Maybe there IS hope...

[busman]

I was browsing through some of the WotC forums when I ran across this post from Scott Rouse, the D&D Brand Manager:

"Who knows? I have always wanted to do retro, limited edition core books with oldschool stock and art like old 1e books."

Maybe WotC people ARE open to the idea of reprints of old TSR games and D&D editions.

I know, reading too much into it, but still... =)

[coffee]

I dunno... that sounds to me like he wants to do retro books of 4e. But still, hope springs eternal...

[busman]

Jun 4, 2008 15:22:50 GMT -6 coffee said:

I dunno... that sounds to me like he wants to do retro books of 4e. But still, hope springs eternal...

d**n, now that I read it the way you say it, I'm sure that's what he meant. d**n.

[James Maliszewski]

Jun 4, 2008 15:22:50 GMT -6 coffee said:

I dunno... that sounds to me like he wants to do retro books of 4e. But still, hope springs eternal...

Yeah, exactly. The use of the term "retro" is a dead giveaway. You have to remember that WotC has zero interest in doing anything that might in any way be construed as promoting a version of the Dungeons & Dragons "brand" other than the one they're currently producing. That's, why the D20 STL for 3e is going the way of the dodo by year's end. They don't want anyone associating last year's model with the brand. So, yeah, I'd be amazed beyond measure if WotC ever reprinted an earlier edition of the game.

[dwayanu]

Which is (in a sad way) funny to me, considering that -- unlike producing 3E and 4E -- it would involve no R&D. The material is already there, perhaps even ready (or nearly so) for the printer. Seems to me like a pretty good idea to turn to profit what one already has.

[James Maliszewski]

Jun 4, 2008 16:11:59 GMT -6 dwayanu said:

Which is (in a sad way) funny to me, considering that -- unlike producing 3E and 4E -- it would involve no R&D. The material is already there, perhaps even ready (or nearly so) for the printer. Seems to me like a pretty good idea to turn to profit what one already has.

Well, WotC is in the business of selling 4e these days, so that means they can barely acknowledge the existence of previous editions except either a) to denigrate them or b) to speak of them in a vaguely loving fashion from a safe distance. Anything more enthusiastic than that isn't in their marketing plan.

As an aside, I'm honestly not sure how easy it would actually be to reprint 1e books. I have no idea how they were laid out. I imagine they were done "the old fashioned way," which might mean a reprint would require some effort.

[Melan]

All that, and I have the sneaking suspicion that when he says "retro", he is saying "Larry Elmore and chicks with 80s hair".

[jcstephens]

Jun 4, 2008 23:54:39 GMT -6 Melan said:

All that, and I have the sneaking suspicion that when he says "retro", he is saying "Larry Elmore and chicks with 80s hair".

And feathers. If it's Elmore, there's gotta be feathers.

[Deleted]

Seems to me that WOTC can be in the business of selling 4E but also re-print old version books. I'm guessing that the people who would buy the old books aren't the same ones who would have bought 4E anyway so they aren't losing money but are gaining customers.

They don't even have to support the books. Just reprint the old books and sell them.

[Deleted]

Hasbro has reissued classic GIJOES for collectors. Any thing is possible?

[lordtwang]

Unfortunately, I'm quite certain you're reading it wrong. I wish they'd do it. I don't see how it would hurt anything, but obviously they do.

Also note that 4e isn't called 4e in the books. Look at the covers and look inside the new books. They call it Dungeons & Dragons with no listing of the edition to be found. As far as they're concerned, 4e is the only D&D.

[pjork]

Jun 13, 2008 20:17:37 GMT -6 lordtwang said:

Also note that 4e isn't called 4e in the books. Look at the covers and look inside the new books. They call it Dungeons & Dragons with no listing of the edition to be found. As far as they're concerned, 4e is the only D&D.

That's just horrible. Or it would be, if it were true. A friend just gave me the 4e PHB as a gift. On the back cover it mentions that it is 4th Edition twice. On the credits page it is again described as 4th Edition two times. There is also a section at the bottom of the credits page with the header "Building on the Design of Previous Editions by" including "1st Edition and earlier" giving credit to "E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson". On page 7 there is an inset "The History of D&D" which gives a very brief overview of all previous editions. More than a quarter of the history inset describes the development of D&D from wargames via Chainmail in the period 1971 to 1974. That's as far as I've read. There are plenty of true reasons to criticize 4e, so there's no need to spread false ones.

[Brickman]

Cartoon strips and sitcoms go into syndication when they're done. That's how the studios and production companies continue making residuals years after they've paid the writers and actors.

I'm so surprised that the RPG industry doesn't squeeze older IP stones for every ounce of blood. The audience for 4e and grognards probably has very little overlap.

What would WotC loose by publishing a real retro D&D? Newer 4e converts? I just don't think so.


Even TSR had two different lines: classic (or basic) and advanced.

Seemed to work for them.