Over a year ago, back on RPG Blog, I posted a bit on Mid-Majors in Gaming, in which I compared smaller schools that always seemed to perform well in the NCAA basketball tourney to several small-press gaming companies I knew that seemed to stand up and out compared to the competition in terms of creativity, product, accessibility, and quality, despite perhaps not having the resources of perhaps even middle-tier companies.

Here's an excerpt from that article:

QuoteAnd it’s that sort of attitude, the guy who goes out there and does the basics well, and gives it 110% that I want to talk about—only how it relates to gaming. There are “Mid-Major” gaming companies—those that don’t have the outright selling power of a White Wolf or a Wizards of the Coast, but still make products that can’t be (or more aptly, shouldn’t be) readily ignored. These are the sort of companies who remember what gamers are, what they like, and that they deserve a good, solid product for their money. These guys are my clutch teams, my companies that I’d put up against any competitor, regardless of size, in terms of gaming quality, any day.

At the time, my list (and you have to remember this was before things really were altogether meshed for this site's current incarnation and populace) consisted of HinterWelt, Politically Incorrect (now Precis Intermedia), Atomic Sock Monkey, Expeditious Retreat Press, and Flying Mice.  I still stand by all those companies, because they're putting out great stuff and treating gamers right.

I also would add now Dark Matter Studios, who have created the Epic RPG, now one of my favorite fantasy RPGs of all time, the LeGames (who has seen their quality just skyrocket ovet the past year, I think), and 0one Games, who continues to outdo themselves in maps.  It's nice to have companies that you can trust in.


So...over a year later, I thought this would be worth revisiting.  Who are your "Mid-Majors" for gaming companies that stand out for excellence?

Columbia Games - Harn
Atlas Games - Ars Magica
SJ Games - GURPS
Armadillo Design Bureau - Star Fleet Battles
Hero Games - Hero System
Expeditious Retreat Press D20 Module
Goodman Games - DCC & Judges Guild (biased)
Necromancer Games - D20 Modules & Judges Guild
Green Ronin - Mutant and Masterminds

I would not hesitate to buy a product form one of these companies.

Goodman Games

Paizo

the Iron Kingdom guys (can't think of the company name)

BITS (British Isles Traveller Support) - If you play Traveller and want some kick-ass supplementary material, go to them.

IMO, Columbia,Atlas,SJ,Hero, Goodamn, Necromancer, and Green Ronin all belong above mid-majors. They publish a lot of stuff and most every gaming store carries some of their stuff. If you call these "mid-majors" then only WotC,White Wolf, and Mongoose would be majors, which is OK by me.

Then we would have to label guys like Hinterwelt, PIG, and Flying Mice as Micro publishers. Meaning they employ three or less people and usefew, if any, freelance writers.

So, I'd say it would look like this:

Majors:
WotC
White Wolf
Mongoose

Mid Majors:
Green Ronin
Steve Jackson
Columbia
Atlas
Hero
Goodman
Necromancer
Paizo

Micro
Hinterwelt
PIG
Fling Mice
Dark Matter
Expeditious Retreat
The LE
O0ne

Quote from: McrowIMO, Columbia,Atlas,SJ,Hero, Goodamn, Necromancer, and Green Ronin all belong above mid-majors. They publish a lot of stuff and most every gaming store carries some of their stuff. If you call these "mid-majors" then only WotC,White Wolf, and Mongoose would be majors, which is OK by me.

Then we would have to label guys like Hinterwelt, PIG, and Flying Mice as Micro publishers. Meaning they employ three or less people and usefew, if any, freelance writers.

So, I'd say it would look like this:

Majors:
WotC
White Wolf
Mongoose

Mid Majors:
Green Ronin
Steve Jackson
Columbia
Atlas
Hero
Goodman
Necromancer
Paizo

Micro
Hinterwelt
PIG
Fling Mice
Dark Matter
Expeditious Retreat
The LE
O0ne

I'd move Mongoose to Mid-Majors too. I can't see them bing much bigger than Green-Ronin.

Quote from: KrakaJakI'd move Mongoose to Mid-Majors too. I can't see them bing much bigger than Green-Ronin.

Mongoose has their own printing facility, remember, and I am pretty sure they have more staff than Green Ronin.

I could see that. There's no doubt that Mongoose and Green Ronin dominate at the mid-major tier, or maybe theyre the smallest fish in the top tier.

I think everyone but possibly Mike has re-defined Zachary's term on him. Mike pointed this out, then accepted the new definition. That means no-one is answering the original post at all.

Going by Zachary's examples, the categories are:

The Big Two: WotC and WW.

The Middle Tier: SJG, Palladium, Green Ronin, Mongoose, Hero, and the like

The Small Press: The one and two person operations.

Given: "...small-press gaming companies I knew that seemed to stand up and out compared to the competition in terms of creativity, product, accessibility, and quality, despite perhaps not having the resources of perhaps even middle-tier companies."

Question: "Who are your "Mid-Majors" for gaming companies that stand out for excellence?"

-clash