Why don't you buy non-WoTC stuff?

[MEG Hal]

I was looking at the campaign poll thread and saw that GH was beating SL and thought it was not because it is a better setting but because it is official and the creator of the poll forgot some pretty big alternate settings:
Kalamar
The Hunt: Rise of Evil
too name a few....so why don't people buy non-WoTC stuff, retailers have told me that a lot of the non-WoTC stuff has less errata and seems like it goes in areas that people are asking for, heck we have WoTC people playing and using our stuff SO....why not you? And further will it effect you buying Dungeon and Dragon Mags (it will not for me, no worries Erik ) now that they are "under new management". What would make you decide to try a new d20 company (by new I mean one you have not gotten something from, not a brand new company).

Ok, I have started the ball now roll with it.

 

[Thalantor]

Well, i have the relics & rituals book. I think most of the non-WOTC books are not sold, because in other countries and smaller cities non-wotc stuff is less readily available then wotc stuff.

And there is still that prejudice against anything non-wotc, even after all that Hasbro-bashing..

Although i know nothing of buying habits via the internet. Maybe the independant publishers should start a massive brand-name campaign, making their names more easily recognized, and thereby almost automatically more respected. People don't buy things they don't know or recognize..

I also think not all D&D buyers go to internet forums or fanpages, so they'll nver see other names or brands..

Oh well, i'd buy from you, if the cost of transporting it to Holland wasn't so darn high. (And i don't want PDF's, i only deal in hard-copies. )

 

[Desdichado]

Uh, I do?

I think the problem here isn't going to be with posters on these message boards, who are quite aware of the entire d20 market, but more with the more casual players, or non-online players, who think of the WotC stuff as the whole of the market.

 

[Wicht]

I gotta agree with Joshua - I buy a lot of what WotC puts out (though not all) but I am just as likely to order a non-WotC product that catches my eye. I can't afford to support all the products, but if a company produces something I like I am very likely to give them continued support (Kenzer, Green Ronin and Sword and Sorcery fall in this category for me).

If I don't buy a non-wotc product, half the time it is simply because I don't have enough money.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I know people that only buy WotC stuff, most agree it is that it is offical product. Like that has anything do do with the game!

 

[Falstaff]

I always support non-Wizard's products, simply because I like to root for the underling. I don't shop at Wal-Mart for the same reasons that I don't buy Wizard's products.

How do I play D&D 3rd Edition WITHOUT buying Wizard's products (namely PHB and DMG)? Well, it's because I don't play D&D 3rd Ed. I play the CORRECT version of the new D&D, HackMaster.

And if you don't think HackMaster is a better RPG than D&D 3rd Ed., then you haven't read the rules.

 

[Storm Raven]

And if you don't think HackMaster is a better RPG than D&D 3rd Ed., then you haven't read the rules.

What if you have read the rules, but still think that 3e is a much better RPG than HackMaster?

 

[MEG Hal]

Uh, I do?

I think the problem here isn't going to be with posters on these message boards, who are quite aware of the entire d20 market, but more with the more casual players, or non-online players, who think of the WotC stuff as the whole of the market.

Good point, I think it is a combo but I have seen a lot of people post and state they only but "official products" so I was just seeing if I could get some insight....keep the comments coming.

 

[Falstaff]

What if you have read the rules, but still think that 3e is a much better RPG than HackMaster?

Then you misread the rules. Just kidding. I was only joking, so I hope my post does not swing this thread into an unwanted direction. Well, I was not joking about me playing HackMaster, I was joking about which game is better. Trying to argue RPGs is like trying to argue religion, it is just plain pointless. Don't you agree?

However, to add to my earlier post (and to try and and keep this thread on track), I would agree that many gamers (my current players included) don't think it is 'Official' unless the D&D logo is on it. I find this annoying. I mean, just because Michael Jordan doesn't endorse my underwear, does that make them any less worthy? I think not.

 

[Selganor]

Here in Germany it is quite the other way round... We have an easier time getting the other d20 stuff (once you know what you want) than get the WotC stuff... (The Epic Level Handbook JUST arrived in Germany...)

So the "big ones" of d20 (which I would name S&S (and all "subparts" like Necromancer, Malhavoc, (Fiery Dragon) and Arthaus), Mongoose, Green Ronin, Atlas, Kenzer) are readily available in german rpg stores (or easily ordered).

My guess would be that most of the german D&D players are playing anything else but "official" stuff (maybe except for the Realms stuff, as there's no substitute...)

Is this situation unique to Germany ?