Quote from: J ArcaneBy 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.

Yeah, I think there's a sweet spot/balance that you need in order to interest both customer segments (fanboys/collectors and RPGers).  Not that you can't lean in favor of one or the other...too far tho and Farscape's your uncle...

Another niggle I have with licensed RPGs...pick the right time frame.  Don't advertise World War II: The Big Red One RPG and tell me the only rules/setting-material you have in the book relates to playing during 1930-1935...(re: The Babylon Project RPG...I'm lookin' at you!)

Quote from: rcsampleAnother niggle I have with licensed RPGs...pick the right time frame.  Don't advertise World War II: The Big Red One RPG and tell me the only rules/setting-material you have in the book relates to playing during 1930-1935...(re: The Babylon Project RPG...I'm lookin' at you!)

I think that's what irks me the most about most licensed settings.  I don't need a recap of the movies/books.  I want to know what my character can do now that Sauron has been defeated/the Emperor is dead/the war between the Shadows and Vorlons is over.  

Pete

Here's something that nobody has thought of. D&D. That's right. What if the "holy grail" is the most popular, highest earning, fantasy RPG ever. What else could it possibly be? What has trumped D&D in terms of staying power and sales in RPGs? That's right. Nothing.

Now, that makes sense, though with the DI coming around the corner it's hard to say for certain (that said, isn't the biggest selling point of the digital distribution model for publishers the evergreen status of products?). And what about Star Wars Saga? Surely that will be the new foundation of D&D, right? Right? Or will it?

Here's something to chew on -- the rights for the "holy grail" have been in negotiation for over a year now. And there have been (according to Matt in numerous threads) papers awaiting a signature several times now. There is obviously some kind of time dependent element that's keeping things on hold.

I wonder what that might be.

Note also that WotC is pretty firmly on record as saying that they won't be publishing a new edition of D&D any time soon. In fact, a while back, there were some cryptic messages on the ENWorld forums that went out of the way to note that WotC will not be publishing a new edition of D&D this year.

Hmm. . . perhaps somebody else will?

All speculation, of course, though it explains a lot of the cryptic quotes from Mongoose and WotC. As well as the cancellation of Paizo's contract to publish Dungeon and Dragon. And a lot of other stuff, too.

Eh.  The likelihood of that happening is basically fucking nil, and even if it did, it would be a source of not so much excitement, as absolute horror.

Then I would no longer have grounds to attack people for using the McDonald's analogy, because Mongoose's shitty, slapdash approach to product design and editing is the closest this hobby has to a REAL analogue for the fast food business method, that and all those shitty vanity lables on RPGnow pumping out crappy 10-page D20 "supplements" for $10 a pop.  

There's no reason to go out of house with the game however, as they're making plenty of money in house, whereas farming it out to Mongoose runs the risk of destroying brand image and costing them more money to boot.  Which fucks with book sales, AND with the potential licensing value of the title, and with two major titles from Atari making so much money as to keep that failing company afloat and give Hasbro a mountain in royalties, it's just a lose lose situation all around.

Quote from: J ArcaneEh.  The likelihood of that happening is basically fucking nil. . .

Eh, it's better than nil. Probably not much better, though better all the same.

Quote. . . it would be a source of not so much excitement, as absolute horror.

I recall when the reaction to WotC acquiring TSR was very much the same -- and I think that most people will agree this turned out okay

Elric....yeah! Using Runequest system..............Arrrgh....

Quote from: JakeThunderElric....yeah! Using Runequest system..............Arrrgh....

It's already been through 5 editions under the BRP system, why not a 6th?

Quote from: J ArcaneIt's already been through 5 editions under the BRP system, why not a 6th?

Matt long ago confirmed that they were negotiating for the rights to Elric. It is not the holy grail. The "holy grail" is something that can not be named until such time as papers are inked, apparently.

Quote from: jdrakehMatt long ago confirmed that they were negotiating for the rights to Elric. It is not the holy grail. The "holy grail" is something that can not be named until such time as papers are inked, apparently.

I was just responding to the newbie's gripe about it being RQ system.  It's not like it would really be a change.

As I said upthread, I too used to think it was D&D. But somebody posted something on rpg.net that made that look extremely unlikely. What the hell was it? Matt denying it outright? Can't remember.

If it were to happen, which would presumably be shortly after 4E, then yeah, that would indeed be a very. Very. Very. Bad Thing.

Also, not necessarily a good thing for Mongoose, either. Not in the short term, maybe not even in the middle term. Depending on backward compatibility of rules, $$$ paid to WOTC and a whole bunch of unknowns.

But I digress speculatively.

Quote from: ElectroKittyHmm... interesting. I musta missed when Rowling said she wouldn't allow an RPG. Did she give a reason?

My understanding is that Rowling really, really doesn't like the idea of other people playing in her sandbox or producing additional "canon" for it, and an RPG would pretty much necessitate that.

On the other hand, once the last book is out, Rowling might well change her mind - once she's finished with the setting she might be more willing to let other people tinker with it.

Personally, for the term 'Holy Grail' to hold any merit and not merely be a piece of publisher hyperbole (a real possibility here), I think the new license would have to be either D&D (which I find unlikely and abhorrent) or a property that has never appeared in RPG form.  Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, DC, Indiana Jones, and Lords of the Rings don't strike me as Holy Grails because I can already buy at least two RPGs for each.  The Matrix might be someone else's idea of a Holy Grail license, but how hot is that property in the Year of Our Lord 2007?

Well, IIRC, last year right around Gencon there was a rumor flying around that Mongoose was going announce that they were buying the rights to D&D and were going to realease 4th Ed.

Obviously that never happened, but maybe there is some truth to it.

Unlikely, with what Rowling has said in the past, but maybe Harry Potter?

-O

I suppose I should come clean... We've been negotiating the rights to a MRP version of Cold Space. It's been a hard negotiation - Matt wants the world on a platter y'know - but we're all done except some final minor details - he thinks a cow and a pig should be equivalent, but I'm holding on for a pig and three chickens. Expect an announcement on April 1 next year.

-clash








For the slow on the uptake, this is a joke... :O