Quote from: estar;246480Some of us have taken practical steps to address the issue and made products that work across different editions. You need to be smart about it.

http://www.goodman-games.com/4380preview.html

order placed for this last night

Quote from: StormBringer;246521But the question seemed to be, why the difficulty with the new editions?   Part of my reasoning is the planned obsolescence.  The transition from 1st ed to 2nd ed was pretty smooth, from 2nd to 3.x less so, and from 3.x to 4e impossible.  

In general most (not all) companies have problems when their product become part of a huge fad which later implodes. Instead of just steadily growing or maintaining market share over the years. I think the D&D brand is one of the brands that suffered rather than benefited from being a fad.

My past suggestions are geared to ways of making D&D a steady business instead of cyclical one of being a fad and then not a fad. Which I favor what I call the "Monopoly Game" approach where you have a constant basic core game that is a full RPG. Then sell "special editions" and cycle supplements. In this way you attract a small but steady stream of new players from outside your core base but yet have something that caters to your hardcore fans.

Quote from: StormBringer;246521Again, this is a stark contrast to Traveller, as an example, where I can take my Mongoose Traveller book and start a game, and Dr Rotwang! can keep using his LBBs for the most part.  A tweak here, a nudge there, but almost 30yrs worth of books and they are still compatible to a large degree.

Well Traveller has a different circumstance The esstential difference is that Traveller has been strongly tied to the Third Imperium setting. That part has show remarkable consistency over the years.

However the Traveller rules have a history of chaos. With Classic, Classic+ Digest Group Pub, Mega, New Era, T4, Rikki-Tikki, and the upcoming T5. Also complete lines been developed for GURPS, HERO System, and D20 although those three don't proclaim themselves the official Traveller RPG but rather the Third Imperium Setting using X rules.

It as if Greyhawk became THE one and only official setting for D&D and continued through all four editions. Come to think of it Forgotten Realms fans now have their version of the New Era with 4th edition. It will be interesting to see if follows the same trajectory.

I do agree Mongoose going back to Classic Traveller as base for Rikki-Tikki was a great idea and will bring many new fans to the game. I am also encouraged that Traveller once again is promoted as a general purpose Science Fiction RPG rather than just the rules for the Third Imperium.

Quote from: StormBringer;246521I applaud your entry into the market, and wish you success.  The olde school hex mapping is great, and the work is very professional.  The style you use is excellent for settings, but a book can't be that generic as another type of supplement, such as a book of magic items or spells, or an adventure module.

I am lucky that I identified a niche that hasn't be covered by a hundred other products. That is also allows for a natural system lite approach.

Quote from: StormBringer;246521Those things are being created, of course.  I have a few plans of my own, and some work for Fight On! in the pipeline.  I am just impatient to get it in full swing.  

Looking forward to seeing it. And for me there are more Points of Light on the way.

Quote from: mhensley;246551order placed for this last night

Thanks and appreciate the business.

Rob Conley