Erik's editorial really hit on something I had been discussing with my group of gamers out here in Hawaii about how the industry is changing and joining the ranks of other artistic medium.
I know that I see movies more based on who directed them, and who is acting in them, rather than for the plot or "trimmings" nowadays. I find the same trend in my gamebook purchasing habits. For example I snatch up any book with Bruce R. Cordell's name on the cover. I purchase every issue of Dungeon, but the one's with Richard Pett and Greg V.'s name on the cover are especially attractive (if only so that I can read their work and smugly assure myself that mine is infinately better). ;-)
I guess I am posing the same question on this thread that Erik posed all those years back - Do you buy gaming stuff based on the author, or is it the campaign setting/feel/look of the product that attracts more. I am in the known author camp myself.
Do you buy gaming stuff based on the author, or is it the campaign setting/feel/look of the product that attracts more?
A little bit of both. The more I read from author's website (Bruce Cordell, Sean K. Reynolds, Rich Burlew, Mike Mearls and Monte Cook to name a few) the more I find I like the author's writing and intentionally seek out books that they have written or collaborated on. I got the Iron Heroes book solely on the recommendation of those on this board and reading excerpts, though I will probably never play an Iron Heroes-based game. Ptolus sounds meaty and I've been intrigued by the way its been written. I've found that books I've purchased that I've really liked have been written by the same group of authors.
On the other hand, I am "Easily Distracted by Shiny Objects" - I never fail to pick up the latest d20 book and thumb through it thinking "How can I use this in my campaign?" At some point, my logical brain kicks in and starts to analyze the pros & cons. (I ended up choosing Cityworks by Fantasy Flight over some book from WotC - a better choice, IMHO).
Do you buy gaming stuff based on the author, or is it the campaign setting/feel/look of the product that attracts more?A little bit of both. The more I read from author's website (Bruce Cordell, Sean K. Reynolds, Rich Burlew, Mike Mearls and Monte Cook to name a few) the more I find I like the author's writing and intentionally seek out books that they have written or collaborated on. I got the Iron Heroes book solely on the recommendation of those on this board and reading excerpts, though I will probably never play an Iron Heroes-based game. Ptolus sounds meaty and I've been intrigued by the way its been written. I've found that books I've purchased that I've really liked have been written by the same group of authors.
On the other hand, I am "Easily Distracted by Shiny Objects" - I never fail to pick up the latest d20 book and thumb through it thinking "How can I use this in my campaign?" At some point, my logical brain kicks in and starts to analyze the pros & cons. (I ended up choosing Cityworks by Fantasy Flight over some book from WotC - a better choice, IMHO).
Yeah, Iron Heroes is pretty spectacular.