Here's the breakdown of registered Origins 2009 D&D games scheduled for next Saturday...

BD&D/Oldschool Includes basic D&D & Clones
Four (4)

1st edition
One (1) specifically listed (maybe one or two of these above?)

2nd Edition
Two (2)

3rd Edition / 3.5 / OGL
Thirty-Nine (39)

d20
Eighteen (18)

Living Arcanis (Technically 3.5 variant/d20...)
Two (2)

4th Edition
Thirty-Seven (37)

Unknown (Host deliberately omitted D&D version and couldn't ID version based on game host/sponsor)
Six (6)


Just a few other interesting points, I'd estimate the split between other RPG's and D&D to close to even... There's a Morrow Project game running Saturday Morning, Plenty of CoC, Savage Worlds and L5R action, a Tunnels & Trolls game on Saturday night as well as a Spirit of the Century Game twice on Saturday as well. Three or Fudge games, as well as Aces & Eights, Alpha Omega, Buffy, Champions, Conan, Dark Aeons (New?), 7th Sea, Champions, Cybergeneration (Firestorm Ink), Dragonstorm, Dragonquest, Dread (War RPG), GURPS, Hackmaster 4.0, Hero System, Hollow Earth Expedition, Mist-Robed Gate (Martial Arts), PenDragon, Omni System (Dieties?), Prime20 (?), Rifts, Runequest, Shadowrun, Silvervine, Top Secret, Traveller (A Tournament too!)QAGS, WEG d6 (+d6 Starwars), and Witchunter games.

That's a pretty concrete example of the splintered D&D fanbase right there.  It doesn't speak well for 4e that there are more earlier edition games running.

Well, that's a decently well-rounded offering of D&D.  I guess the older editions could have more, but not too bad.

Quote from: mhensley;309731That's a pretty concrete example of the splintered D&D fanbase right there.  It doesn't speak well for 4e that there are more earlier edition games running.

Heck, depending on how the unknowns stack up there might be more 3.X games happening than 4E games, before other editions are even considered.

Which is the really damning thing, to be honest: 3.X succeeded in convincing the bulk of the earlier fanbase to jump ship, as is evidenced by games based on pre-D20 editions being comparatively scarce. 4E hasn't managed to win nearly the same number of converts.

Wasn't 2008 the first year when WotC stopped having a booth at Origins?

Are they even attending this year?

Mearls was a guest of honor last year, but I don't think he was there as an official errant or anything.

So, my guess is that if WotC were pushing more commercial effort into Origins they'd have a significantly greater number of people DMing 4E games there.

Speaking of which, their PHB is nominated for an award:

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/14813.html

What's your take on this year's winner?

This year? Every Year!

Origins has a fine tradition of awards, I think they were one of the first conventions that officially recognized Game Design as a profession, and the Charles Robert Award for best game design remains a coveted prize. Origins has a long tradition of supporting board games and wargames, and recognizing excellence in design in those fields... and they have embraced additional categories over the years like RPGs.  D&D received the annual Hall of Fame award way back in 1977, for example.

My personal opinion is that they should have alot more awards, in alot more categories. They should have awards ceremonies and dinners every single day and every night, maybe more than one ceremony each day with announcements and postings in every hall, and a prominent place where the award winners designs are showcased. Last year there was just one display case in the main gaming hall showing all the contenders and winners. They need more show cases displaying the winners in the various halls where gaming is being conducted.

They should of course, have a Best of the Show award, and a Hall of Fame award, but they should also have a plentitude of additional awards and moments of recognition for all types of game designers, writers, artists, computer game designers, Indies, and for the folks that help put on such enormous shows.

It's one thing to have a quiet dinner somewhere to celebrate game design, it's another to repeatedly publicly affirm that all aspects of game design is a respectable profession.

Nothing looks better on a designers resume than an official award from a complimentary business group that recognizes the long hours and hard work that made a game, or mini, or product line successful.

Awards are one of the least expensive rewards, that I would warrant, provide one of the most positive experiences that a designer or artist will ever know, and it's those positive experiences that sustain them through the tough times.

Plus, it's good to have something on your bookshelf (in addition to your book or game) that shows that other people recognize the time, effort, and expense you put into making your game.

But that's just my opinion.