Why won't WOtC let another company publish...

[Ranger REG]

Just some random pondering here, but I was wondering why WoTC won't allow a secondary company to publish their old settings such as Dark Sun, Planescape, Al-Quadim etc. I know that White Wolf did another version of Ravenloft, but I feel that the other settings, especially Dark Sun and Planescape would have sold better. Why? Because Planescape and Dark Sun are rooted in sword and sorcery fantasy, whereas Ravenloft is not. Dark Sun is Conan, Kane of Mars etc. type fantasy while Planescape is Moorcockian Eternal Champion multiverse and Roger Zelany amberite(not sure if I spelled that right) type swords and sorcery.

There are many reasons but only WotC knows. It all comes down to several questions.

1. Is the company capable of handling the licensed brand financially while paying WotC their royalties?

2. Is the company in-synch or in touched with the wishes of the licensed brand's fanbase?

3. Is the company experienced?

4. Would the fanbase trust the company, even if the brand's creator is not involved?

In fact why doesn't WoTC do either a limited book run, sort of like WW's Promethean line for these settings. I don't think that type of model or the one above would really hurt their sales, especially with the numerous settings and variants published under the OGL, and they might just discover a gold mine in one of these old settings and continue its run. I could even see a limited release and then a switch to POD after the run is sold out to minimize cost.

If WotC publishes them in a limited run, they won't be using the OGL.

People still forget that WotC is a company (except when they're complaining). They want to maximize their profit while minimize their development expense. It may not hurt sale (unless there is not enough customers to buy enough copies to break even), but they want to know if it's worth developing and bring huge profit in for them.

On a side note: Does D&D 3.x have a setting that could be classified as old school swords and sorcery? If so what is it? Personally I think Greyhawk is the closest to this, but still heavily influenced by tolkienesque fantsy.

However you think of it, Greyhawk is one of the established D&D settings since 1e. The other being Arneson's Blackmoor but Gygax absorbed it and put it in his own GH world.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Short answer - they do.

Longer answer: the product lines that were not licensed are either not popular enough - or those that they might prefer to keep the IP in their own pocket.

Personally - I totally expect to see a Planescape hardcover from WotC in the next year or so. WotC is running out of topics for books, and as a one off, it would do as well as the Book of Nine Swords or Heroes of Horror. And as its not an exclusive "world" setting per se, it does not really compete with that aspect of their product line.

(Expect an Eberronized Plansecape methinks.)

I'm not a fan of Planescape. In fact, I would go farther and say that I loathed it. But I'm me and the fans of Plansecape seem to be numerous enough that they would make a modest print run successful as a one-off.

The other settings might get that treatment I suppose, but the many buckets theory has WotC spooked about following that path again, even for a little stroll.

 

[Ranger REG]

Personally - I totally expect to see a Planescape hardcover from WotC in the next year or so.

Oh, gawd, I hope not.

Sorry, just not a fan. Continue.

 

[Imaro]

OH GAWD, I HOPE THEY DO!

sorry this was always my favorite setting, followed by Dark Sun for AD&D. For possibility, customization and plain good adventure the setting was both easy to individualize, infinite in what you could discover(with a logical rationale) or do, as well as a really good campaign for those who switched the DM seat amongst numerous people. The belief stuff was mage before mage(though it could have been developed better). IMHO it was truly a setting that was ahead of its time.

Now I've gone and got all nostalgic, maybe I'll pull out my boxed set and try some conversions to C&C

 

[Fifth Element]

Now see I find the we produce the corebook and you produce supplements kind of... well unfair. Most money from rpg's are made on the corebook.

Which is presumably why WOTC wants the core books for themselves. I have a hard time calling someone making money off their own IP "unfair".

 

[Shroomy]

I personally doubt that WoTC will ever license out the Planescape campaign setting. While WoTC has not resurrected the setting, they've made use of the materials in just about every book that has anything remotely to do with the Great Wheel Core cosmology. I can't see them giving up that sort of IP to an outside company.

 

[WayneLigon]

If the 'We must do the core book' thing is true, then that's probably your answer. They can either use designers and editors and other staff to create a book that they hope will be successful or they can use them for a book that they know has a limited, almost niche, appeal. On other words, they can make a book that they are pretty sure can move 5,000 copies or make one they are almost positive will move 1,000 copies.

 

[Imaro]

Which is presumably why WOTC wants the core books for themselves. I have a hard time calling someone making money off their own IP "unfair".

I find it unfair if you are paying a licensing fee and royalties and are then set up to miss out on the book that will make you the most money, especially when WotC doesn't think its a valuable enough comodity to do it themselves. They are already making money off of it without taking any risks so explain to me how their set up does anything but discourage a company from publishing any of the settings? Or is it better to dissapoint loyal fans because you have to make the most money possible?

Sorry I have no problem with WotC making money but if they have to publish the corebook, then once again why not just give us the one-shot campaign settings that people would be happy with, and if enough sell of one then continue the line?

It amazes me that they were willing to do tis with something like Ghostwalk(no entrenched fanbase) but won't with settings that already have a fanbase.

 

[GQuail]

It amazes me that they were willing to do tis with something like Ghostwalk(no entrenched fanbase) but won't with settings that already have a fanbase.

Of course, Ghostwook was pretty much a failure, wasn't it? I certainly haven't encountered anyone in real life or on these boards who is a vocal fan.

To be fair, we are getting the Expedition To.... series, which although themed more around modules than worlds (though the line is a bit grey in the case of, erm, Greyhawk ;-) ) do provide some sort of material for older campaign settings in a medium that's, while not the same as a Campaign Setting book and expansion line, apparently popular. Until we see any bar Ravenloft, though, I guess we won't know for sure how far they're going to take it and how much old fans will appreciate it, if all we get is 3.5 translations of old modules than truly new material.

I would also quite like to see some of the old campaign settings being republished in some capacity, but it doesn't look like there's a huge amount more "official" material coming bar the Dragon Campaign Classics each year and the occasional monster or prestige class slipping it's way into a "generic" book. (In particular, Planescape has been so heavilly raised for the core cosmology that there's really no point in a seperate book: though "Expedition To Sigil" would probably still make a few days)

 

[Mark Hope]

Of course, Ghostwook was pretty much a failure, wasn't it? I certainly haven't encountered anyone in real life or on these boards who is a vocal fan.

Ooh, me! Me! I'm a vocal fan of Ghostwalk! . Great stuff.