Will 3rd Party (now "4th" party) Companies Thrive like in 3.x OGL?

[Emirikol]

It seems that there was a huge revival of 3rd party stuff with 3.x. Will this happen again with 4e?

Projections?

jh
BTW, I'm hereby introducing the term "4th Party Products" in honor of 4th edition./

 

[DaveMage]

3rd party companies will only thrive with 4E if they find a niche that WotC is not serving.

Right now, the niche WotC will not be serving are those sticking with 3E.

 

[WhatGravitas]

3rd party companies will only thrive with 4E if they find a niche that WotC is not serving.

Right now, the niche WotC will not be serving are those sticking with 3E.

But this is a potential niche. Taking 4E and re-introduce 3E ideas again could do for a start. For example wizard traditions called Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation - all with special feat trees to make "specialists".

A system, where arcane spellcasters get more than the main focus on Evocation and Illusion.

Using the 4E basework to create something in the vein of True20, a 4E with no frills.

A book full of classic monsters, e.g. frost giants.

Of course, adventures.

I see potential - but the industry has seen a horrible glut - that won't happen again, so it'll exist... but not thrive until it gets that glut.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Stogoe]

3rd party companies will only thrive with 4E if they find a niche that WotC is not serving.

Right now, the niche WotC will not be serving are those sticking with 3E.

Wow. What wit. You, sir, truly have, err, something, to do with, something.

But yes, I believe there will be room for 3rd party publishers to survive in 4e.

 

[DaveMage]

A book full of classic monsters, e.g. frost giants.

Yeah, but once the "official" version is out, the value of the 3rd party product most-likely would drop.

 

[Emirikol]

I'm wondering if the 3rd parties will do the same thing as WotC...re-hash old stuff with a new label..just updated to new rules...

Why reinvent the wheel? I can't see why Ptolus or those things wouldn't be updated to 4E...
jh

 

[WhatGravitas]

Yeah, but once the "official" version is out, the value of the 3rd party product most-likely would drop.

On the other hand, with a few exceptions, how many book do you hope to sell after the initial release and how many do you think you'll sell one year later. AFAIK, the main grunt of purchases is made in the few weeks after the release, afterwards, it's only an occasional buy, so there's not such a great loss.

Furthermore, it's an entry product. Just as with Necromancer Games last time (and more than probably this time). Once you've established a positive reputation, you'll get more independent stuff to sell.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Odhanan]

3rd party companies will only thrive with 4E if they find a niche that WotC is not serving.

Right now, the niche WotC will not be serving are those sticking with 3E.

Yup. And there's nothing wrong with niches, so long as they are sustainable and generate enough income. That's the crux of the issue. Given that many non-d20 RPGs survive decently without doing 5% of D&D money returns, there's still a chance for 3rd party 3rd ed publications, I think.

 

[Mirtek]

Why reinvent the wheel?

Because WotC is ditching the wheel in favor of the astral sea

Honestly, the first 3rd party company to produce a devent 4e version of the Great Wheel can make a lot of money from this.

 

[Pramas]

Answer hazy, try again later.