>Peter Maranci wrote: "That being the case, perhaps Glorantha would be
>better publicized by a CCG."
I don't know what the tenor is here, but among RPG and Miniatures gamers
in my area, CCG suggestions would be taboo. I think a CCG would be a bad
idea for a number of reasons---none of them social. The CCG market has
caused ripples throughout the industry. I managed a Game Store over the
last six years and I saw a radical change in spending habits. Several
Things became apparent:
1. Money for non-CCG products dried up, but not from just the players.
Distributors and retailler have to be really hesitant about purchasing
CCGs. They are a risky proposition. Unless they are a sexy tie-in or else
an established player, these groups are being more cautious.
2. Companies are suffering: fly-by-night game companies and the expansive
influence of the WOTC megalith have made it hard for smaller companies,
and even larger companies, to get things distributed in the amounts they
need. I have also heard that many of the major distributors are having
enormous debt problems. This comes from shops who set up to sell CCGs and
then cannot pay. It also comes from poor return policies from some major
CCG companies.
3. The Market is Saturated: Think about the amount of money one must spend
to break into a CCG. Then you also have to hope that there are other
players in your area. (I love L5R, I have all the cards, no one else
around here does---on occassion my wife humors me and plays)
I had heard about RQ/Glorantha mini and became excited--I love to paint.
But I have to ask myself, will they sell? AH and Chaosium have to watch
themselves in this market closely. Chaosium did a really smart thing and
opted to not produce anymore Mythos beyond the Dreamlands expansion.
Perhaps if they did do a CCG, it might be an all in one box to encourage
players. However in my experience Glorantha is not a sexy buck-pulling
license. It would be hard pressed to be competitive in the market.
That being said I agree with everything else you said. I suspect that you
may get other responses to your comments- I only comment because I have
been saddened by the decline of the market.