living City (I've heard rumors that there were actually threats of physical violence over it), and the fact that RPGA uses its campaigns to drive purchase of books, not vice-versa -- in other words, FR books sell just fine without having an RPGA campaign, while they may feel that Eberron books need that extra shot in the arm.

 

[kenobi65]

I'm not, I mean if they're *only* going to support WOTC products, what about a d20 Modern Horror campaign or a LF for the Saga Edition?

Well, as I think someone replied to your exact same post over on the RPGA board...there might well be an announcement at DDXP.

Remember that (a) Living Force was always designed as a 5-year campaign, with a defined end-point (which had been reached), and (b) when RPGA stopped work on a successor campaign to LF, in late 2005 or early 2006, it was because WotC had fundamentally mothballed the SWRPG at that time.

It wouldn't surprise me to see a new SW campaign announced at DDXP, though, I fear that, if they do, it'd use the D&D Campaigns model (level bumps, limited time availability for any particular module), which are turn-offs for me.

I honestly don't know enough about d20 Modern, and how well it sells. I know that Ian Richards has made mention of the RPGA wanting to have some manner of horror campaign with LD ending, but I'm not convinced they're going to do anything about it. I know that Ian had made similar comments about wanting to be able to offer a sci-fi campaign, too, but when members of the LF staff made a proposal last year for a d20 Future campaign, that proposal was rejected.