Grimwell, Cerilian
08-23-1999, 08:09 PM
David,
I want to thank you for your previous letter to me (and a few others)
concerning Birthright, and it's chance for a revival. Your honest and direct
approach was really appreciated. It was yet another verificatoin of the fact
that TSR is a better company now than it was previously.
I wanted to float an idea over your way concerning the Once and Future
Worlds. I was in a hobby shop this past weekend; and was feeling in the mood
for some Necromunda (Games Workshop, miniatures combat). I play this game
from time to time, mainly as a diversion to keep my appetite for D&D fresh.
It's fun, fast, and gritty.
When I get around to spending my gaming money on GW products like
Necromnda, I just browse the goods and get what catches the eye. I'm not a
die hard for them and don't have everything, nor do I even know what is
"current" half the time. The one thing that caught my eye, and got my money,
was a mini-magazine that dealt with Necromunda directly.
After reading the magazine over, I'm very glad I picked it up. It contained
new material for the game, and expanded on the base rules. Some of the
information was developed by GW, the rest was taken from submissions by
fans. One extremely good article was taken from a Necromunda fan webpage! It
was all good material, things I could put directly into my games without any
real overhaul of the current rules; and it all looked fun. Needless to say,
I am going to be starting up a Necromunda gangwar with my friends real soon!
The one thing about this that I feel TSR/WOTC can emulate, and benefit
from, is the publishing format: Quarterly, if demand supports it. The
minimag made it clear that this was only going to continue if the fans went
for it. It's a good way to keep a product alive that they are not currently
supporting as "active". The price was 4.99 (they are known for their high
ticket status eh!), and it had around 50 pages of material, with NO
advertisements. All the art was taken from prior production, and was not the
focus, the focus was to get some "new" information out to those of us who
would care without having to do a full blown production for their line.
I could easily see something like this being done for Birthright, or any of
the other settings that are currently out of print. TSR could put together a
few articles that the designers may or may not have developed before the
line(s) went down, add in some fan submissions (just ask the BR mailing list
and you'll get more than enough) and put it out. The editiing and "look"
does not have to be flashy. Make it clear that this is a low cost move
directed straight to the fans who want it.
Marketing? Nah, sell it direct from the website and do a limited run on the
product. The point would be to only serve those who already are hungry.
Drawing in new people wouldn't be the goal. Heck, don't even print it, just
sell it as a download and let us print it! Even lower cost! Add in a little
note from Rich Baker or someone else who was heavily invested in the
Birthright line, and you'd have a winner.
Now, I understand that you can't do everything us fans want. I also
understand that 3E is the main focus right now. I also agree that the move
to the center is the best plan for the company as a whole. This means I know
the company can only do so much for these worlds before the cost of the
endeavor gets to be too much. All I ask is that you give it some thought;
sleep on it actually. Putting out a semi-annual minimag could show TSR how
much of an interest there is for the setting. Include a postcard survey
targeted directly at that setting's audience. This could give some good
marketing data that might help decide which setting to bring back first when
the company finally comes around.
My hope, of course, is that Birthright will be the setting. I think it
could be a fantastic groundbreaker if presented correctly.
Thanks for your time
Craig T. Dalrymple
aka.
>
Grimwell, wizard of Cerilia
The Birthright Revival is NOW! :)
When you've had the best, why buy the rest?
p.s. I am going to forward a copy of this to the Birthright Mailing list. I
want you to know this because I am hoping they will all get in touch with
you and tell you how good of an idea this is ;)
__________________________________________________ _____________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.comTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line
I want to thank you for your previous letter to me (and a few others)
concerning Birthright, and it's chance for a revival. Your honest and direct
approach was really appreciated. It was yet another verificatoin of the fact
that TSR is a better company now than it was previously.
I wanted to float an idea over your way concerning the Once and Future
Worlds. I was in a hobby shop this past weekend; and was feeling in the mood
for some Necromunda (Games Workshop, miniatures combat). I play this game
from time to time, mainly as a diversion to keep my appetite for D&D fresh.
It's fun, fast, and gritty.
When I get around to spending my gaming money on GW products like
Necromnda, I just browse the goods and get what catches the eye. I'm not a
die hard for them and don't have everything, nor do I even know what is
"current" half the time. The one thing that caught my eye, and got my money,
was a mini-magazine that dealt with Necromunda directly.
After reading the magazine over, I'm very glad I picked it up. It contained
new material for the game, and expanded on the base rules. Some of the
information was developed by GW, the rest was taken from submissions by
fans. One extremely good article was taken from a Necromunda fan webpage! It
was all good material, things I could put directly into my games without any
real overhaul of the current rules; and it all looked fun. Needless to say,
I am going to be starting up a Necromunda gangwar with my friends real soon!
The one thing about this that I feel TSR/WOTC can emulate, and benefit
from, is the publishing format: Quarterly, if demand supports it. The
minimag made it clear that this was only going to continue if the fans went
for it. It's a good way to keep a product alive that they are not currently
supporting as "active". The price was 4.99 (they are known for their high
ticket status eh!), and it had around 50 pages of material, with NO
advertisements. All the art was taken from prior production, and was not the
focus, the focus was to get some "new" information out to those of us who
would care without having to do a full blown production for their line.
I could easily see something like this being done for Birthright, or any of
the other settings that are currently out of print. TSR could put together a
few articles that the designers may or may not have developed before the
line(s) went down, add in some fan submissions (just ask the BR mailing list
and you'll get more than enough) and put it out. The editiing and "look"
does not have to be flashy. Make it clear that this is a low cost move
directed straight to the fans who want it.
Marketing? Nah, sell it direct from the website and do a limited run on the
product. The point would be to only serve those who already are hungry.
Drawing in new people wouldn't be the goal. Heck, don't even print it, just
sell it as a download and let us print it! Even lower cost! Add in a little
note from Rich Baker or someone else who was heavily invested in the
Birthright line, and you'd have a winner.
Now, I understand that you can't do everything us fans want. I also
understand that 3E is the main focus right now. I also agree that the move
to the center is the best plan for the company as a whole. This means I know
the company can only do so much for these worlds before the cost of the
endeavor gets to be too much. All I ask is that you give it some thought;
sleep on it actually. Putting out a semi-annual minimag could show TSR how
much of an interest there is for the setting. Include a postcard survey
targeted directly at that setting's audience. This could give some good
marketing data that might help decide which setting to bring back first when
the company finally comes around.
My hope, of course, is that Birthright will be the setting. I think it
could be a fantastic groundbreaker if presented correctly.
Thanks for your time
Craig T. Dalrymple
aka.
>
Grimwell, wizard of Cerilia
The Birthright Revival is NOW! :)
When you've had the best, why buy the rest?
p.s. I am going to forward a copy of this to the Birthright Mailing list. I
want you to know this because I am hoping they will all get in touch with
you and tell you how good of an idea this is ;)
__________________________________________________ _____________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.comTo unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
with the line