Post Game, and other musings
Another week, another D&D game. Wrapped up nicely with a combat to take a strategic castle, which shouldn't have been as bad for the players as it ended up being--think I got my first KO in last night on a battle mostly comprised of level 1 minions against a level 3 party.
One of the problems was that the party split up--but that wasn't as huge a contributing factor as it might have been. I'd had the encounter be in a big castle courtyard, and again there were problems getting from the starting point to where the enemies were. The big thing that surprised me was, even with the way I hand out healing potions like candy, even with two heal-capable characters, the first healing wasn't used till after someone had been dropped. I'm not sure if people were distracted or if there was something going on or what, but I've never seen the group so disorganized last night. (And that's not even mentioning second wind)
Anyway, after the battle we did a bit of RP to establish a bit for the next adventure, which I think went okay, then called it a night.
In other stuff to comment on: Wizards of the Coast decided not to renew the Star Wars RPG license. Saga Edition has one more book to go, and there's some more minis coming or something, then it's done. To be honest, even though I liked Saga Edition, I am neither surprised nor disappointed by this turn of events. I've said before, Saga Edition has essentially run its course, with a book for each character class, one for ships, one for droids, one for stuff to fight, and campaign guides for the KotOR era, clone wars, dark times, rebellion, and legacy. The only thing they could reasonably cover in the edition that they didn't would be campaign guides for the dawn of the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong invasion eras, and honestly those are the two eras I'm least likely to play in ever.
And since they'd have to license it for five years to get those two books, we'd be seeing a new edition out of them anyway, which just isn't worth their time. So, basically, Saga Edition covers essentially everything you could need to have covered for a Star Wars RPG game, and then stops. Fine with me. Marks the second RPG edition I've accurately predicted the end of, after Legend of the Five Rings Third Edition, and will be the third complete run of an edition on my shelf once I pick up the few books I didn't already own.
It would not surprise me to see someone else pick up the license, though. Even with the inconveniences that come with the franchise--creative control courtesy Lucasarts, having all your releases given the once-over before print, and a mega$$ license cost--I think some of the up and coming young companies that want to make a name for themselves in the post-OGL world will have some interest. Lucas is no fool, either, and he's made so much of his money off licensing that he must know an idle license profits no one, so if nobody is interested at the current price point it may become negotiable. Don't think Wizards will go back for it, but someone like Green Ronin or Paizo might. With The Old Republic game coming next year, and the Clone Wars on TV, along with the live action series coming, it wouldn't be too surprising to see it grabbed by one of the smaller guys. White Wolf and Wizards will more than likely keep their distance though.
One of the problems was that the party split up--but that wasn't as huge a contributing factor as it might have been. I'd had the encounter be in a big castle courtyard, and again there were problems getting from the starting point to where the enemies were. The big thing that surprised me was, even with the way I hand out healing potions like candy, even with two heal-capable characters, the first healing wasn't used till after someone had been dropped. I'm not sure if people were distracted or if there was something going on or what, but I've never seen the group so disorganized last night. (And that's not even mentioning second wind)
Anyway, after the battle we did a bit of RP to establish a bit for the next adventure, which I think went okay, then called it a night.
In other stuff to comment on: Wizards of the Coast decided not to renew the Star Wars RPG license. Saga Edition has one more book to go, and there's some more minis coming or something, then it's done. To be honest, even though I liked Saga Edition, I am neither surprised nor disappointed by this turn of events. I've said before, Saga Edition has essentially run its course, with a book for each character class, one for ships, one for droids, one for stuff to fight, and campaign guides for the KotOR era, clone wars, dark times, rebellion, and legacy. The only thing they could reasonably cover in the edition that they didn't would be campaign guides for the dawn of the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong invasion eras, and honestly those are the two eras I'm least likely to play in ever.
And since they'd have to license it for five years to get those two books, we'd be seeing a new edition out of them anyway, which just isn't worth their time. So, basically, Saga Edition covers essentially everything you could need to have covered for a Star Wars RPG game, and then stops. Fine with me. Marks the second RPG edition I've accurately predicted the end of, after Legend of the Five Rings Third Edition, and will be the third complete run of an edition on my shelf once I pick up the few books I didn't already own.
It would not surprise me to see someone else pick up the license, though. Even with the inconveniences that come with the franchise--creative control courtesy Lucasarts, having all your releases given the once-over before print, and a mega$$ license cost--I think some of the up and coming young companies that want to make a name for themselves in the post-OGL world will have some interest. Lucas is no fool, either, and he's made so much of his money off licensing that he must know an idle license profits no one, so if nobody is interested at the current price point it may become negotiable. Don't think Wizards will go back for it, but someone like Green Ronin or Paizo might. With The Old Republic game coming next year, and the Clone Wars on TV, along with the live action series coming, it wouldn't be too surprising to see it grabbed by one of the smaller guys. White Wolf and Wizards will more than likely keep their distance though.