What are the 10 best d20/D&D companies out there?

[Psion]

Yeah, the field is a little crowded. It's not too surprising to me to see the established companies throw in the towel before little d20 dedicated ones.

I think in the long run, it will lead to a healthier field.

 

[Crothian]

At the very least it will be easier on my wallet......

 

[Ryltar]

Bad Axe all the way. Definite #1.

I also dig FFG's and Goodman Games' stuff.

Sad to hear about Atlas, though. Crime and Punishment rocked.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Yeah, the field is a little crowded. It's not too surprising to me to see the established companies throw in the towel before little d20 dedicated ones.

I can only hope you mean it's because the "established" companies have larger overhead and can't reasonably stay in the business right now, not because we little guys lack the wisdom to quit.

I have yet to release a product that wasn't turning a profit by the 2nd or 3rd month (breaking even generally in the first month) and as long as my overhead costs are low (and believe me, they are very very low) I can keep doing this for the sheer joy of it.

It helps, of course, when it's appreciated-- and so much the better for me that a whopping financial success alone isn't the only indicator of public appreciation.


Wulf

 

[Psion]

I can only hope you mean it's because the "established" companies have larger overhead and can't reasonably stay in the business right now, not because we little guys lack the wisdom to quit.

LOL!

I mean because the big guys do more than one thing and are seeing "opportunity cost" pushed in their face (e.g., I seem to recall when John Nephew was quizzed on why he didn't promote some of his d20 products more, he as much as said because for the same marketing investment, he gets more out of promoting his other games.) And because fewer of the small guys have it as their only employment that are forced to deal with such issues.

 

[nyrfherdr]

Wulf...
I hope you stay in. I've got Grim Tales and it's very good.
I think it's perfect for what you set it out to do.

My challenge, of course, is to get others to play it. Since it becomes it's own players handbook, we need more copies.

I'm hoping to run a game soon, but even if I don't it was a great book and I hope you stick around. (In my top 5! I don't have a top 10)

Game ON!
Nyrfherdr

 

[talien]

I talked to MonkeyGod at Origins and they told me then that Frost & Fur was their last release. Financially, it didn't make sense to spend four times the effort and money to produce a roleplaying game that only sold a few hundred copies at best when they could make board games under their other name, Face 2 Face Games, at a fraction of the cost and have sales that numbered in the thousands. They also confirmed it again to me at Gen Con when they said Arms & Armor v3.5 would be the only 3.5 collection of weapons and armor because they were not going to do a 3.5 version of From Stone to Steel.
<snip>
As far as an official notice, don't hold your breath. I doubt any company will make a public announcement saying they are giving up. No one wants to admit defeat and many will probably try to get back in the game if things pick up again.

What he said.

I spent considerable time at the MonkeyGod booth and I'm pretty sure they've lost web access to their site, so this is as official as it gets:

MonkeyGod might come back one year, they even have products ready to go, but the RPG market is currently not viable for them.

As Mouseferatu said, we both got our d20 start with these guys, so it's a bit like seeing a parent go broke. Of course, MGE is doing quite well as Face2Face Games, and I'll still visit their booth and watch everything I've written for them sell for 50% off.

Frost and Fur was the last shot for them to stay in the industry and I gave it my best, but I'm afraid it wasn't good enough.

 

[dekrass]

I use and like these:
Malhavoc Press
E.N. Publishing
WotC
Chainmail Bikini
Green Ronin

Pretty much in that order. Monte Cook is one of the best and most consistent designers ever.

I have several E.N. Publishing titles, and Elements of Magic Revised was a great innovation!

 

[johnsemlak]

Fast Foward is done completely.

Does that include the Castlemorn setting by Ed Greenwood that was previously announced?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Frost and Fur was the last shot for them to stay in the industry and I gave it my best, but I'm afraid it wasn't good enough.

Mike, this is the second forum on which I've seen you make this comment, and I just want to say...

QUIT IT!!!!

F&F is a fantastic book. Top notch. It didn't sell well enough for MonkeyGod to remain in the industry because of

A) The position the industry is in, and...

B) The position MonkeyGod is in.

It's highly unlikely that any book would have sold well enough to "save" the company, under the circumstances. And you know what? Even if F&F had done so, it would probably have been a temporary fix. No single product can save a company that's floundering in a depressed market.

F&F is great. MonkeyGod is great. And I dearly hope they'll be back, and maybe they'll be able to find whatever nebulous spark of luck was lacking in their first go-round. In the mean time, stop blaming yourself. You did nothing wrong, and F&F is more than "good enough" for anything you might ask of it.