Silverlion
Legendary Pubber
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I wish I'd picked up a print. Dang it.
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Yeah don't get me wrong, I am a fan of MW and will be forever. It's just that I appreciate a publisher's support in terms of spells, scenarios, campaigns, etc.It's been 'dead' for years now, as far as Nu-Chaosium is concerned. Lots of games I like are 'dead'... maybe I'm a necrophiliac.
You can get a new copy on Amazon for $40. But that's too much for a second copy (for me) when I have a working copy and the rules both in PDF and in my memory.I wish I'd picked up a print. Dang it.
To be fair there's some used copies kicking around for about ~$20, but I suspect once the stock of new books runs out, Amazon bot pricing will do its thing and start ridiculously inflating prices (or not; you never can tell why or when it's going to happen).You can get a new copy on Amazon for $40. But that's too much for a second copy (for me) when I have a working copy and the rules both in PDF and in my memory.
Okay you talked me into it (I am such a pushover). I bought a second used copy of Magic World. It makes sense as I use it heavily.To be fair there's some used copies kicking around for about ~$20, but I suspect once the stock of new books runs out, Amazon bot pricing will do its thing and start ridiculously inflating prices (or not; you never can tell why or when it's going to happen).
There are solid business reasons for most actions at Chaosium these days. MW sold terribly bad, and while a trickle of money from the pdf sales might be nice, you also get constant questions about the line, someone has a problem downloading a file and so on. Yadda yadda.That's a cost.
Mine too but I MUCH, MUCH prefer print versions.
I'd also add that if downloads of Magic World that require customer service are such a time sink, either they must be selling a lot, or their online store works so poorly, they might want to consider closing it down and moving all their PDF sales to DriveThru.I am not a businessman, but it seems like the cost of those things should be factored into the price of the product. If you have 1 hour worth of labor costs answering download questions about this, that should be factored in, and I would think would be factored in with all of the other products you have downloaded from your store - i.e. it can be spread over a lot of downloads, and the actual cost for that one is very small. I find this argument fairly specious.
Also, I'm curious to know the reoccurring cost of a PDF in the host of other PDFs that represent an online distribution platform. It would seem to me that putting the file in s3 would cost on the order of $0.02 a year.
I would also note that if I remember correctly DTRPG's percentage is 30 or 35%, and the publisher gets 65 or 70% (please, anyone feel free to correct me, this is on memory, but I did read something about digital sales on their site). Since this works out to be almost exactly the price Chaosium is publishing it for, seems likely they were putting it up there without adding in the costs of maintenance of an online store, or somehow are incredibly cheap compared to DTRPG.
Seems odd, all things told. Seems like it would be a great generic BRP book.
I'd also add that if downloads of Magic World that require customer service are such a time sink, either they must be selling a lot, or their online store works so poorly, they might want to consider closing it down and moving all their PDF sales to DriveThru.
well, there is a barrier in buying at $25 vs $15, I suppose. if you sell a pdf for y on DTRPG and for x on your own site, does the amount you sell more cover the differences. No idea what their math there is. But if you make the same amount with DTRPG, but sell less, is that ok? Maybe so.I'd also add that if downloads of Magic World that require customer service are such a time sink, either they must be selling a lot, or their online store works so poorly, they might want to consider closing it down and moving all their PDF sales to DriveThru.
In past five years at DriveThruRPG MW and AS between them have barely sold 2-3 copies a month (if that), so we're gonna see if this moves the needle..."
"1 hour ago, NickMiddleton said:
Is the current PDF price of Magic World ($2.99 marked down from $24.42) as a result of a particular sale?
And folks wonder why I am so anal about open content. In an ideal world why shouldn't Magic World get support from those interested in what it offers.Yeah don't get me wrong, I am a fan of MW and will be forever. It's just that I appreciate a publisher's support in terms of spells, scenarios, campaigns, etc.
In my experience, yes. That's the case with licensed games that disappear from sale.What happens if it's delisted from DTRPG? Do purchasers still retain a download link in their history?
What he said. Judges Guild products got pulled for sale from DTRPG but I still have them all my library there.In my experience, yes. That's the case with licensed games that disappear from sale.
I'm still working up the courage to run Mythras (and probably will once my long-running Magic World/Dolmenwood campaign comes to a natural conclusion). But you're right, TDM is the gold standard for D100 publishers (and most publishers); high quality products and friendly to boot. Loz and Pete Nash deserve lots of support and that's only reinforced by the community on Discord and their forums, which have always been very friendly and a great resource.I have the Magic world softcovers on my shelf next to my Stormbringer 4th Ed and Elric! softcovers. It's has been my goto system since 1990. I was thrilled when Magic World first came out. I was really disappointed when it vanished so fast.
I have since made the near complete shift over to Mythras. I still love the MW system but the facts that Mythras is alive, the support is outstanding, and folks like Loz, Releel, Hannu (and countless others) are readily available to answer question means EVERYTHING.
Yeah and look how well researched TDM games are. Books like Mythic Rome are the gold standard in the RPG world.I'm still working up the courage to run Mythras (and probably will once my long-running Magic World/Dolmenwood campaign comes to a natural conclusion). But you're right, TDM is the gold standard for D100 publishers (and most publishers); high quality products and friendly to boot. Loz and Pete Nash deserve lots of support and that's only reinforced by the community on Discord and their forums, which have always been very friendly and a great resource.
I'd say Magic World is a bit meatier than OpenQuest: More levels of success to compare, it uses variable armor vs. static, MW has a major wounds table to simulate limb loss and catastrophic injuries, it has a more comprehensive weapons and equipment list. However Sorcery is simpler in some ways (no magnitude, etc.), but Advanced Sorcery gives you several more systems to play with: An open-ended casting system with Deep Magic, a rune-based magic system, Necromantic incantations, Fey Magic, and some expanded herbology, and a pretty useful system for characters with 101+ skills called "arete."How does Magic World compare to OpenQuest for a rules-lighter d100 option?
I’m currently running Mythras, so I think I’d use OpenQuest for a rules-lighter option but as it’s my first d100 system, I often wonder how I’d like BRP, Magic World and RuneQuest 2, 3, and G.
And does Magic World Advanced Sorcery have any use for a Mythras GM?
I would advise getting RuneQuest: Adventures In Glorantha if you specifically want to play in Glorantha.How does Magic World compare to OpenQuest for a rules-lighter d100 option?
I’m currently running Mythras, so I think I’d use OpenQuest for a rules-lighter option but as it’s my first d100 system, I often wonder how I’d like BRP, Magic World and RuneQuest 2, 3, and G.
And does Magic World Advanced Sorcery have any use for a Mythras GM?
Also I believe OQ uses opposed rolls (BOO!) where MW rightly uses the resistance table.
I don't know. I've seen plenty of complaints about the Resistance Table from old BRP grognards on a few forums. Gamers that were glad that it was removed from CoC 7e and newer forms of RQ. (I've not read RQ: AiG, so don't know if it was removed there).I grew up with D&D, and there’s some things that I like about it due to nostalgia, which people new to old school D&D might not necessarily like. I wonder if the resistance table is similar for people who have played RuneQuest or RQ based systems for a while. What do you think?
How does Magic World compare to OpenQuest for a rules-lighter d100 option?
I’m currently running Mythras, so I think I’d use OpenQuest for a rules-lighter option but as it’s my first d100 system, I often wonder how I’d like BRP, Magic World and RuneQuest 2, 3, and G.
And does Magic World Advanced Sorcery have any use for a Mythras GM?
You run a good Mythras game. I really think you should stick with it. There isn't anything you could gain from switching other than snipping away some of the rules you've already been using.
Some people have a 'thing' against tables of any sort. But the Resistance Table in BRP is based on a simple formula that can easily be used on the fly. No need to look things up unless you prefer it.I grew up with D&D, and there’s some things that I like about it due to nostalgia, which people new to old school D&D might not necessarily like. I wonder if the resistance table is similar for people who have played RuneQuest or RQ based systems for a while. What do you think?
I have only been playing Magic World and BRP since late 2015 so I doubt nostalgia applies to me. In any case the resistance table makes more sense than opposed rolls and is easily done in your head (no table needed). There was never a "good" reason to get rid of it.I grew up with D&D, and there’s some things that I like about it due to nostalgia, which people new to old school D&D might not necessarily like. I wonder if the resistance table is similar for people who have played RuneQuest or RQ based systems for a while. What do you think?
I thought I recognized that cat...
Using something like OpenQuest would not be in lieu of Mythras, but rather as an option to play with kids, or do a rules light d100 B/X D&D hack. I could probably just do that with Mythras though if I removed some things, as you mentioned.
You guys don't forget the new Jackals is also based on OpenQuest (though I have been told they added some Conan 2D20 things in it) and its absolutely beautiful in terms of production values.You run a good Mythras game. I really think you should stick with it. There isn't anything you could gain from switching other than snipping away some of the rules you've already been using.
That said, if you do switch I'd go with the simpler system that is currently alive and getting support - and of the ones you listed that'd be the new Open Quest. I supported the kick starter, got the advance PDF proof, and I really like what I see.
You guys don't forget the new Jackals is also based on OpenQuest (though I have been told they added some Conan 2D20 things in it) and its absolutely beautiful in terms of production values.
Is it slavish orthodoxy? Has anyone died on that hill?I've always thought that the slavish orthodoxy that surrounded the Resistance table was a really weird hill to die on.