 January 5, 2012 - 9:29am | This topic isn't started to allow people to bash RPG companies, rather, it's intended to discuss how we have been able to keep Star Frontiers alive these last few years. Even though we don't own the Star Frontiers intellectual property, we have a tangible product to be proud of. But. What happens when were gone? Will w00t Jr. take up the Editorship? Will Little Iggy Spud grow up to be a Real Dralasite? Will jedion's force powers pass onto his offspring? Quote from page 3: Not all gamers are so optimistic. "I think the tabletop RPG market is enduring a kind of death. I think it is transforming into something that isn't a viable commercial business for more than a handful of people," said Ryan Dancey, former VP of RPGs at Wizards and marketing guru at White Wolf/CCP. Dancey was instrumental in developing the OGL before the 3rd edition era of D&D, but he foresees the RPG industry becoming a dead hobby like model trains. "Kids stopped playing with trains, and the businesses that remained dedicated to hobbyists who got more disposable income as they grew up, until the price of the hobby was out of reach of anyone except those older hobbyists. Eventually, it became a high-end hobby with very expensive products, sold to an ever-decreasing number of hobbyists. As those folks die, the hobby shrinks. That is what is happening to the tabletop RPG business." What's your opinion? What do you see in the future of the Star Frontiersman and starfrontiers.US? |
 January 20, 2012 - 4:52pm | I am eagerly awaiting both BB sci-fi and Frontierspace. I have some great ideas for setting materials for both. While I am enjoying putting together my own rules system for a space combat game for my Titan Rising Universe I find it equally frustrating on the amount of time I have to spend on it. I have been kicking around doing something in Star Frontiers with it since the rules adaptations wouldnt be that tought (After all my star frontiers gaming group in the 80's inspired the story and tech behind what would become Titan Rising) It would be great to just write the setting book for BB-S or FS and get on with it. I know that everyone knows me as one of the CGI Digital art guys around here but seriously I can do art the old fashioned way too but I just don't have the time to it that way. Working two jobs in this crappy economy really makes it hard to take the time to do a hand made piece of art implausible on my available time. |
 January 20, 2012 - 7:12pm | I am eagerly awaiting both BB sci-fi and Frontierspace.
Me too. :) |
 January 20, 2012 - 11:20pm | @Shadow Shack, I say all crew should get separate quarters, suites with private bath and kitchenette, at least 5 rooms. All the officers get hot tubs. That should eat up a little more space for your battleship. Oh, and their needs to be a theatre and R&R decks. -iggy |
 January 21, 2012 - 1:46am | @Shadow Shack, I say all crew should get separate quarters, suites with private bath and kitchenette, at least 5 rooms. All the officers get hot tubs. That should eat up a little more space for your battleship.
Oh, and their needs to be a theatre and R&R decks. Simply put, you could do all that and add casinos, shopping malls, commerce decks, an amusement park, a botanical garden, and basically turn it into a mobile space station...because there's just THAT much room available. |
 January 21, 2012 - 7:52am | Families. The fact is, sonsidering the amount of time they would be in space, most ships would bring along the families. They would have accommodations for those families, as well as onboard commerce and trade. Then there's space for botanicals to grow food, as well as a bioremediation bay for recycling waste and getting rid of radioactive materials. I think there would also be strap-in bays for each and every person during hard maneuvers. How much space could all that take up? View my profile for a list of articles I have written, am writing, will write. "It's yo' mama!" —Wicket W. Warrick, Star Wars Ep. VI: Return of the Jedi "That guy's wise." —Logray, Star Wars Ep.VI: Return of the Jedi Do You Wanna Date My Avatar? - Felicia Day (The Guild) |
January 21, 2012 - 11:32am | Here's another size consideration to ponder: A class I space station is twice the diameter of a HS:20 ship. While the diameter is larger, it isn't fully utilized...only the outer ring portion is "populated" with a lot of the space being...well, space --- courtesy of merely a few "spokes" connecting it to the central hub. Now the obvious consideration between the big ship and the station? The ship extends much further in each direction compared to the station. In other words, whatever you can fit into a small space station can be more easily fitted into a dreadnaught. Like I said, a mobile space station. "That's no moon..." |
 August 29, 2012 - 8:07pm | I think Wizards is long out of touch, and indeed, started out out of touch with what will make RPG's successful in the long run.
1) As RPG's have gotten more complicated, their growth potential has deminished substantially. 2) As RPG books have become more graphic, they have become more expensive for both the artists paid and the color printing process. 3) As RPG books have become more all-inclusive, they have become more expensive to produce for their larger size. 4) As the economy has failed, people have become increasingly incapable of maintaining their hobby. They buy less books and are turning to online games and pirated material. The solution: STOP PRODUCING EXPENSIVE BOOKS THAT NO ONE CAN AFFORD FOR A GAME THAT ONLY SUPERGEEKS ARE GOING TO PLAY!!! Translation: Reduce costs by going back to black & white images produced by artists just breaking into the market, and reduce the size of the books by simplifying the game so that it is playable by and appeals to a wider audience. You said it exactally how it is. I was showing my 13 year old son my D&D, AD&D, SF, GW, issue upon issue of Dragon, White Wolf etc.. Later that day we went to the local Hobby Store and we had a great time looking at all the new games and material. The first thought that came to my mind was; who can afford to play these new games? The second was; why all the Full color pictures and art work, pages made in color just to be in color, no wonder the books are so high priced!! ( side note, my 12 year old daughter laughed when she saw that I had a TMNT RPG. The two of us spent the next 20 mins or so looking at the book and talking about the game :) Cogito ergo sum; I think therefore I am. Batty [Blade Runner] I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die. |
 September 5, 2012 - 9:33pm | The future of RPG is with small, independent publishers and self published games. Rules need to be simple and fast playing to keep people interested. Required rulebooks should be kept to a minimum and should be inexpensive. There will always be people that want more complex rules, but most people enjoy the fellowship of gaming and aren't interested in doing a lot of research just to play a game. Hasbro is unlikely to sell the rights to SF at a price anyone is willing to pay. It would cost too much just to have their lawyers look at the deal. My guess is they will bundle it up with the rights to D&D and all the old TSR IP and try to sell it that way, if it ever comes to that. That would actually offer the best opportunity for someone to get their hands on the rights to SF---if an independent publisher ends up with it as part of a bulk purchase and wants to make a little extra cash. |
