I'll have to agree with Dirk. When I first heard "Monte Cook's WoD" I thought this will either be a d20 version or a more fun World of Darkness, i.e. a mix of all the existing elements (vampires, werewolves, mages) in a coherent action-oriented game world. This would've been possible even with the nWoD rules -- and going that way, recruiting WoD-only players would've been possible, not to speak of interesting.

And I certainly done't share the pessimism about D20 players refusing to play in the WoD. They're not an uniform mass (I'd say WoD-ites are more like that), and kicking vampire ass (or being one) is fun, no matter what. Especially if you're a vampire ninja.

Thinking on it more, I'll be interested in seeing how Monte adapts the freeform magic of Mage into the d20 framework.

Magery, Shmagery, I want to know whether a vampire with a katana can cut a tank in half

Quote from: SosthenesMagery, Shmagery, I want to know whether a vampire with a katana can cut a tank in half

...or whether a tank that fires katanas can cut a Methuselah in half.

A tank firing katanas! The final puzzle piece I needed for my variant WW II game!

Quote from: SosthenesA tank firing katanas! The final puzzle piece I needed for my variant WW II game!

Kevin Siembieda's War in Europe!

Thrill to the Mega Damage, Choke on the History!

Coming Soon!

Quote from: DrewI get the impression it was more sales-motivated than anything else. The bloke is one of the biggest names in the hobby, and like many successful authors it's his reputation that he now trades off of. Unlike many successful authors though he can still back it up with quality product.

Exactly. Same thing happens with people like Sid Meier (of Civilization and Pirates! fame), or Tom Clancy (the Jack Ryan saga, Rainbow Six novels and videogames, etc). Putting his name in the title boosts sales.

Has anyone read if WoD20 is going through the supplement treadmill?  I realize Cook's done dealing after this but I'm sure there'll be quite a few people who would carry the torch.

I know Monte Cook's a very big name among gamers who keep track of game designers, but I don't know how common that is outside of the hardcore.  I suspect it's not all that common.

I also think that just having "WOD" rather than writing out the whole thing is strange, considering this seems like a product intended to bring in players who do not currently play the World of Darkness games.

Quote from: RezendevousI know Monte Cook's a very big name among gamers who keep track of game designers, but I don't know how common that is outside of the hardcore.  I suspect it's not all that common.

As far as industry names go he's probably the best known of contemporary designers. Of course for people whom don't care who writes their books it won't really register, in much the same way as a non-cinephile won't give a shit about Robert Rodriguez or Ridley Scott.

QuoteI also think that just having "WOD" rather than writing out the whole thing is strange, considering this seems like a product intended to bring in players who do not currently play the World of Darkness games.

It appears to be aimed squarely at the crossover market rather than at new gamers. Fans of d20 curious about the World of Darkness will be drawn in by the author, whilst fans of White Wolf with an interest in d20 will be attracted by the setting. Undoubtedly there is at least some intersection of interest between customers of the world's top two gaming companies, and this book looks to exploit that.

To be honest I never thought I'd see something like this happen, but now it's here I'm glad they went for it. Roll on Exalted d20...

Maybe the awakened will be the WW/d20 psychic class.
We have :

• Vamps
• Weres
• Mages (spellcasters)
• Demons
• Awakened

All that is missing is psionists. One class in d20 I have always loved.
The newest teaser says awakens are 1% of Humanity's population, and the main reason the world was not destroyed. Whoa.