Getting In The Door With The Game

First, the Basic Charts Edition of Heroes of the Dungeon Crawl is still available for free download. Over 130 hits on the Lulu site and 26 downloads as of now.

There's a local game store that just opened up. Actually, it was at another smaller location for a couple years, and it was time to move up. Business was doing well enough, as I understand it, that he had to make the move to take it to the next level.

Let's face it, in this age of computers, any game store that can make it is doing well. I have a few within transit distance, and I'd rate this one about in the middle of them all in terms of product availability and charm of store. It ain't the best, but it ain't the worst.

One of my frustrations with the place is getting them to recognize other RPG's. This is definitely a D&D is the center of the universe type of store. Now, please don't think I'm trying to slam them for this, because I'm not. It's a business, even if it started out as a hobby. Once you have a store, you are invested in the deal.

The safe bet is D&D. Wizards controls a huge share of the market, after all, and this is the game most people have heard of. Ignore that fact at your own peril. What's interesting is I've heard the guy complain about the big book stores getting better treatment than the game stores by Wizards. That's not a very game store friendly attitude from a company that you would think needed these stores.

In the end, I know the money made off of these products justifies putting up with any crap you might have to put up with.

But, I couldn't help wondering if he could do himself a little bit of a favor by trying to increase awareness of one of the other games. Which one, I don't know. Let's use Castles & Crusades as an example. I know people play this one in the area. Get them to hold weekly games there in the game room and increase the visibility of the game with a better display. No, not a bunch more space, just better visibility.

The problem is I have only seen the Players Book on the shelf there. The other two core books were not on the shelf. Hackmaster was nowhere to be seen (yes I know Kenzer has made plans for a new version, but I'm talking earlier this year). In fact, he didn't have much nice to say about Kenzer. Nope, there are tons of D&D books on the shelf, and THAT is what this guy pushes. With all the space he has now, it's a disappointment.

I need to travel about 30 miles or more to see a Tunnels & Trolls book, Hackmaster, Castles & Crusades, Lejendary Adventures and so many others, and I might add I can see many of those books in more than one store.

Do I blame the store owner? No. It's his store, and he can run it as he wishes. Just because I think the lack of certain books there is not a good thing for the RPG companies doesn't make it so. IT IS A BUSINESS!!! He is there to make money, not to help promote smaller game companies that could use the help.

THIS is the problem that a game like Labyrinth Lord will have in being more than a net fad. With Heroes of the Dungeon Crawl, I'm not worried about getting rich or finding shelf space, because I simply don't have the money to make the push. I have a few ideas up my sleeves, don't get me wrong, but I have no visions of money here. I simply wanted to add s new basic element to the RPG that is very much in need of one.

I don't see this industry growing. The big boon period was probably the early 80's for this. Most people interested in this type of deal will just get the computer game. It's cheaper, easier and it takes less time. Look at the money made off of games like Everquest, Ultima Online and World of Warcraft if you need proof. Heck, Wizards knows this, which is why there are options for playing D&D on computer, and good ones at that.

Daniel and Goblinoid Games had good intentions with Labyrinth Lord, and there has been a nice buzz surrounding it. He spent money to make a nice book that you can even order in a Barnes & Noble for purchase there (no cards needed). I tried to get the attention of the local store to order it there and put him in touch with Goblinoid Games. Nothing happened. I had even offered to purchase a book through him. It didn't say D&D on it, and you only need the one book to play. Where's the money in that?

Daniel has a big challenge ahead to go further with this, but to his credit he has said he has no major goals for this game. At least he tried, and I have nothing but respect for what he did. But even the community he seeks to sell this to is divided. Because this book isn't red with Erol Otus or Larry Elmore art on the cover, some reject it. Why do we need it? Why isn't it just free (the pdf is)? So, he can't really market it in one forum the way other games I won't name are allowed to be pushed.

I never deluded myself into thinking any of this was going to be huge, but I am disappointed in certain reactions. The old school community ought to embrace Labyrinth Lord and OSRIC for what they bring to the table, professional quality new material for an old game, but they don't. Many see it as a money grab, and don't believe it should even be there. So, the cause is hurt at the very start by that, and getting the word out is a challenge that leads to frustration by those who tout it to the masses. Simply put, many will abandon early when results aren't what they hope.

Daniel made this book available through some distributors, including Barnes & Noble. It's a little too early to see how well that will go. I believe some stores, a few at least, might stock it if asked, but will anybody ask? Others, like my local store, will just ignore the request and pretend they never heard it. After all, Wizards has new books coming with the D&D logo, and that's what people want, or are told to want anyway.

What I have noticed during the year that I have returned to gaming is not all that encouraging for anybody looking for a basic game with an old school feel. When D&D finally dropped the Basic from the name in the early 90's, it was assumed everybody could just buy all the hard cover books and jump in. No basic game needed. In my opinion, That was a mistake, but it's not one that the company will lose any sleep over.

The little guy trying to get in the door with a new game has a huge challenge ahead of him. It's not a rich industry, and why does the store need your game when they have the great RPG Monolith that is D&D? It's not an easy road. As I said, it is a business for the store owner and game maker before being a hobby. Store owners have reason to be hesitant to try new or different stuff from outside of their comfort zone.

Why am I getting into this subject? No reason really. Just a few observations I have made. It is what it is until somebody is able to make the move that changes the way things are. It has happened before and will happen again. I just feel that having a basic game you can play in minutes will go a long way towards getting people off of their computers and back to the table for a good old fashioned gaming session.

To those trying to change things and get their feet in the door with that new game, I salute you.