Wither Star Wars d20?

[wingsandsword]

The fields have laid fallow for quite a while, it's been almost a year since the last RPG book, projects they hyped up at Gen Con a few years back (Clone Wars Sourcebook, Ultimate Battlestations) are gaming vaporware, and Episode III is coming out with zilch in the way of RPG tie-in (what kind of Star Wars movie is this, without a tie-in to every conceivable market?).

Now reports are coming in that WotC is reconsidering and renegotiating the entire Star Wars RPG license. Bad tidings.

The thing that struck me is: WotC is owned by Hasbro, which George Lucas is a major shareholder. When WotC succeeds, Hasbro succeeds, and Lucas profits. So besides having the deepest pockets in the industry, they very much have the inside track with Lucasfilm on licensing Star Wars, any other company would be harder pressed to pay whatever Lucasfilm asked and it wouldn't have the market muscle nor the nice little side benefit of Mr. Lucas's stocks helping things out. So if WotC decides not to renew the Star Wars RPG license, will it most likely fall idle?

Star Wars the Roleplaying Game had one powerful hook when I was growing up, that is even more powerful now: it's not D&D, but it's close. My dad wouldn't let me play D&D in Junior High and High School because the Preacher said it was Satanic, but I could go and buy all the Star Wars RPG books I wanted (and play them with friends when I could), and when my dad saw them, I just said "They're Star Wars books" and that was it. Now, with the d20 Star Wars, it's even the same game system, and I'd imagine that more than a few kids out there are playing d20 Star Wars because their parents frown on D&D, but Star Wars "obviously" has nothing at all to do with D&D.

In the fine Star Wars Tradition: "I have a bad feeling about this. . ."

 

[Steel_Wind]

There is a forthcoming Miniature's Rule Book Hardcover for Star Wars in May from WotC. The SW minis are selling well and that alone may be a reason to continue to go through the motions with SWd20.

If not - WotC will let it go and - in a few years once licensing deals at Lucas have died down to a dull roar, they'll pay attention to the minor money involved in RPG licensing and a WEG like d20 publisher will pick it up (whether or not theirs will use D20).

You have to appreciate, when it comes to RPG's, such a license deal goes to the bottom of the stack it is worth so little $$ in the grand scheme of SW licensing.

The Revenge of the Sith is of course coming out in 2 months (saw the trailer last night in the theatre befroe Robots - awesome!) and looks to be the big film of the year at this rate.

WotC will either renew or not renew. The main problem with SWd20 is pretty simple: there are not that many people buying it, to be blunt.

It's not for lack of trying at WotC. But SW and Sci-fi games are inherently more difficult to run on a seat of the pants basis. It's not that it can't be done - just that it's harder.

IF there is money to be made and a reasonable return on investment, WotC will stick with it. If not - they won't. In either case, its simply up to whether or not there are enough customers to bother.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

There's no real new information for the past few months. The whole 'WotC is considering what to do...' is even fairly old news.

Sure, I'd love to see more books, but I can live with what we've got. That and the minis game does add a nice helpful element...hopefully its sales can drive up at least some interest in the RPG.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

There is a forthcoming Miniature's Rule Book Hardcover for Star Wars in May from WotC.

Um...? Where did you get this from? The only minatures books we get are Ultimate Missions, and none of those are hardcover. I doubt that UM: Revenge of the Sith will be hardcover, either.

 

[Steel_Wind]

I had thought Ultimate Missions was hardcover a la Miniature's Handbook ; my mistake. It was that book I was referring to.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I had thought Ultimate Missions was hardcover a la Miniature's Handbook ; my mistake. It was that book I was referring to.

Nope, its softcover unless something's changed. There's already two Ultimate Missions books out, one for each set(Rebel Storm and Clone Strike)

 

[scourger]

I hate to see Star Wars d20 go away, but it looks like it may. The minis are apparently unbelievably successful. I really like the minis game and bought a complete set of Rebel Storm minis, but I'm stopping there. I don't know if I'll ever run all the scenarios in the Ultimate Missions Rebel Storm book, but there are many, many hours of SW minis gaming right there.

I think there were several drawbacks to the SW RPG. The first was that revised core rule book. I found the revised one better, but it really strains the market to have a revision so soon. Also, there is little adventure support. My SW RPG DM has just recently started a couple of us through The Tempest Feud, but that's the only published module I know of. There are many mini-adventures for download at the wizards web site (I'll have to grab them when the writing is on the wall for my all-jedi camapign some day). The only other source seems to be the RPGS living force (althoug I don't know anything about it in detail). I think it's a dvelopment flaw to not have published modules for a game.

 

[Breakdaddy]

I really like the SWd20 game, but I definitely can play for years to come on what's already out there. I just wish they would release a KoTOR sourcebook; I want an official Jedi Sentinel! Oh, and sure as hell wouldnt mind a new release of Starships of the Galaxy fully updated with new and/or more artwork.

 

[Ranger REG]

I really like the SWd20 game, but I definitely can play for years to come on what's already out there. I just wish they would release a KoTOR sourcebook; I want an official Jedi Sentinel! Oh, and sure as hell wouldnt mind a new release of Starships of the Galaxy fully updated with new and/or more artwork.

As opposed to a fan-brewed version currently available? It's up to Lucasfilm Licensing to allow material from one electronic medium to be adapted to the "unplugged game" medium, but for now WotC is licensed for the films.

Otherwise, you might as well pick up those Prima Strategy Guide series for KOTOR and KOTOR II.

 

[Elephant]

It's not for lack of trying at WotC. But SW and Sci-fi games are inherently more difficult to run on a seat of the pants basis. It's not that it can't be done - just that it's harder.

I disagree. With the sample NPCs near the back of the book, I have a ready source of stats available for most anything that I decide to throw at the party. This makes the GM-on-the-fly style quite easy in my book.

For D&D, I'd have to do a lot more prep work. For SW d20, I just have a general idea and look up the proper bookmarks as I go.