Who Will the New Publishers Be?

[Khuxan]

"Ransom" is a dumb business model. There's a clear free-rider problem.

'That's not a bug, that's a feature!' to use a phrase I hear so often.

It doesn't matter how many free-riders there are as long as enough fans chip in enough money. The ransom model gives lots of people a chance to donate a small amount as well as a few people a chance to donate a large amount. Plus, all the previously ransomed products are free advertisement for the currently ransomed product.

 

[Toryx]

It was pretty clear to me that WotC hired Mike Mearls after "Iron Heroes" for 4th Edition (I flatly stated to a d20 writer friend that "they hired him for 4th edition work"). Mearls is a beast as far as volume of work and quality. Reading the preview for "Races & Classes", I got the sense that Mearls was heavily involved in the design process and was more of the "hitman" whereas the main dude was more like a "mob boss" (involved in the brain storming but not as much in the execution). This is ALL speculation on my part (which gets me in trouble).

Morbidly, WotC probably ramped up their hiring and staff for the creation and launch of 4E, and since we know what goes up must come down, there will likely be layoffs after the launch. I DO think that WotC may have a SMASHING hit on their hands with 4E, so maybe they will wait to see how sales go before deciding on layoffs.

I agree completely. I expect we'll see layoffs in six to nine months, and a few months after that new 4e companies will be born. I also expect that Mearls will be running one of those new companies (no offense, Mearls). But that'd be cool, since Iron Heroes is my favorite game since 3.5 got released. I'd love to see what else he could come up with once freed from the heavy constraints of WotC.

 

[BradfordFerguson]

An ideal scenario is that demand is much higher for 4E than it was for 3E. I wish that would come to fruition (more gamers, more fun... maybe). In this case, they wouldn't have to cut staff. Or they could take DDI revenues to support writing and development staff... Wishful thinking, I know.

I get the sense (and I mention this in my review of the DDM Starter Set whose rulebook is 48 pages! Yucky length for new players!) that 4E will not be as accessible to the masses as WotC hopes. The 4E PHB weighs in at 320 pages! This is a HUGE MISTAKE! Even a 256-page PHB is too intimidating for prospective new players (players new to RPGs). 320 FULL SIZED PAGES? Let's say I've never played an tabletop RPG before... I'm more likely than not to say, "ummm, NO. Give me a computer game thanks."

There are some viral aspects to 4E and adding DDI will help accessibility. However, just like MMO players who "only" play 3 hours a session who worry about keeping up with the folks who play 12 hours a day... New players may feel this pressure that they need to learn the 320-page PHB, or they are behind the curve relative to other players.

(hmmm, I think I'm going to start a thread about how we can do our part to help make 4E successful - mostly by making the PHB less intimidating).

 

[jaldaen]

As for 'how to ransom', I think (based on observing Greg Stolze) it's pretty simple:

Thanks for the run down of the ransom idea.

I dunno if that "" means you knew all this already. Oh well

I think that was a left over smile from my original sentence... I just forgot to edit it out.

 

[jaldaen]

There's also the Wolfgang Method.

Hmmm... now that is a very interesting idea. I'll have to think about that one

 

[jaldaen]

Anyone thinking we'll see some breakout talent from the writers of the PHB/DMG/MM etc... for 4th ed?

You know I completely missed this question on the first read through... anyway... I think Mike Mearls has the most name recognition, writing and design experience, but the question is does he want to run his own business (or find someone else to run the business)... that's the biggest hurdle for us creative types... do we want to give up creative time to market, balance books, sell our stuff to distributers, etc.

If there are layoffs at WotC I could see a small group forming a 4e GSL company and doing well from themselves (as long as they keep the quality up).

 

[Fifth Element]

'That's not a bug, that's a feature!' to use a phrase I hear so often.

It doesn't matter how many free-riders there are as long as enough fans chip in enough money. The ransom model gives lots of people a chance to donate a small amount as well as a few people a chance to donate a large amount. Plus, all the previously ransomed products are free advertisement for the currently ransomed product.

You essentially give up the possibility of making a lot of money on a single product, in exchange for the guarantee of not losing a lot of money on it. It's basically a way to guarantee a level of income from the product - no more, no less.

 

[Henrix]

As for 'how to ransom', I think (based on observing Greg Stolze) it's pretty simple:

• Write product.
• Announce product.
• Collect donations - either directly into your PayPal account or using Fundable
• When enough donations are collected, release the product for free download.

I'm certain Greg doesn't write the product until he knows there is some real interest in the product.

 

[Spinachcat]

This is a HUGE MISTAKE! Even a 256-page PHB is too intimidating for prospective new players (players new to RPGs). 320 FULL SIZED PAGES? Let's say I've never played an tabletop RPG before... I'm more likely than not to say, "ummm, NO. Give me a computer game thanks."

100% agree.

D&D needs the 100 page book with PHB / MM / DMG all rolled into one if it wants to see the possibility of drawing in the video game youth. And it needs to come in a box full of minis and easy to use tiles. And it needs to be supported as its own line.

 

[Doug Justice]

An ideal scenario
I get the sense (and I mention this in my review of the DDM Starter Set whose rulebook is 48 pages! Yucky length for new players!) that 4E will not be as accessible to the masses as WotC hopes. The 4E PHB weighs in at 320 pages! This is a HUGE MISTAKE! Even a 256-page PHB is too intimidating for prospective new players (players new to RPGs). 320 FULL SIZED PAGES? Let's say I've never played an tabletop RPG before... I'm more likely than not to say, "ummm, NO. Give me a computer game thanks."

I think the basic set released later this year is the product intended for completely new roleplayers. The release in June needs to get the people who are already roleplaying something. I believe the folks at WotC have said as much somewhere.