Early Warning

[Meepo]

Count another one agreeing with Skathros - completely.

Luckily I don't think it'd be TLG, that would monopolize the sales of the game they DO own the rights to. But if it was... *shudder*

The idea of padding the book for public perception also seems very odd to me considering what we're talking about here. The whole idea of having a game where the philosophies are "rulings, not rules" and "imagine the hell out of it" seems cheapened (IMO) by having to take a bunch of other stuff, no matter how good it is, and suddenly making it "core" (as is the norm in today's RPG) to a customers perspective. I mean, sure, variable weapon damage in B/X was "optional" but did anyone NOT use it?

Just my two cents. I'm totally happy for your success, Mythmere, I'm just wary from my own needs.

[The Red Priest]

Yeah, it's gotta be TLG.

TLG helping to distribute S&W? What planet did you wake up on this morning?

Considering TLGs historically jaundiced eye toward OSRIC, I can't see how they would view S&W any differently. It's one thing for a company to be dead wrong re:OSRIC, but to compound that mistake by being dead wrong and hypocritical would be worse.

Of course, if it were TLG, then I'd have to check on which planet I woke up.

[The Red Priest]

(5) The published version of the rule books has to have "something more" than the free pdf, or it spooks the hobby stores - who see free pdfs as competition. Most likely, I will add an appendix at the end with a couple of thief options and a couple of ranger options (I have heard on this board that younger players like rangers, so why not).

I suspect that the decision on what is included in the Added Bonus Material! will be a cooperative one between you and publisher. Who gets the final say on the matter?

Thief? Good idea.
Ranger? Good idea.

What about a holy warrior? Aren't they popular? It'd be as easy as the ranger (which is a snap)to do.

[Fullerton]

As for speculation on the publisher my money is on XRP.

I feel kind of stupid for not thinking of XRP last night. I'd put them into the same top likelihood bucket as TLG and Paizo, but for slightly different reasons.

They don't have the same kind of penetration, visibility, and recognition as TLG and Paizo, but they certainly have the know-how for retro publishing. Have they done hardbacks?

[Fullerton]

Yeah, it's gotta be TLG.

TLG helping to distribute S&W? What planet did you wake up on this morning?

Lol, that post was last night

Considering TLGs historically jaundiced eye toward OSRIC, I can't see how they would view S&W any differently. It's one thing for a company to be dead wrong re:OSRIC, but to compound that mistake by being dead wrong and hypocritical would be worse.

I wasn't around for the OSRIC development timeframe. Out of curiosity, do you have any pointers to more info about TLG's feelings about OSRIC?

[The Venomous Pao]

I have reservations similar to those expressed so well by Skathros. I also have some strong feelings about who I don't want the publisher to be, but I'll refrane frm namign nams four the tim beign.

In any case, I'm holding out hope that all this is good for (in this order): Retro-gaming as a concept, the broader Retro-gamining community, Swords & Wizardry in specific, Mythmere himself, and Mythemere Games. I really do want everyone to benefit from all of this. I just don't want to see something like this doing more harm than good to the retro-gaming community. I've been very happy with the degree to which individuals as well as the various "factions" (which, thankfully, is too strong a word for how things have played out this far) have been open minded, friendly, respectful and all around good eggs. And that's pretty unusual for gamers, and extra unusual for gamers who are using the internet as one of their key modes of communication If this development winds up somehow damaging that general bonhomie - and I'd like to reiterate that I'm not saying it will, I'm just saying I'm concerned there's a chance it will - then that's more a loss than a gain as far as I'm concerned.

For now, though, I remain cautiously optimistic, trusting that Myth, who's done pretty durn right by us and the game we love so far, is on track to continue that good work.

[The Red Priest]

Considering TLGs historically jaundiced eye toward OSRIC, I can't see how they would view S&W any differently. It's one thing for a company to be dead wrong re:OSRIC, but to compound that mistake by being dead wrong and hypocritical would be worse.

I wasn't around for the OSRIC development timeframe. Out of curiosity, do you have any pointers to more info about TLG's feelings about OSRIC?

PM sent.

[Geordie Racer]

If it all goes pear-shaped (and I don't think it will - Matt's done himself proud so far) I'm sure it can be sorted out, espec if everyone pitches in to find solutions. Keep the faith compadres !

[Akrasia]

What's with all the panic here, folks!?! As Geordie Racer stated, "Keep the faith!"

The PDF will still be available for free. Knockspell will still be produced by Matt. People can still post/distribute/publish whatever they like for S&W.

I just don't understand why people are freaking out by the prospect of S&W gaining a wider presence... Deep breaths!

[bat]

I am just about to start running around in circles like a chicken with its head cut off, Geordie.

Now, JimLoftFP made very valid points and I am not aware of any depth to the Labyrinth Lord story other than I buy the books from Lulu and the price never seems to have changed from there and I know that the book was in distribution for a time. And I do have faith that Matt is pretty level headed, and I do fear another post from JimLotFP about Group X being a bunch of knuckleheads because of Reason Y on his blog. But that is life. However, I will maintain that of all the reasons for a price increase, to raise your validity to people is a little oddball to me. To pay middlemen, yeah, I get that, it is pretty obvious that they won't do it for free, but not to increase your "street cred".