I don't have an issue with a new Gamma World Role Playing Game. Totally awesome, I love the post-apocalypse as a genre. And what's there not to love about sentient robots and plants, and crazy mutants as adventurers!
I do take issue with it being called a Dungeons & Dragons game! Isn't that just weird?
www.wizards.com/DND/Product.aspx?x=dnd/p...
In the light of Lone Wolf Dev, and their concerns about the "genericizing" of Army Builder (R), I think it's a pretty bad idea in calling it a D&D game instead of it being called a Role Playing Game (RPG). Especially since it's going to be a STAND-ALONE game.
NOW if it was a Campaign Setting, for the Dungeons & Dragons game, THAT would be OK. Cool even (more setting specific fluff and crunch, and less rule reprinting.)
What other D&D games is WotC going to release? The Magic D&D game? The Axis & Allies WW2 D&D game? I can't wait for the G.I. Joe D&D Game, or the Transformers D&D Game.
When WotC released their version Call of Cthulhu, they called it a d20 Horror Rpg. Not a Horror D&D game.
I do take issue with it being called a Dungeons & Dragons game! Isn't that just weird?
I'm in favor of it. I wish it was going to be TOTALLY compatable. It wont be.
But it's looking like a stand-Alone, self-contained, you-don't-need-the-PHB-DMG-MM, to play the game. So why would you retain the D&D logo, and use it as part of it's name? In fact, calling it a D&D Game. I think that totally dilutes D&D as a brand, and enforces the synonymous thought that all Roleplaying Games are D&D. It would enforce people thinking that Vampire IS D&D, or GURPS is D&D, instead of people understanding that Vampire is an RPG, like D&D, but not actually D&D.
Would Alternity fans be happy if they called Alternity, a Sci-Fi D&D game? Or how about Star Wars, a D&D Game.
This is coming from someone that has some marketing background, and someone that understands how and why trademarks and branding are important in this kind of business.
One is a Trading Card Game, the other is a P&P Roleplaying Game. So they want to associate other RPGs they produce with D&D, since it's now their core RPG.
That's not what I'm concerned about. I'm not concerned with it being part of D&D. As I've said, if it was just a CAMPAIGN SETTING for Dungeons and Dragons, I think it would be TOTALLY COOL.
Sorry. I miss understood.
I'm for total compatability.
I wouldn't care if Gamma World was self-contained for the folks who only want a Sci-fi(ish) RPG.
