Will lack of 3rd party support affect your 4E play?

[jgerman]

Yes and no. I'm only interested in modules tbh, and maybe campaign settings.

The GSL as written is useless as far as I'm concerned so I'm hoping some of the better companies ignore it and broker a better license for themselves.

So yes because I would buy and play third party modules and no because I probably won't "not play" if they don't exist.

 

[Darrin Drader]

For 3rd edition, the number of 3rd party products I own is roughly double the number of WotC books I own. I own 2/3 of the 3.x products WotC released.

This tells me that I spend too much money on gaming stuff and should probably cut back a bit. But yeah, if 3rd party publishers decide that the GSL isn't worth the risk, and I can't say I'd blame them after reading it, then my general enthusiasm (not to mention my ability to work) for this edition is going to sink.

 

[Dog Moon]

In my group, Malhavoc Press was the big 3pp we went to for non-WoTC books. We've used lots of bits and pieces from all those books at one time or another.

As for others...well, I've used Deluxe Book of Templates and Advanced Bestiary fairly frequently, but I can't really say that I've used much of the other ones. Iron Kingdoms is my fav and though I've used numerous monsters, haven't really done much with the rest of their books. Looked through them a lot, but not really used.

Problem is that with a lot of the 3pp that my group has gotten, we frequently had to spend too much time trying to make sure everything was balanced for it to be much worth the effort and cost.

 

[ZSutherland]

I bought a minimal amount of 3rd party stuff during 3E, mostly wholly separate games (AU/AE, M&M, Spycraft, etc.) but I think my answer is yes. I'm so disappointed by the GSL, that despite my excellent experiences with 4E so far, I may abandon it.

I think all of you who are saying you will not be impacted by an expected lack of 3pp support are missing a key fact. You may not have bought much of it (or any), but the mere fact that the OGL existed and that smaller publishers rose up around it gave us some of the best design and development minds of the last ten years. Mike Mearls & Keith Baker both spring to mind as a clear examples of people who benefitted strongly from the open-gaming paradigm because it gave their abilities a chance to shine. As a result, they both wound up working for WotC. Will the Mearls and Bakers of the next ten years simply go undetected? It's certainly more probable. What about the guys at Goodman and Necromancer and Green Ronin, who may never have "made it to the top" in Renton, but whose excellent work certainly influenced the direction and overall quality of the games we got to play in positive ways, if only by inspiring the guys at WotC.

I think before we get around to 5E, we'll all miss that whether we realize it or not.

 

[Greg K]

I can't say I'd blame them after reading it, then my general enthusiasm (not to mention my ability to work) for this edition is going to sink.

There is an upside. Maybe, that will free you up to do more True20 compatible material ;P

 

[Odysseus]

My stance with 4E , is that I love the rules and hate the setting.
I don't expect any of wotc future settings to be much better.
So I'm on the look out for a 3rd party setting to play.

 

[Mokona]

Like "core only" players, I rarely if ever use unofficial supplements to Dungeons & Dragons. Wizards of the Coast already publishes more material than I can use in my games. If it wasn't for the high quality art, I wouldn't buy most of the roleplaying books that I do purchase.

My play of 4th edition is enhanced when I don't have to wade through Mongoose-level junk on the D&D shelf at my game store. Studies have shown that customers buy less product when there are an overwhelming number of choices.

 

[Wormwood]

Not even remotely.

1. The default setting is more than sufficient for my game.
2. Monster/NPC creation is dead simple.
3. I no longer need electronic tools to DM
4. I'm subscribing to the DDI, so I'll have access to a constant supply of adventures and game aids. Official ones at that.

Remind me why I need third-party support again?

 

[Weregrognard]

Since writing material (especially adventures) for 4E is actually palatable again, I don't see myself needing much support from 3rd parties, or WotC for that matter. I'm looking forward to working on home-brew adventures, settings, and the conversions of material from my vast library of previous edition material (which smells of rich mahogany).

Good for me, good for the wallet, not so good for the game companies.

 

[EATherrian]

It will affect my play. I've never really liked most of the stuff from WoTC, so the 3rd party stuff really is what got me to keep up with the core stuff. Now I can decide my fate and go to Pathfinder with a knowledge that I'm choosing talent over brand.