*delurk in progress*
Since this is my first post I thought I should introduce myself. My name is
Hyrum Savage and I've been gaming for a little over 15 years now. And while
I feel that Voivode (Ryan Fisk) has some good points, I do feel strongly
that the Open Gaming idea will bring a lot of new, non D&D biased, people
back to D&D. Why do I think that? I'm one of those people. While I started
with D&D (like most people) I haven't actually played the system in over 12
years. Once I moved beyond AD&D, I found systems that did what I wanted a
lot better than D&D and AD&D did. Plus the old T$R people drove me nuts. So
I bailed on D&D and turned to a host of different games. However, once I
heard about 3rd Edition D&D and the Open Gaming ideas, I decided to give the
whole thing a look. And to tell you the truth, I like what I see. I like it
so much that I plan on using 3rd Edition as my system of choice and after
years of trying to get people away from AD&D and T$R, I'm actually trying to
bring people back. I'm going to give WoTC and the new TSR a chance. I think
this will fly, and do quite well. Will it get rid of every other system out
there? I highly doubt it. However, I do think people will be giving 3rd
Edition a new look and it may actually bring back some of the people who
left years ago.
$.02.
Hyrum Savage
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Voivode
Sent: Sunday, May 14, 2000 3:28 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [Open_Gaming] Market Share
I keep reading messages from folks who seem certain that D20 is going to
both increase the number of D20 players and reduce the number of players of
other games. The problem I have with this is that there has been nothing
shown to prove or even suggest this. At best we have Ryan S. Dancey's
opinion based on a study that, to the best of my knowledge, none of us have
seen. Yes, we have heard bits here and there about it, but where is the
data and where is the support. It is just a prediction and it doesn't
matter who you are or what your credential's are as long as this prediction
arises out of one source (Ryan S. Dancey's statements). It seems
preposterous to me to suggest that it is anything but a biased opinion. It
may end up accurate or it may end up false, but until it comes to pass, for
those of us who do not know Ryan S. Dancey personally, it is just an opinion
biased and based upon one persons biases and opinions. It may be an
informed opinion, but the facts to know that are not present as yet, that I
have seen anyway. In other words, show me something objective or even
close.
I am not saying this as a flame to anyone or to slam Ryan S. Dancey (I keep
using his full name cause I am a Ryan too). It may come across that way,
but it is not my intention. I am seriously interested in D20 and seriously
thinking about publishing within it. However, I do not have any illusions
that Ryan S. Dancey is the next gaming prophet. I am not building this up
as a straw man, this is how I see it and how I have read it. If it is
untrue then show me.
I do not think that D20 will capture the gaming market. I do think it will
manage to take over the existing D&D fanbase and that the D&D fanbase can be
increased. I also realize that from a small publishers point of view, if I
can sell 1000-3000 copies of a D20 product then I would be crazy not to get
involved, however I think it is just as likely that I can then sell
1000-3000 copies of a different game to a different fan base, the one that
doesn't like D20. In such a situation I can make money (and write good
products, my first desire over money) by feeding off of two separate
sub-markets, even though both exist within the RPG game fanbase. However, I
do find the idea that one will absorb the other as unfounded and unlikely.
Sincerely and honestly yours,
Ryan Fisk
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
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For more information, please link to www.opengamingfoundation.org
