Whatever happened to the world of the WOTC campaign contest?

[Spatula]

They've probably concluded from market research that the more off-beat settings won't find enough of an audience to make continued support profitable. Presuming that their intention is to support this new setting beyond the initial release. A mostly-standard fantasy world has the potential to appeal to almost every D&D player.

 

[Umbran]

However, in wanting to try something new, why did Wiz, years into 3e launch a search for more fantasy settings?

Because they want one that's pretty sure to sell. d20 Modern and such are nice, but they simply don't have the player base of D&D.

 

[Technik4]

Planescape

Personally, I like Planescape a lot. I was very disappointed when it was announced that it would not be supported (nor even loaned out) any time soon after 3e came out. I was also grieving for dark sun (which I had only played once).

I think what others have said is true though; neither dark sun nor planescape would provide the sales (or even close to the sales) of a new fantasy setting or the forgotten realms. From a business standpoint, engaging in multiple settings is about as worthwhile as making modules (perhaps less). It only appeals to one type or role of a gamer, whereas a source-book for an existing setting (when you are only supporting 1 or 2) can appeal to them all.

Technik

 

[Darrin Drader]

The issue with Planescape is that it never was truly a different setting. The dichotomy does not exist. It was loads of detail on planes that are already part of the D&D multiverse, and then weird offbeat slang to go with it (not that there was anything wrong with the slang). Anyone who has the Manual of the Planes and Deities and Demigods is able to play a Planescape campaign. If you feel you're lacking enough detail in those sources, you can certainly go back to your 2nd edition materials. Between the Forgotten Realms, Races of Faerun, and Dragon Magazine, most, if not all the major PC races from Planescape have been covered. Savage Species tells you how to convert anything that hasn't already been covered.

As for Darksun, I believe there's an official fan site that's done some extensive 3E conversions.

 

[Spiteful Dwarf]

It's the same thing as New Coke. Do you all remember New Coke? NEW COKE? Or how about Pepsi Clear? Or Vanilla Coke, Pepsi Blue, Sprite Ice, etc....

It's fascinating how closely the RPG industry mimics the tomfoolery of the Sody-Pop conglomerates.

Stay tuned for Coca-Rocha... The soda flavoured like minty-cockroaches.

Next up for WOTC is Forgotten Rereleases... Where an ancient and wily mage tells us new stories in the form of old fantasy paradigms and tries to make us think they're fresh and innovative! He's also a beard, and impossible to kill.

Oddly, I love FR. Don't take my post the wrong way... I'm just feeling like a smarmy jerk tonight.

 

[Destil]

The issue with Planescape is that it never was truly a different setting. The dichotomy does not exist.

Well... planescape is really two settings. The planes themselves (as you've said, we have plenty of info for these just in the MotP), and Sigil. The various factions and such (philosophers with clubs) is a very intergal part of the setting, and isn't very well supported within the current 3E rules. But since it's largly role-playing material using the older planescape stuff isn't too hard, about the only thing that really needs to be done is a little work on an "extraplanar" discriptor for PCs and feats for the various factions to represent their 2E bonuses.

 

[Enceladus]

I think it was a brilliant marketing ploy to get rid of the top three potential campaign settings out there. Buy the rights and never publish them. Genius.

 

[teitan]

It's the same thing as New Coke. Do you all remember New Coke? NEW COKE? Or how about Pepsi Clear? Or Vanilla Coke, Pepsi Blue, Sprite Ice, etc....

Hey, Vanilla Coke rocks man, I drink it almost exclusively.

Jason =)

 

[diaglo]

this is where i paraphrase myself:

Original Coke is the only true soda pop. All the other colas are just a poor imitation of the real thing.

 

[zug_zug]

this is where i paraphrase myself:

Original Coke is the only true soda pop. All the other colas are just a poor imitation of the real thing.

LOL I just snorted Vanilla coke out my nostrils.

/e checks to see if hes logged on to dragonsfoot by mistake