Time to bitch about the non-colour 2nd edition

[greenjelly]

I think the bigger problem may be that they have done the sourcebooks for the best known nations and maybe the lesser known ones won't sell as well. I'd be mor

Respectfully, I disagree. Those of us that like/love/admire the game will buy the material because it is well-researched (hopefully) and presented with a bit more polish than the average RPG garbage out there (and I've seen stuff in HC and PDF that stinks like a skunk-and-limberger sandwich! :lol: The "lesser-known" areas are still full of gaming potential and as long as it stirs the imaginations of the players, I'd buy it. I can't think of a single dull area of Conan's world.

Not everyone is as hardcore a fan as that though

Looking at the sourcebooks already released, people could play their campaigns for the next year or so and not run out of information to run them. It happens in every game line, at some point the books start slowing down as there is just too much of it for people to take in over a short period of time (not that I think it's a bad thing to support the game of course!)

I'm sure they will continue to support the game, but you have to be realistic and realise that between the current sourcebooks and Road Of The Kings/Return To The Road Of Kings there is a LOT of information out there on pretty much all parts of Hyboria, and if people are already running a campaign they may not be so interested in a new book telling them about one of the more minor areas they have no plans to visit.

Having said that, i'm not bothered if they continue to produce them for every nation, just reasoning why it might not happen...

 

[Troll66]

The same downgrading of presentation occured with RQ Slaine which is a hardback B&W affair. 1st edithion d20 Slaine was sumptiuos in glossy full coulour and was at the same price.

Colour artwork in an rpg book can be very powerful in creating an atmosphere which engages the imagination - dull B&W pages are monotonous and less than inspiring - really I think Mongoose have really lowered the bar of recent.

 

[hal]

The same downgrading of presentation occured with RQ Slaine which is a hardback B&W affair. 1st edithion d20 Slaine was sumptiuos in glossy full coulour and was at the same price.

Colour artwork in an rpg book can be very powerful in creating an atmosphere which engages the imagination - dull B&W pages are monotonous and less than inspiring - really I think Mongoose have really lowered the bar of recent.

The crazy thing with Slaine is the the d20 version used a lot of B&W artwork but the RQ version used full colour then converted to B&W.

 

[Clegane]

I'd have gladly paid an extra 20 bucks for color. I really don't mind B/W so much in little modules or slim, softcover sourcebooks. But for a big, beefy hardcover core book? I had really hoped for and expected something a bit more...I dunno..sumptuous.

That said, even having purchased a copy of 2E already, I'd gladly give it to one of my players and purchase a full color core book, if one was available. I realize that not every consumer will necessarily feel the same way, but gaming is one of few hobbies that I make time for anymore. It consumes the bulk of my entertainment budget and I certainly never mind paying the extra buck for a company that goes the 'extra mile' with their presentation of my beloved hobby.

I really don't get gamers who complain and grouse about spending an extra 20 bucks for a better-looking product. Or even 30. Seriously, that's about what I pay every time my wife and I go out for dinner. Or what I paid for an evening at the bar back when I was in college. How hard can it really be to come up with a handful of dollars to keep the industry looking nice?

This is a hobby, people. Hobbies are supposed to be places to sink a lot of money into something that satisfies you, entertains you, and is cool to show off to your friends. If you really feel the need to save that 20-30 bucks this month, go shave it off your porn budget. Switch to domestic beer for a few weeks. Carpool to work. I don't really give a damn what you do, but stop trying to cheapen the industry for the rest of us.

Gaming has NEVER been a cheap hobby. I've been buying gaming material since about 1984. It has always been on the pricier side of things. Even tactical boardgames today, with flimsy paper maps and little cardboard pieces, often range well above 60 dollars. You pay at least 55 for a new PS3 or 360 game. New PC games are usually 50 and up. Oh well, guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a collector's edition.

 

[Strom]

I'd have gladly paid an extra 20 bucks for color. I really don't mind B/W so much in little modules or slim, softcover sourcebooks. But for a big, beefy hardcover core book? I had really hoped for and expected something a bit more...I dunno..sumptuous.

That said, even having purchased a copy of 2E already, I'd gladly give it to one of my players and purchase a full color core book, if one was available. I realize that not every consumer will necessarily feel the same way, but gaming is one of few hobbies that I make time for anymore. It consumes the bulk of my entertainment budget and I certainly never mind paying the extra buck for a company that goes the 'extra mile' with their presentation of my beloved hobby.

I really don't get gamers who complain and grouse about spending an extra 20 bucks for a better-looking product. Or even 30. Seriously, that's about what I pay every time my wife and I go out for dinner. Or what I paid for an evening at the bar back when I was in college. How hard can it really be to come up with a handful of dollars to keep the industry looking nice?

This is a hobby, people. Hobbies are supposed to be places to sink a lot of money into something that satisfies you, entertains you, and is cool to show off to your friends. If you really feel the need to save that 20-30 bucks this month, go shave it off your porn budget. Switch to domestic beer for a few weeks. Carpool to work. I don't really give a damn what you do, but stop trying to cheapen the industry for the rest of us.

Gaming has NEVER been a cheap hobby. I've been buying gaming material since about 1984. It has always been on the pricier side of things. Even tactical boardgames today, with flimsy paper maps and little cardboard pieces, often range well above 60 dollars. You pay at least 55 for a new PS3 or 360 game. New PC games are usually 50 and up. Oh well, guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a collector's edition.

Nice post but just for the record - Mongoose never asked any of us what we would like. They came out with Conan 2e and it was in black & white. But it looks like you can now spend more - Mongoose is listing 2e for $50 now...:shock:

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?id_currency=USD&qsSeries=7

 

[Clegane]

I'd have gladly paid an extra 20 bucks for color. I really don't mind B/W so much in little modules or slim, softcover sourcebooks. But for a big, beefy hardcover core book? I had really hoped for and expected something a bit more...I dunno..sumptuous.

That said, even having purchased a copy of 2E already, I'd gladly give it to one of my players and purchase a full color core book, if one was available. I realize that not every consumer will necessarily feel the same way, but gaming is one of few hobbies that I make time for anymore. It consumes the bulk of my entertainment budget and I certainly never mind paying the extra buck for a company that goes the 'extra mile' with their presentation of my beloved hobby.

I really don't get gamers who complain and grouse about spending an extra 20 bucks for a better-looking product. Or even 30. Seriously, that's about what I pay every time my wife and I go out for dinner. Or what I paid for an evening at the bar back when I was in college. How hard can it really be to come up with a handful of dollars to keep the industry looking nice?

This is a hobby, people. Hobbies are supposed to be places to sink a lot of money into something that satisfies you, entertains you, and is cool to show off to your friends. If you really feel the need to save that 20-30 bucks this month, go shave it off your porn budget. Switch to domestic beer for a few weeks. Carpool to work. I don't really give a damn what you do, but stop trying to cheapen the industry for the rest of us.

Gaming has NEVER been a cheap hobby. I've been buying gaming material since about 1984. It has always been on the pricier side of things. Even tactical boardgames today, with flimsy paper maps and little cardboard pieces, often range well above 60 dollars. You pay at least 55 for a new PS3 or 360 game. New PC games are usually 50 and up. Oh well, guess I'll just keep my fingers crossed for a collector's edition.

Nice post but just for the record - Mongoose never asked any of us what we would like. They came out with Conan 2e and it was in black & white. But it looks like you can now spend more - Mongoose is listing 2e for $50 now...:shock:

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?id_currency=USD&qsSeries=7

Well, I'll admit that I didn't actually go back and scan the forum to see if they'd queried their customer base for format options prior. I just assumed that the 'less flashy' product was a result of consumer pressure. Not sure why else they'd do it, really, aside from their marketing fearing that a more expensive product wouldn't sell well.

 

[High Lord Dee]

I think the bigger problem may be that they have done the sourcebooks for the best known nations and maybe the lesser known ones won't sell as well. I'd be more interested in seeing campaign style adventure hardcovers than more nation sourcebooks personally.

I think Cimeria and the Northern nations would sell well. I would rather use my own imagination on campaigns than regions. But, I like your idea. How about both?

HLD

 

[greenjelly]

In a perfect world, both would be great, but looking at the books published so far it may be getting to the point where people have enough nation sourcebooks to run campaigns for the next 5 years or so. So adding more may not be financially viable (I have no idea whther it's true or not, just speculating on why the torrent of books for Conan is slowing down now).

 

[MongooseMatt]

We've still got some good nations coming up next year

 

[Dragonblade275]

I finally saw a copy of the Conan 2nd Edition rulebook at my favorite local gaming store, tonight. I love the Conan stories and setting and I might have bought the Conan 2nd Edition, tonight... That is, until I picked it up.

I don't know what it is, but the binding is done in a strange way so that the book won't hardly open all the way without feeling like it's going to become damaged. Also, the inside margins are too close to the spine which demands that the book needs to open all the way, but it doesn't act or feel as if the book is designed to be opened all the way.

Also, if it was going to be black and white, I'd have recommended even less artwork per page and just put in several good black and white pictures. The color map in the front of the book is odd for a black and white book.

I love Conan, but I was extremely disappointed by the quality of the physical book. I cannot wait for the PDF, though. Then, I won't have to worry about whether or not the physical book will last. I collect d20 RPG books, but this one doesn't look like it is made to last. I would have paid another $20 to $30 U.S. dollars for a high quality book. If you've seen the physical book of Monte Cook's Ptolus, you'll know what I mean by quality.

I really wish you could have went all out. It's Conan! Make it a collector's edition.

 

[The King]

We've still got some good nations coming up next year

And would you be so kind as to give us some information about these?

 

[azoth999]

Mongoosians: Never do that again! Never! This is a command! Charge me an extra 10 but give me the top-notch binding back and the all-colour books.

I'm not so opposed to the B&W artwork. The binding, however, is a legitimate gripe IMO. My brand new HC 2nd edition is already failing and sections fallling out of the spine. I'm thinking of trying to rebind it myself.

 

[MongooseMatt]

I'm not so opposed to the B&W artwork. The binding, however, is a legitimate gripe IMO. My brand new HC 2nd edition is already failing and sections fallling out of the spine. I'm thinking of trying to rebind it myself.

Drop us a line at msprange@mongoosepublishing.com, and we'll replace it for you.

 

[azoth999]

Wow. Thanks!

Edit: FYI I've been told the binding process has improved since the first run on the 2nd Ed texts. I should soon see firsthand.

 

[Celisasu]

I finally saw a copy of the Conan 2nd Edition rulebook at my favorite local gaming store, tonight. I love the Conan stories and setting and I might have bought the Conan 2nd Edition, tonight... That is, until I picked it up.

I don't know what it is, but the binding is done in a strange way so that the book won't hardly open all the way without feeling like it's going to become damaged. Also, the inside margins are too close to the spine which demands that the book needs to open all the way, but it doesn't act or feel as if the book is designed to be opened all the way.

Also, if it was going to be black and white, I'd have recommended even less artwork per page and just put in several good black and white pictures. The color map in the front of the book is odd for a black and white book.

I love Conan, but I was extremely disappointed by the quality of the physical book. I cannot wait for the PDF, though. Then, I won't have to worry about whether or not the physical book will last. I collect d20 RPG books, but this one doesn't look like it is made to last. I would have paid another $20 to $30 U.S. dollars for a high quality book. If you've seen the physical book of Monte Cook's Ptolus, you'll know what I mean by quality.

I really wish you could have went all out. It's Conan! Make it a collector's edition.

I just got the book and I've noticed the same problem. Some of the pages are actually warped due to how they've been placed in the book and as you mentioned the pages are way too close to the margins.

 

[Zeke73]

Finally our local RPG store here in Stockholm has the new book for sale. I was looking forward to buying it but when I saw it in the store I was really disappointed. It looked very "cheap" I must say, not at all living up to my expectations. I'm definately joining the club "Give us a Collector's Edition in full colour!"

 

[greenjelly]

Mongoose is kind of damned if they do, damned if they don't here

If they make it expensive, people complain about the price, if they make it cheap, we complain it's not in colour etc. In a perfect world, both versions would be nice, but I think generally Mongoose does an exceptional job of looking after the people that buy their books.

Oh, and i've still got my hand up for a hardcover compilation book of Hyborias Finest/Fiercest etc.

 

[The King]

If they make it expensive, people complain about the price, if they make it cheap, we complain it's not in colour etc.

$50 isn't particularly cheap.

 

[InfinityDoctor]

Wow. Thanks!

Edit: FYI I've been told the binding process has improved since the first run on the 2nd Ed texts. I should soon see firsthand.

Mongoose recently replaced my Conan 2nd Edition after I had some problems with it. I can confirm that there are no problems whatsoever with my replacement copy - the pages aren't falling out, nor are they even slightly wrinkled. The Glorantha Players' Guide they replaced for me (my original fell apart) is also free of issues.

Finally, my newly purchased copy of Dragonnewts had no problems at all, so I think its relatively safe to assume that Mongoose are moving forwards and can put this whole printing business behind them.

 

[Celisasu]

I don't mind a book being in black and white. That's fine with me. I do mind the fact that you have to have it on a table opened up completely to read some of the text because it's so close to the edge and the fact that some of the pages are slightly warped. It also feels like it was designed in color and then shifted into black&white which gives it an odd appearance. If you're doing a book in B&W make sure that you design art and whatnot accordingly.

I should also note that my A Call to Arms 2nd Edition book has the exact same problems.

Interestingly enough my fleet list book doesn't have this problem, nor does my 1st Edition Conan or my copy of The Rim. Is there some different process that Mongoose uses for it's books that are in color? It's only my B&W books that seem to be having these problems.