Third Party: If So, Then What?

[catastrophic]

CapnZapp, the problem with creating very generic scenarios is that it's a little hard to get past orc-and-pie in terms of story and challenges. That is why every version of the game has an implied setting, whether it's Greyhawk or the Known World or the implied setting of AEG's Mercenaries or the Scarred Lands. It's going to be hard to write something that works in the Forgotten Realms as well as Dark Sun.

You've set up a deliberatly stark contrast there, in fact i'd be hard pressed to imagine any other combination of D&D settings where that point is valid.

Most adventures written for say, Greyhawk or FR can be adapated to another setting with relative ease. Maybe not dark sun, maybe not a real to the hilt style of L5R, but what, Kalamar? Birthright? Al-quadim?

You don't need a setting to create an interesting premise. And your premise does not have to be dependent on the trappings of the setting to the degree you seem to be suggesting.

If I create a scenario based around a feud between two families who each control a tavern in a city that sees a lot of trade, I can put that feud in any number of different settings, and the DM running those settings can do so too, especially if I offer some advice on doing so.

Maybe they're running oriental adventures, and perhaps they don't feel the rowdy drinking and gambling that dominates the taverns in my scenario fits with their setting. That's cool, they can put in a different kind of tavern instead, like the Weiqi parlor from the movie Hero. Most of the scenario can still be a great asset to them.

Maybe they're in Dark sun, and they feel the look of the battles maps isn't right. That is a problem, but the encounters and the macinations of the feuding families can still work with a bit of adaptation.

And those are extreme examples. In most settings there's going to be stuff like taverns, trade, families, feuds, ale, and gambling. And the essential character and appeal of the scenario will be there regardless of the setting.

 

[CapnZapp]

One more point: yes, writing an adventure that works in both, say, Dragonlance and Dark Sun is probably a real challenge.

But this is more because Dark Sun is so special than anything else.

Call me ignorant, but most other settings have enough of the "faux-medieval-Europe" feel to them that PoL works as a substitute.

Discussing Dark Sun and how to support that world w/o auto-disqualifying yourself from all other worlds, on the other hand, is probably a topic worthy of its own thread...

Edit: What C said

 

[ggroy]

I think the larger issue is that being relegated to supplying WotC with adventures is not what most 3PP have in mind.

A better question is why some 3PPs dislike being relegated to supplying WotC with adventures.

If I had to guess, are adventures to least profitable part of the rpg business? This seems to be a popular meme, but I haven't seen any hard numbers to show one way or the other.

 

[Jack99]

A better question is why some 3PPs dislike being relegated to supplying WotC with adventures.

If I had to guess, are adventures to least profitable part of the rpg business? This seems to be a popular meme, but I haven't seen any hard numbers to show one way or the other.

It takes time to write an adventure. It requires maps and a lot of other things. Making up a race or some weird alternate rule is much easier.

Regarding being the least profitable part of the business, Paizo would probably disagree with you.

 

[CapnZapp]

If you want to blame the economy, explain why 3pp products for a smaller market (Pathfinder) are outselling 4e.

Perhaps because Paizos home turf is much more welcoming* to 3PPs than WotC's?

*) Remember that it pretty much have to be. After all, it's WotC's old turf they're playing on.

I didn't say the economy was the sole reason.

Anyway, it's not me that have to come up with alternatives. It's you who need to answer for posting an "explanation" that effectively denigrates 4E gamers, not me.

But feel free to do that elsewhere. We're far off topic as it is.

 

[ggroy]

Perhaps because Paizos home turf is much more welcoming* to 3PPs than WotC's?

*) Remember that it pretty much have to be. After all, it's WotC's old turf they're playing on.

Paizo could be attracting more of a hardcore gamer crowd who spend more on books/pdfs, than the less hardcore + casual gamers?

 

[CapnZapp]

It takes time to write an adventure. It requires maps and a lot of other things. Making up a race or some weird alternate rule is much easier.

This is exactly why I value adventures much higher than a new feat or sumthin'.

I don't need more player options. I need more (good) adventures to use or steal from.

So in a way the current circumstances might result in some good, if the creative energies of 3PPs can be channeled into creating adventures instead of imo being wasted on Yet Another Complete Fighter's Handbook.

(yes, I said so in the other thread too)

 

[CapnZapp]

Paizo could be attracting more of a hardcore gamer crowd who spend more on books/pdfs, than the less hardcore + casual gamers?

That's a variant of pawsplay's theory, which I don't buy.

Perhaps the WotC crowd is more discerning, having moved on from the generally low quality of d20 stuff? 4E does demand a higher standard of presentation.

(Not saying this is so. Just offering an equally unfounded counter-view)

 

[Jack99]

Paizo could be attracting more of a hardcore gamer crowd who spend more on books/pdfs, than the less hardcore + casual gamers?

As I have stated on numerous occasions before, I think it not a matter of hardcore or not, but more of a "OGL-fan or not"-thing. Sure, those who buy a lot of OGL-products are usually "hardcore" buyers, but there are plenty of others (and probably a lot more) who buy everything WotC puts out and who can thus be considered just as "hardcore". And they probably went with 4e for the most part


PS: Using the word hardcore with regards to gaming made me chuckle..

 

[ggroy]

Perhaps the WotC crowd is more discerning, having moved on from the generally low quality of d20 stuff? 4E does demand a higher standard of presentation.

By the time it was late-2005/early-2006, I remember seeing a lot of the crappier d20 stuff in the bargain bins by then. The newer 3pp stuff being released by then, was mostly the higher quality stuff.