I'll update my site, and get a booklet of templated kobolds done. Savage, dire, bygone kobolds with a magic mirror manufacturing firm. 
The trends of 2005
- Thread starter Nisarg
- Start date
Campbell
Relaxed Intensity
I'll address my semi-reasonable hopes for 2005 since I lack any significant insight into the industry.
Once it is released Upper Krust's the Immortal's Handbook will receive critical acclaim and decent sales, but its actual use will be rare. It's variant take on epic spellcasting will be excellent.
The new Werewolf and Mage games will do well. Supplement sales will be better then that of the previous WoD due to its lack of metaplot elements. While a number of people will not convert to the New World of Darkness, those turned off by metaplot, and the older rules system will be brought into the fold. People will start to realize that most people that play WoD games also play other RPGs. The Exalted product line should start to cool down as most setting elements have received supplements. I imagine that a revised Exalted rulebook could be coming down the line relatively soon after Mage is released.
D&D sales will be strong, espicially Weapons of Legacy and DMG II, which should prove to be worthwhile products that offer support to DMs. More DM oriented products will be announced, but crunchy material will continue to sell well as well. Ebberon sales will be steady, and I imagine WotC might try their hands at another setting nearing the end of the year.
The new edition of WHFRP will sell extremely well and should prove to be an excellent product. Green Ronin's OGL products, specifically the Mutants and Masterminds line, Black Company, and Thieves' World will hedge out most of their d20 line.
Grim Tales sales should see an upswing as support products emerge.
In general, I think we'll see shift back towards people playing a multitude of different systems, and the d20 industry will move back towards providing support for d20 Modern, and D&D. People like me will be happy.
I'll continue to play roleplaying games, and no industry-related gloom and doom shall affect the way I play roleplaying games.
Once it is released Upper Krust's the Immortal's Handbook will receive critical acclaim and decent sales, but its actual use will be rare. It's variant take on epic spellcasting will be excellent.
The new Werewolf and Mage games will do well. Supplement sales will be better then that of the previous WoD due to its lack of metaplot elements. While a number of people will not convert to the New World of Darkness, those turned off by metaplot, and the older rules system will be brought into the fold. People will start to realize that most people that play WoD games also play other RPGs. The Exalted product line should start to cool down as most setting elements have received supplements. I imagine that a revised Exalted rulebook could be coming down the line relatively soon after Mage is released.
D&D sales will be strong, espicially Weapons of Legacy and DMG II, which should prove to be worthwhile products that offer support to DMs. More DM oriented products will be announced, but crunchy material will continue to sell well as well. Ebberon sales will be steady, and I imagine WotC might try their hands at another setting nearing the end of the year.
The new edition of WHFRP will sell extremely well and should prove to be an excellent product. Green Ronin's OGL products, specifically the Mutants and Masterminds line, Black Company, and Thieves' World will hedge out most of their d20 line.
Grim Tales sales should see an upswing as support products emerge.
In general, I think we'll see shift back towards people playing a multitude of different systems, and the d20 industry will move back towards providing support for d20 Modern, and D&D. People like me will be happy.
I'll continue to play roleplaying games, and no industry-related gloom and doom shall affect the way I play roleplaying games.
Akrasia
Procrastinator
Ankh-Morpork Guard said:I wouldn't go so far as to say a huge success, but I bet it will be a big thing. Probably comparable to Arcana Unearthed or another major setting/alternate rules set. Either way, I don't care! As long as I get my hands on it(when I get the money, of course...) and Castle Zagyg, I'll be happy.
...
Actually, as big as "Arcana Unearthed" is "huge" for any non-WotC publisher.
So we agree after-all.
jester47
First Post
I agree!Akrasia said:
The fact that it will be compatible with most d20 stuff cannot hurt.
The fact that 'Castle Zagyg' is being produced for it cannot hurt either.
Also,
The fact that it will be loosely compatible with most 1e, 2e, basic, and ICE stuff cannot hurt either.
That is to say all of that stuff wil convert to C&C easily as opposed to converting everything to 3e.
Now aside from C&C and Castle Zagyg, who do I think will be the big hitters this up comming year?
Rappan Athuk Reloaded: All 3 in one hardback, with expanded wilderness and expanded dungeons and a few more entrances!
Wilderlands BOXED Campaign setting.
WHFRP
Theive's World
WotC, now that Eberron is developed and out the door, and they are no longer working on race and class books, will make some really kick ass product along the lines of Serpent Kingdoms and Frostburn. Not saying Eberron is bad, just saying some items that came out before it and around it were sub par (and I am not even saying the planar handbook, Complete Arcane, Complete Divine were bad, just not at good as I thought they could have been) and I suspect that is because more attention was being paied to Eberron. I find it odd that stuff that was finalised after eberron was finalised is better than the stuff that was finalised durring the production of Eberron. I think the same thing happened with the FRCS too. Look at the old splat books!
I did not think Chaosium was floundering...
Aaron.
Last edited:
Acid_crash
First Post
trends for 2005...
We will see fewer d20 products than 2004, but they will be of higher quality.
Some of the more successful games I think:
Castles and Crusades
Thieves World (never heard of it, but it seems very popular)
Blue Rose
Arcana Evolved
Warhammer Fantasy RP (also never heard of this one, but seems very popular)
Weapons of the Gods will surprise many
DMG II will be more successful than we expect (anything with Robin Laws is good)
HERO System, Revised will shock many, and perhaps wound a few players who dislike the GM's ruling (has anybody seen this huge beast of a book)
Midnight 2nd edition will also be successful
and another trend we will see in '05 is more non d20 products of higher quality as well... probably more in '05 than the previous 4 years combined (wild guess, but it could happen).
We will see fewer d20 products than 2004, but they will be of higher quality.
Some of the more successful games I think:
Castles and Crusades
Thieves World (never heard of it, but it seems very popular)
Blue Rose
Arcana Evolved
Warhammer Fantasy RP (also never heard of this one, but seems very popular)
Weapons of the Gods will surprise many
DMG II will be more successful than we expect (anything with Robin Laws is good)
HERO System, Revised will shock many, and perhaps wound a few players who dislike the GM's ruling (has anybody seen this huge beast of a book)
Midnight 2nd edition will also be successful
and another trend we will see in '05 is more non d20 products of higher quality as well... probably more in '05 than the previous 4 years combined (wild guess, but it could happen).
As I'm mainly interested in Wizards D&D releases, I'll concentrate on those:
* The D&D Basic Game will grow the player base significantly - especially as many young players get it in their Christmas stockings.
* The D&D Miniatures game will likewise become more successful. However, as the year goes on the releases will be aimed more towards the skirmish audience and less towards the RPG audience. (Alas!)
* The 2nd D&D movie will also see an upsurge of interest in D&D by young teenagers, funnelling into the Basic game and the D&D Miniatures game.
* Paizo (I mean Erik) will turn Dragon Magazine around, and both Dragon Magazine and Dungeon Magazine will build in popularity.
* D&D Supplements will sell well, and finally get some good editing. With the second half of the year, Wizards will expand upon the topics they cover.
* D&D will hit 5 million regular players per month.
Cheers!
* The D&D Basic Game will grow the player base significantly - especially as many young players get it in their Christmas stockings.
* The D&D Miniatures game will likewise become more successful. However, as the year goes on the releases will be aimed more towards the skirmish audience and less towards the RPG audience. (Alas!)
* The 2nd D&D movie will also see an upsurge of interest in D&D by young teenagers, funnelling into the Basic game and the D&D Miniatures game.
* Paizo (I mean Erik) will turn Dragon Magazine around, and both Dragon Magazine and Dungeon Magazine will build in popularity.
* D&D Supplements will sell well, and finally get some good editing.
With the second half of the year, Wizards will expand upon the topics they cover.* D&D will hit 5 million regular players per month.
Cheers!
Baron Opal
First Post
IMO, Chaosium has been floundering for several years. They do, however, show a remarkable tenacity and refuse to die. That they put out Call of Cthulhu is what keeps them going. That and I think they have relatively few full time employees.
I was surprised that they split off their Glorantha IP to Issaries, Inc.
I am very interested to see how the Tekumel products from GoO will pan out. I am a big Tekumel-phile so I hope that they produce a product that captures the flavor w/o being too alien. I think that there hasn't been a focussed game product for Tekumel since the Gamescience books, and that was a long time ago.
I was surprised that they split off their Glorantha IP to Issaries, Inc.
I am very interested to see how the Tekumel products from GoO will pan out. I am a big Tekumel-phile so I hope that they produce a product that captures the flavor w/o being too alien. I think that there hasn't been a focussed game product for Tekumel since the Gamescience books, and that was a long time ago.
Angel Tarragon
Dawn Dragon
BTS2 will be a sellout.
----------------------
Mongoose will finally publish OGL Space.
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Legends of Earthsea D20 (I wish)
----------------------
Fans will riot en masse at the Wizards of the Coast hq in Renton Washington until Hasbro makes Wizards publish a Mystara campaign book.
----------------------
Mongoose will finally publish OGL Space.
----------------------
Legends of Earthsea D20 (I wish)
----------------------
Fans will riot en masse at the Wizards of the Coast hq in Renton Washington until Hasbro makes Wizards publish a Mystara campaign book.
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