From:	Rand Ratinac docwagon101@*****.com
Subject:	SR Narrowing of focus
Date:	Tue, 17 Aug 1999 18:20:56 -0700 (PDT)

> >> Because you don't have to buy every damn book that comes out to
keep up with what the hell's going on, even if it interests you not at
all??
> >
> >Okay, that's a good thing for a GM on a budget. But it a) isn't a
good thing for a gaming company and
>
> Sort term profits from new players that will move on in a year vs.
long term profits from players who will stick with the game for a
decade or better?

On average, those long term players are going to be MUCH fewer in
numbers and thus buy a smaller volume of books - over a longer period,
no less. I'm afraid that doesn't work out in any equation. Relying on
people like us is the kind of thing that got FASA in a situation where
they had to sell off Interactive to get more funds.

> As I've said, I think everythime they release a book that might hold
the key to some major event, but they only mention it in that book and
one rarer than hen's teeth novel, they earn ire from thier customers.

Really? Why? That's how EVERY company that has major events does it. I
think I'd be more irritated with having to buy multiple books to get
the entire picture on a large event.

If you're talking summary books (as you mention below) which come out
some time after the original books, that's different.

> >b) isn't a good thing as far as the development of the game goes.
>
> It also isn't a bad thing. I'm saying that they need to make the
setting totally static,

No, but it sure sounded like Mark has been advocating that. And that IS
a bad thing for game development.

> but I do think they need to rerelease older amterial that provides
background, or print "yearbooks" (Call them part of the Target line,
ie Target: 2050-2055.) that are mainly reference and some game hooks,
maybe a sketched adventure and some historically prominant NPCS,
organizations and gizmos.
> If the later, they can take 60-80% of thier content from previoulsy
published materials.
> Kevin Dole, aka CyberRaven, aka IronRaven, aka Steel
> Tengu

Hey, that's not a bad idea. If that's what you mean by supporting the
older settings, I'd go for that. If I were doing it, I'd probably do
one book for every two years (depending on how much happened in a
particular year).

The only question is whether or not it would sell. As I've said so many
times now, if you want it, you'll have to demonstrate to FASA that it's
a good idea. And I'll be in on that.

And, of course, EVERYONE would like to see some of the older books
reprinted. Can anyone tell me why FASA doesn't do that?
==Doc'
(aka Mr. Freaky Big, Super-Dynamic Troll of Tomorrow)

.sig Sauer
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