Using 3rd party stuff.

[Odhanan]

So I wonder, what does 3rd party add to you game? How does it make your experience better?

It all comes down to a simple comparison for me: the mechanical elements of a role-playing game are like ingredients I would use to create a dish/series of dishes (the game session/campaign) for my guests who, by the way, help in the cooking (the players). I'm the one providing most of the ingredients, and I want to make sure we have what we need to create the best meal possible.

Sometimes, I want meat and potatoes. Sometimes I want French cuisine. Sometimes I'll go for tacos. To create the best meal experience, you might want to have a large selection of ingredients from all around the world, just in case.

The point of my comparison is that the same designers tend to design the same things. Picking up third-party products allows you to gather varied game elements with varied types of design approaches, ideas and inspirations behind them to create your own pot. Whatever works for your own tastes. Much like you find out if you'd like escargots by tasting them, instead of just judging them point-blank by appearance, having a look from time to time to third-party books is never wasted time. You can find out if you like what you see or not. You can also get inspired to design your own stuff. You can broaden your design horizons.

The more variety, the better. That's the point, for me (you just have to bear with the French gamer making cooking comparisons... ).

 

[GlassJaw]

Any specific answers? Other than just "Better"?

For low-magic settings and rule systems, you have to look outside of WotC.

 

[Roger]

Why do you use non-WOTC stuff? If you do, of course.

WotC just doesn't release much for d20 Modern any more. If they did, I'd probably buy it, but that option hasn't really been open.



Cheers,
Roger

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Because, frankly, WOTC hasn't produced anything in years that has interested me in the slightest. A lot of the 3rd party stuff is just plain better. Goodmsn Games and Necro make modules that are so much better than WOTC's that I can't even begin to compare them. Apples and oranges? Bleh, more like ice cream and dog crap. I'm beginning to think Wizards just throws a bunch of crap together and slaps a shiny cover on it and depends on the D&D logo to sell it.

 

[mcrow]

Because, frankly, WOTC hasn't produced anything in years that has interested me in the slightest. A lot of the 3rd party stuff is just plain better. Goodmsn Games and Necro make modules that are so much better than WOTC's that I can't even begin to compare them. Apples and oranges? Bleh, more like ice cream and dog crap. I'm beginning to think Wizards just throws a bunch of crap together and slaps a shiny cover on it and depends on the D&D logo to sell it.

I can agree that other publishers put out better modules, but I'm not sure anyone can say that WotC's books as whole are poor quality.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I haven't heard of anyone who's compared the Red Hand of Doom to dog crap. Far from it, in fact.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

There is one thing that has been bugging me for some time now: Why is it called 3rd party material? I think WotC is the first party but if everything else is 3rd party, then where is 2nd party?

As mentioned, Customers are often referred to as the second party, but in manufacturing another definition of second party is a separate division with the same corporation. So, if a decision was made to create a version of D&D targeted at young children, and it was developed through the Hasbro Toys division, rather than WotC, it would be a second party product.


As to the OP's question, one of the reasons I use 3rd party products is that I can often find exactly what I am looking for with them, and I won't have to spend $35 or more on a big hardcover book that will also have things I don't care about.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I haven't heard of anyone who's compared the Red Hand of Doom to dog crap. Far from it, in fact.

Well, I haven't really even looked at anything from WOTC in months. After the Complete crap line I pretty much wrote them off. Red Hand may indeed, be a good product, as might others from WOTC, but from my experience, they are few and far between. Also, I should add, anything with a half were-golem/paladin/assassin/druid in it gets passed over by default regardless of the rest of the product.

I just find that Wizards and my taste diverged paths long ago. I haven't even checked their website in forever, yet I check Necro, TLG, Green Ronin, etc weekly for new info.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

I always thought they were called "third party" like any political party in the US other than democrat or republican. Anything besides those two, get lumped into "third party." Since this is a term people are used to hearing, it got stuck onto D20 at some point.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I always thought they were called "third party" like any political party in the US other than democrat or republican. Anything besides those two, get lumped into "third party." Since this is a term people are used to hearing, it got stuck onto D20 at some point.

"Third party" predates the American power duopoly. The party of the first part and the party of the second part are WotC and the customer. Anyone else is a third party.