What d20 author do you buy sight-unseen?

[Angel Tarragon]

Erik Mona, Ed Greenwood & Monte Cook.

 

[Thomas Percy]

None. But Richard Baker and Collin McComb are my favourite authors for the creation of BIRTHRIGHT campign setting.

 

[philreed]

I've heard rumblings than an old TSR study showed that in terms of sales an author's name means nothing (no real measurable effect on sales). I don't think that's quite as true these days (especially when you factor in PDF sales) but it's still a given that subject is usually more important than author.

 

[Khairn]

sight unseen?

Monte Cook. He's the only author who's impressed me across multiple systems, multiple games and multiple settings.

 

[diaglo]

E. Gary Gygax

 

[diaglo]

Kevin Kulp for me. One of the best adventures I've ever purchased, I'd buy more of his stuff in a shot.

yeah, i want to get OSM2

 

[JoeGKushner]

E. Gary Gygax

Now does that include stuff under his name as opposed to written such as the Troll Lord's series or ?

 

[diaglo]

Now does that include stuff under his name as opposed to written such as the Troll Lord's series or ?

it has so far.

 

[Aus_Snow]

None.

Writers that might come close though? (in no particular order) : Chris Pramas, Joseph Browning, Mike Mearls, Phil Reed, Monte Cook, Sean K. Reynolds, Steve Kenson. . .

Those, and not other excellent writers, because they've put out (or contributed a great deal to) several very fine books - as opposed to one, say - that I happen to own.

Once I have maybe three RPG books by one great writer, I'm sometimes nearly tempted to buy "sight unseen". I still won't though.


Note: I don't know that many RPG writers' names offhand, which doesn't help me to answer this question much at all.

For example, who is Steve Kenson? (edit: this has been answered now. Doh!) Updated to include Phil Reed. How could I forget that name?!

 

[Vascant]

I've heard rumblings than an old TSR study showed that in terms of sales an author's name means nothing (no real measurable effect on sales). I don't think that's quite as true these days (especially when you factor in PDF sales) but it's still a given that subject is usually more important than author.

I do not agree with this Phil, you are refering to a different period of time and generation. Back when TSR did the studies movies also never pushed or told who directed it because everyone just focused on the actor. Now, the director has a larger then life factor on things. I think the samething can be said about the current generation, then you add into the fact that we communicate on a mass scale in seconds, not days or weeks.

Another key factor in all this, during the TSR days OGL did not exist and your only fix for D&D products was TSR (In most cases, we know about Mayfair and JG). So when you own most of the market for related material towards your product line, of course sales will be constant.

hehe..Opinions right?