The D20 Thing
About two years ago, Ryan Dancey presented an idea to R&D that, on the surface, seemed ludicrous: He wanted to "give away" the core mechanics of the upcoming new Dungeons & Dragons game, allowing anyone at all the opportunity to publish what would, in essence, be unlicensed D&D products.
At first, most people who heard the idea either scoffed at the impossibility of the task or worried that Wizards would be giving away its competitive advantage. I'll admit, back then, I was one of the non-believers. I thought the theory was both hopelessly optimistic and callously indifferent to the livelihood of those employed by Wizards to produce roleplaying products.
But today--almost 18 months after the first D20 product hit the stands at GenCon 2000--I'm pleasantly surprised to say that "the D20 thing" seems to be working pretty well.
I wouldn't call it an overwhelming success quite yet: The dramatically varying level of quality from one D20 product to the next makes it impossible for the average consumer to use that logo as any sign of reliable compatibility, much less quality. However, the explosive growth in D20 publishers has accomplished two significant things, in my opinion.
First of all, it's filled the void of product created by the birth of a new edition of Dungeons & Dragons. Particularly in the first year of the game's existence, there simply wasn't enough game product to support the needs of the customers. Also, smaller D20 publishers have proven themselves readily capable of filling product niches that Wizards either can't or won't fill itself--most notably adventures, but also other optional products that speak to such a relatively small customer base that Wizards can't profitably pursue such avenues.
Second, it's provided an incredible infusion of creativity and talent into the world of D&D. Without "the D20 thing," most of these writers would be relegated to designing products for unnoticed games or simply wouldn't be writing at all.
Many people complain about a "D20 glut" that they have perceived over the last few months. I see this as a natural occurrence, and one that is ultimately self-correcting. Just as natural selection weeds out those animals and plants that can't survive on their own, so too will simple economic theory win out. Those who can produce high-quality game books and get them to a wide audience will continue to thrive, while those who fail in one or the other of these tasks will fall behind and ultimately fail (or remain as pure vanity press efforts).
I'm already seeing a number of companies that have stepped up to the plate and delivered some top-notch efforts. While I may quibble at the execution of some of the details (and really, what gamer doesn't?), these publishers have combined imagination, creativity, and talent to put some pretty darn good books on the shelf.
In alphabetical order:
AEG: While I enjoyed last summer's release, Evil, I thought it missed the mark a bit too frequently for my taste. Their most recent product, Dragons, is another story. This is a solid book that's absolutely full of crunchy bits for players and DMs alike (though it has some critical errors that prevent it from being a home run).
Bastion Press: Jim Butler was kind enough to drop a copy of Minions: Fearsome Foes at my desk a few weeks back, and I'm happy to say that it's earned a place by my gaming table. Not only is it full of weird, crazy monsters, but the art and presentation are a cut above the typical D20 book (check out the "Forlorn" illustration on page 34 for an example). The "Campaign" entry with each monster is a nice touch.
Green Ronin Publishing: Chris Pramas' team puts together some nice books, and Legions of Hell is one I'm happy to have on my shelf (and I'm looking forward to the upcoming Armies of the Abyss). It combines solid design with attractive artwork and clean layout. Though I'm woefully ignorant of the Freeport series--not enough room in my Bloodlines campaign for another city of that type--it seems a great idea for a product line.
Malhavoc Press: Honestly, I wouldn't expect anything but solid work from Monte (and Sue) Cook, and they haven't disappointed. If I have any complaint at all, it's that I think the products suffer (slightly) from the same thing that lets him do exactly what he wants when he wants: lack of influence from other talented designers. While "design-by-committee" rarely demonstrates the manic spark of genius that marks so much of Monte's work, the support of creative co-workers also helps to rein in ideas that may need a bit more polishing. Still, I'm happy to buy anything with his name on it--Book of Eldritch Might is on my shelf, and I'll be shelling out my cash for BoEM II soon enough.
This is by no means a complete list of all the quality D20 publishers out there--I couldn't possibly keep up with all that's being published these days. If you've got a recommendation to share, post it to the message boards!
Andy Collins
July 2002