Will Eberron be a fully supported setting?

[Michael Morris]

All signs point to a 1 year before being dumped future for Eberron...

Settings in WotC's care...

Ravenloft Rereleased 1998, closed 1999 (farmed out one year after 3e)
Dark Matter - killed after only 4 months.
Greyhawk sorta faded after a year - rarely mentioned now...

I wouldn't count on it going far - WotC is extremely impatient with new products. They've been spoiled by the succeesses of Pokepuke and Magic: The Gathering. If it doesn't do phenomonally well in the 1st quarter it will be axed.

And the chances of Yet Another Campaign Setting selling are what. Let's count the ones released *LAST YEAR* shall we?? What, 20? It's a horribly flooded market corner - which is one of the reasons that Art of Magic won't be bearing the Dusk setting logo on the cover (or anywhere else in the book) even though its the setting's first print product.

 

[Desdichado]

I don't buy that; there's no signs that point to one year. WotC has said they will release gaming products, novels, and potentially all kinds of other types of material for Eberron. I certainly don't see it likely that they will dump it.

And although "the market" for campaign settings may be flooded from our perspective, I suspect most of "the market" is only aware of WotC settings, so from their perspective the only alternative in print really is Forgotten Realms.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I have a feeling it will become THE SETTING and FR will slowly be phased out. Why? FR has been done and re-done, it is old hat, WOTC needs to seek fresh material and Eberron looks like a setting to give it to them.

 

[Celtavian]

re

I also don't see Eberron doing much unless it contains some element of the fantasy genre that just knocks people's socks off. It is going up against a plethora of fairly well-established settings including the current "big daddy" FR. WotC will literally have to decide FR is old hat and promote the new setting over FR for it to do well-enough to keep pouring money into.

From a personal perspective, I'll make my own setting before I purchase someone elses setting. I've been playing FR for years and I'm still having fun with it. Kind of hard to exhaust the possibilities of a world as vast the FR. After having already invested so much time and money into the Realms, I don't see switching anytime soon.

I haven't read anything particularly compelling about Eberron. Sounds like another mish-mash setting. It will get support according to the market it builds.

One thing I would like to add. The contest for a campaign setting was a great idea by WotC. I hope the setting doesn't do so badly that they don't ever consider having another such contest. Great to see WotC give opportunities to up and comers. I know they have helped quite a few writers become established authors. Now they gave the same chance to game designers.

 

[Henry]

I foresee a vigorous but measured initial product roll-out the first year - Campaign Setting Book, Miniatures, Monster Book, etc. - and then the rest will be up to the fans. It may need to make a net profit in the first year to be viable, but it at least needs to at least exceed overhead, I would assume. And if they don't have a hit with Eberron, then there are always two more settings to hype...

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I have a feeling it will become THE SETTING and FR will slowly be phased out. Why? FR has been done and re-done, it is old hat, WOTC needs to seek fresh material and Eberron looks like a setting to give it to them.

Not a chance. The Forgotten Realms have a huge following, and a brand recognition that took decades to develop. Huge hordes of computer gamers are aware of Forgotten Realms who otherwise don't play pen & paper RPGs, and the same goes for those who read fantasy novels (dark elves, anyone?).

Perhaps one day, in the distant future, Eberron might have a better following than the Forgotten Realms. But there is no way that WotC will just dump their cash cow for an unproven setting.

 

[Henry]

I have to agree with Jürgen on this one. That would be like Coke switching to New Coke - only I don't think Gamers would forgive as easily as Coke Drinkers did.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I have to agree with Jürgen on this one. That would be like Coke switching to New Coke - only I don't think Gamers would forgive as easily as Coke Drinkers did.

D'oh! Thanks for the reminder of that dark day in history...

I agree 100% with Jürgen also.

All signs point to a 1 year before being dumped future for Eberron...

I can see the pattern also, and I agree... If it doesn't start well it won't last all that long.

I don't buy that; there's no signs that point to one year. WotC has said they will release gaming products, novels, and potentially all kinds of other types of material for Eberron. I certainly don't see it likely that they will dump it.

Hmm I think all of that could change on the moments notice and I wouldn't be hurting my own hype buy saying what Michael just said.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Not a chance. The Forgotten Realms have a huge following, and a brand recognition that took decades to develop. Huge hordes of computer gamers are aware of Forgotten Realms who otherwise don't play pen & paper RPGs, and the same goes for those who read fantasy novels (dark elves, anyone?).

Perhaps one day, in the distant future, Eberron might have a better following than the Forgotten Realms. But there is no way that WotC will just dump their cash cow for an unproven setting.

Call me an old timer but these are the same lines that were said about Greyhawk when FR was being promoted, what comes around.

 

[Desdichado]

Hand of Evil: you're an old timer!

Also, I actually liked New Coke. [sigh] Now, I drink Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Vernor's and water. I'll buy Eberron whether its the New Coke of D&D or not. I'm tired of settings that look the same. If I want classic D&D, I don't need to buy another setting for that (although I'm still on the fence about Kalamar -- I might pick it up anyway) I need something that's fresh and different. I'm also buying Iron Kingdoms sight unseen (if it ever actually arrives).

I think Eberron has a good chance, if it's hyped the way it looks like it will be, and if the material is actually good. We'll have to see, I guess.