Why did the Scarred Lands fail?

[Nightfall]

You're assuming, of course, that serial television shows and RPG campaign settings are somehow parallel products, and that what is true of one (TV) is by default true of the other (RPG).

Nonsense.

If Scarred Lands had been popular, it would still be in print. End of discussion.

No...there are plenty of popular campaign settings that are no longer in print. Just look at 2nd edition. The reason they are no longer supported is simple the cost versus benefit/profit margins. Profitible doesn't not always equal popularity. Star Trek is a grand example of that.

 

[Turjan]

No...there are plenty of popular campaign settings that are no longer in print. Just look at 2nd edition. The reason they are no longer supported is simple the cost versus benefit/profit margins. Profitible doesn't not always equal popularity. Star Trek is a grand example of that.

What does popular mean in this context? Popular as in "having a small but vocal fanbase"? Companies are in the business to make money. They don't slaughter their cash cows needlessly. And Star Trek has long passed the zenith of its popularity.

If you look around, there are lots of "failed" settings. Some of them just don't stir emotions, because they are more or less stillborn. Think of Dawnforge, for example. The Scarred Lands at least had their days .

 

[Nightfall]

And there'll be more to come Tur. I promise you that.

 

[Acid_crash]

What does popular mean in this context? Popular as in "having a small but vocal fanbase"? Companies are in the business to make money. They don't slaughter their cash cows needlessly. And Star Trek has long passed the zenith of its popularity.

If you look around, there are lots of "failed" settings. Some of them just don't stir emotions, because they are more or less stillborn. Think of Dawnforge, for example. The Scarred Lands at least had their days .

Yeah, Dawnforge, which I think personally is a cooler game setting, bit it big time and is already cancelled, just after the second setting supplement. SL did succeed by a lot more, I'll give it that.

 

[Starman]

Yeah, Dawnforge, which I think personally is a cooler game setting, bit it big time and is already cancelled, just after the second setting supplement. SL did succeed by a lot more, I'll give it that.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Dawnforge was cancelled exactly. I think FFG planned the line just as they did with Midnight, a core book and a couple suppliments. If those sell well enough to justify more, we'll look at it; if not, we're done. Midnight ended up selling fantastically well, so they commissioned more books. Dawnforge didn't, so they didn't write anymore.

FWIW, I really like the Scarred Lands, but I like Dawnforge even more.

Starman

 

[Cithindril]

Quick question for Nightfall,

I'm fairly confident that you're not ready to discuss whatever you're cooking up but thought I might ask anyway ...any details you could share would be most appreciated.

Also, is there the possibility of an open call down the road as this thing develops...I'm sure I'm not alone in the desire to help out however possible.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

We've all been skirting around the real reason the Scarred Lands failed--Nightfall. I'm afraid all the blame rests squarely on his shoulders for not pimping the setting enough.

 

[johnsemlak]

@Nightfall: In one of the other recent Scarred Lands threads here on EN World somebody from France mentioned that the French publisher of the "Terres Balafrées" (as they are called in French), Hexagonal, will first translate further titles into French during 2005, and afterwards they want to continue with their own supplements regarding Ghelspad, like Vesh. They want to try whether this will be economically successful or not.

Can someone post links to further details/confirmation on this (in french or english)?

 

[johnsemlak]

bump

 

[Fenes]

I liked the SL products I bought - I started with Shelzar for the flavor, then added Secrets & Societies, 3 Player's Guides and R&R1. I nevere really got in the setting itself, but the theme was original or so I thought. Very easy to adapt the stuff to your homebrew or modified FR campaign as well.