Why aren't there any non-WotC D&D magazines?

[Thanee]

...and then FFE took it over.

FFE?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Derulbaskul]

The circulation for Dungeon and Dragon magazines are only about 50,000 each and that's not a lot particularly when all it takes is one bad issue/perceived bad issue and your circulation numbers can be badly knocked around.

In the main I think this is one of those industries where it is far, far better to be the consumer rather than the producer. It's takes too much talent for too little return to really make a fist of this business (so congrats to FFG, GR, Skeleton Key Games, Malhavoc Press et al for doing such a good job at staying in the game!).

 

[DM_Jeff]

Ffe

FFE?

Fast Forward Entertainment. A group of mostly TSR alums who tainted their company with product after product at startup which contained horrific rules snafus and editing problems, alienating folks from their later products.

-DM Jeff

 

[Funksaw]

In general, the gaming market is fairly small. Only a couple million people. Considering that only a small percentage of them are likely to pick up a magazine, things are pretty tough, both in startup and maintaining decent profit.

I think you're off by an order of magnitude - I'd say 250,000 in the U.S., if that. Figure maybe 1 in every 1000 people out there is a gamer.

 

[CombatWombat51]

Because Dungeons & Dragons is a WotC trademark, and only Paizo Publishing (a non-WotC company) is licensed to use the trademark on both Dragon and Dungeon magazines.

Are you saying that a magazine couldn't say Dungeons and Dragons on it because it's a WotC TM? I haven't bought a 3rd party product in a long time, but I thought that was allowed by the OGL? And even if I'm wrong and it isn't allowed, I wouldn't think that not being able to say D&D would be such a bar to success, since plenty of 3rd party publishers do fine without (assuming they can't say D&D).

Thanks for everyone's opinions so far This is something I've wondered about for a while.

BTW, cool link Diaglo

 

[Laman Stahros]

Are you ignoring e-zines? Silven Trumpter is a very good e-zine for the d20 market.

 

[Ferret]

Too tough a competition, the current one is official. It is good. What else do you need that isn't there.

 

[CombatWombat51]

What else do you need that isn't there.

More

I dunno, I remember the old Dungeon Adventures. There were more adventures, and it seemed to me like the adventures covered a wider type of adventures. It's hard for me to put in words, and maybe I'm just nostalgic, but now it's just... different :\

 

[Ranger REG]

Are you saying that a magazine couldn't say Dungeons and Dragons on it because it's a WotC TM?

By default, yes. Magazine is a commercial product designed for distribution. You can't use a trademark even to promote it without permission from the trademark owner.

I haven't bought a 3rd party product in a long time, but I thought that was allowed by the OGL? And even if I'm wrong and it isn't allowed, I wouldn't think that not being able to say D&D would be such a bar to success, since plenty of 3rd party publishers do fine without (assuming they can't say D&D).

I believe you are referring to the other license: d20 System Trademark License. This license have strict conditions on how to use the WotC's trademarks. And if used properly, you won't get a nice warning letter from WotC's lawyers.

Besides, you'll confuse customers trying to promote a D&D magazine, when there are already two official magazines. WotC don't like you using their trademarks like that. Stick to a d20 magazine of one format (fantasy, modern adventure, superhero, or science fiction).

 

[S'mon]

Vague UK (English) law analysis:

Trademarks - UK law says you can't use another's trademark in the course of trade in such a way as to create confusion in the mind of the customer as to the origin of the goods/services you're providing or (possibly) to reduce the value of the mark by associating it w something unpleasant (dilution). US approach seems similar in theory but in practice there seems to be a general assumption in US business (which some UK publishers abide by, especially if they have US operations) that trademark law simply prevents you using another's trademark _at all_. There have been plenty of non-TSR non-WoTC books & magazines with "Dungeons & Dragons" written on the cover & inside - eg White Dwarf pre-100 is a good example. None that I've seen breached UK trademark law.

In UK law there'd be nothing illegal (tortious) about selling eg an RPG scenario with the words "Designed to be compatible with the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game. Not authorised by Wizards of the Coast, designers of the D&D game." You couldn't do this _within the OGL_ though since the OGL excludes this, ie WoTC claims (via Contract) rights under the OGL it doesn't possess under UK trade-mark & copyright laws. In return, using the OGL allows a third-party publisher to freely use text from the SRD, which is copyright material WoTC owns.