John Kim wrote:
>
> Well, to start with, if I was interested in a book of core
> mechanics for a modern espionage game, a 30-page book of *just* what
> I need is actually worth more to me than a 304-page book where I have
> to flip through piles of unused material to find what I am looking for.
>
>
>
> But to me as a non-D&D player, the value is reduced by all the
> D&D stuff which is constantly through it. So less than $6, but
> obviously more than zero -- maybe $3.
>
You're looking at it backwards.
You're a game publisher. You think there's a niche for an espionage
game. You'd prefer to focus on nifty gadgets, cools settings,
interestings NPCs, etc. The core rule system is less important to you.
And, as a small publisher, marketing is key.
So you decide to go with the D20 license. Nearly all of you customer
base owns a PHB...not only is the 'PHB Required' not a big loss for you,
it might even get you some people who weren't looking for an espionage
game per se, but who saw 'D20' on the cover and were attracted to it.
You know there's some customers who might buy an espionage game based on
the D20 system and don't already own a PHB (or know someone who does)
but they are such a small %age of the total target market that they
really don't matter.
What it boils down to is this:How large a percentage of 'b' are included
in 'a', with a and b being:
a)The set of all gamers with PHBs who might want to also buy an
espionage game.
b)The set of all gamers who might want to buy an espionage game.
Now factor in 'the added marketing which comes from having 'D20' on the
cover'. Is it enough to make up the difference between 'a' and 'b'? I
daresay yes.
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