What is the biggest hole that needs to be filled in the RPG industry?
My Precious:
Hi all. Longtime lurker, first post. I hope this is the appropriate forum for this topic.
What, in your opinion, is the biggest hole in the RPG market?
When I go to my local game store or browse online stores, there seems, almost, to be too much. Too many systems special to their creators, that might not be all that interesting to anyone else. On the other hand there's innovative and exciting things happening.
Frankly, I'm a lifelong gamer who has fallen into a giant pile of money. I'd like to do something with it related to RPGs (but am not accepting proposals - that's why my email is hidden for now).
So I'm asking everywhere I can think of: what do you want or need that you feel is lacking in the current market? I could, of course, produce our house setting/system that my group has tinkered with for a decade, but does the world really need another fantasy or steampunk setting/system? I want to do something that actually fills a void. Is there a void?
Having already been chastised once on another forum for "buying my way in" while others "have to work hard," let me apologize in advance for having the good fortune I've had. I realize that could be frustrating to some who have tons of talent but few resources. This is legitimate request and I'm hopeful for some honest, useful answers.
Thanks in advance, folks!
Ron Edwards:
Hello and welcome,
It'd be great to know your name, even if it's just your given name. Your allusion to some kind of previous impression or reputation is rendered obscure without it, although that's not my main reason for the request - the main reason is merely that I prefer them and feel more comfortable that way.
Anyway, I have some thoughts to share about this topic, but I can't get to it right away. I'm posting now to let you know that moving this post to the Publishing forum was no big deal, and not to sweat anything about that.
Best, Ron
My Precious:
My reference was related to a post on another web site, not this one. Perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned it. I don't think I've ever posted here, though I may have joined once a long time ago. I'll PM you my name but see no compelling reason to post it for everyone.
I do plan to self-publish. But what to self-publish? I'm not seeking advice on any other topic here, really.
I'll clarify that what I want to know is: what are people not making, that they should be? What resources do you, as GMs and players, really want? This isn't some cynical market research thing; I don't expect to make serious money from this. I just want to produce something people need and would use.
Thanks again!
My Precious:
Apparently this topic is of little interest...? It's always a little embarrassing when you ask a question and no one answers for days on end. Is it because I haven't given my real name? Because I said I had money? Because this is a close-knit community? Throw a guy a bone here. It took a lot of guts for me to post in what can be a pretty intimidating online community, due to the high intelligence exhibited in many of these posts. I feel a little silly at the resounding silence.
I've been hitting all the local game shops and talking to folks there. Overwhelmingly, they say they want tools, not adventures; ideas, not settings. It's been my experience from my research so far that many GMs are quite creative on their own; what they want are supplements that make less work for them or that help them determine things on the fly.
When I first decided to self-publish, I thought I'd work up the setting my group and I have developed over the last decade. I've done several iterations of it so far and feel it's finally where I want it. But I'd like to self-publish whatever people would USE most...I have nothing against vanity projects (perhaps the way I worded my first post has turned folks off or offended them somehow?), it's just that for me, when I go to the game store and browse the shelves, I see lots of dark fantasy. Lots of steampunk. Lots of space opera. Lots of D&D clones. Lots of so-called urban fantasy or modern horror. So I feel that for me, personally, it's not creatively rewarding to self-publish my own setting/system that, at the end of the day, is not that different from whatever else is out there. That's not to judge what anyone else does, it's just my personal choice. I'd like my projects to fill a void, to matter to someone besides me.
This is one newb who ain't going away, so maybe when ya'll get to know me better you can help me out, here. Thanks!
Ron Edwards:
Answers are slow here. "Days on end" at the Forge means literally weeks. Please be patient.
Best, Ron
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