Quote from: SosthenesI certainly understand why a publisher would want to get that license, but I never understood why so many people would buy it. No other sci-fi RPGs available? On the other hand, there's lots of really creepy Whedon fanboys... I'd rather face ten overweight wannabe Klingons than a couple of Buffy fans in their 40s...

W3rd.

In fairness, it helps that I "get" the Klingons. Whereas Buffy: :confused:

I thought Out In The Black was a top notch book.

Tracy Hickman did a great series of chats about adventures in serenity on The Signal:-

http://media.libsyn.com/media/thesignal/Adventures_in_Serenity_compilation.mp3

And you can listen to some gamers play the adventure over skype here:-

http://afterserenity.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=Out%20in%20the%20Black%20game

Sent me on a western/serentiy kick, I can tell you.

covers they can do...

it's the rest i've had a problem with.

Elric is by no means a holy grail. So my 'vote' would be for LotR, which doesn't inspire me since I think it's a poor license creatively speaking. You could probably argue the same for Dune. Either way it means a rather dull, uninspired game based on a popular license. I just can't get excited about their products anymore, d20 bores me rigid. But mayhap they'll do something completely different.

There are licenses, and then there are licenses. Serenity was money in the bank, because the fan boys will buy anything with Firefly or Serenity on the cover. Many of the folks that bought this had likely never seen an RPG before. Not that it doesn't work OK, it's just not inspiring. The system is clunky and not well suited to the setting, IMO, but it doesn't have to be.

-clash

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!I got through two.  Switched to D6.

I got through 5 somehow. Switched to beer.

I don't think this qualifies as Holy Grail, but can be added to the speculation:

Stargate

AEG lost their license. SG1 is wrapping up, Atltantis is going strong, and a new series is about to start.

Quote from: Elliot WilenYeah, but that was then.

Not that I see the attraction of most licensed properties, personally.

Eh.  If it hadn't been for TNE and the death of GDW, Traveller might still be the #2 market share holder.

Quote from: Pierce InverarityW3rd.

In fairness, it helps that I "get" the Klingons. Whereas Buffy: :confused:

 Whereas I like BOTH.
Of course in my case, it could just be that I really like redheads, Alyson Hannigan, Willow....

 Would Mongoose possibly be talking about DOCTOR WHO??


- Ed C.

Quote from: GoOrangeI got through 5 somehow. Switched to beer.

Got through zero, switched to sniffing glue.



Wha?

Quote from: flyingmiceSerenity was money in the bank, because the fan boys will buy anything with Firefly or Serenity on the cover. Many of the folks that bought this had likely never seen an RPG before.-clash

QFT.  

I think the most successful (successful based on sales) licensed rpgs are ones that also appeal to the non-gamer fan/collector base.  Have lots of pretty pictures/non-stat based descriptions/episode recaps...the fans/collectors will eat dat up.  

I used to be really into licensed RPGs(Star Wars/Trek/Farscape/etc.) but around the time Farscape released and I bought it and was reading through it, I began to realize, uh, that this book contained a lot of non-mechanics based info that I could just as easily glean from reading Fan/Official web sites.

It was annoying that a fair portion of the book was dedicated to episode synopses.  I was already familiar with those...I want more mechanics crunch...dammit!  Although I'm sure another segment was lovin' those episode blurbs...

Rich

Quote from: rcsampleQFT.  

I think the most successful (successful based on sales) licensed rpgs are ones that also appeal to the non-gamer fan/collector base.  Have lots of pretty pictures/non-stat based descriptions/episode recaps...the fans/collectors will eat dat up.  

I used to be really into licensed RPGs(Star Wars/Trek/Farscape/etc.) but around the time Farscape released and I bought it and was reading through it, I began to realize, uh, that this book contained a lot of non-mechanics based info that I could just as easily glean from reading Fan/Official web sites.

It was annoying that a fair portion of the book was dedicated to episode synopses.  I was already familiar with those...I want more mechanics crunch...dammit!  Although I'm sure another segment was lovin' those episode blurbs...

Rich

Eh.  The most successful licensed RPG I know of to date was WEG Star Wars, and that only really has the broadest overview of the setting, and a shortlist of a few of the onscreen races.

By contrast, Guardians of Order drove themselves to bankruptcy in part by abandoning what had been a successful series of licensed anime RPGs by skimping way, way too much on the RPG side of their books, to the extent that their last releases were nothing more than crappy episode guides with a page or too of hastily scribble stats for one of the main characters in the back.

Well, to put it simple.

LOTR + d20 = I am buing up to 50$

Harry Potter + d20 = I am buing up to say 60$

Anything else I am not interested very much, I have about 10 game systems I want to learn and try right now. So I will accept only things, I can play without too much headache of rules reading.

Quote from: J ArcaneEh.  The most successful licensed RPG I know of to date was WEG Star Wars, and that only really has the broadest overview of the setting, and a shortlist of a few of the onscreen races.

By contrast, Guardians of Order drove themselves to bankruptcy in part by abandoning what had been a successful series of licensed anime RPGs by skimping way, way too much on the RPG side of their books, to the extent that their last releases were nothing more than crappy episode guides with a page or too of hastily scribble stats for one of the main characters in the back.

While I dont disagree with that. Part of the reason the books were more or less episode guides with a page or two rpg material. Is the way stuff like that is licensed. And the red tape nessisary to get the licensing. I cant explain it very well. The guy with the black dude shooting lightning from his eyes as an avatar. (Sorry if your reading this I dont remember your name) Explained it once a while back. He could obviously explain it better than I.

You mean Andy K.

Quote from: Elliot WilenYou mean Andy K.

Yup, Thats the dude. :win: Thanks