Support Trek RPG Magazine?

[USSJusticeCO]

Does anyone know if there will be a "support magazine" for the new Trek RPG?

Once again I will be one of the few to "dtae myself" by mentioning the old "STARDATE" magazines.

Edward Tunis III
wwwi.region7.com

[Doug Burke]

Unfortunately, no. Nor, at this time, is one planned.

Sorry.

[Modem]

Justice, don't worry about 'dating yourself' when it come to references of 'Stardate Magazine', hell I remeber reading about the mag waaaaaaaaay back when I use to read Dragon (back in that magical time called the '80's).

I didn't start getting issues 'til late '80's/early '90's and I gotta say; I haven't yet seen a Sci-Fi RPG mag that was so imaginative, creative, or fun than it.

It's a shame, the only one to come close was Shadis; but that was only during special issues. Inquest has it's moments (remember it's coverage of ICON Trek?), but again; sporadic.

*sigh* make ya' wish someone in pubish would realize that there are more RPG's out there than Fantasy/D&D/D20 carp().

Maybe we should rally ST:the magazine to put something in, say every three months; to help bring games 'up-to-speed'.

Thoughts...?

[Eric R.]

I would say that getting either Star Trek: The Magizine or the Communicator to pubish stuff is a lot more likely, even though it wont happen. WoTC had a good run with the Star Wars Gamer mag. recently but even it ran out of steam for some reason. As long as Paramount gives the rights away to its stuff getting a good mag along the lines of Star Wars Gammer is near impossiable (though having one game company Decipher make both the RPG and CCG is a good step forward.) Pocket books has the rights to all fiction (which would be essential for a good RPG mag) and whoever has the curent PC games has the right to publish mateial for it.

[Modem]

PC stuff is by Activision, same as consol stuff...Hmmm...you all don't suppose it'd be a 'good' idea for the heads of these three areas (RPG/CCG, Publishing, and Electronic Entertainment) to get together (most likely with some Paramount officials), and pound out some kind of 'plan' to start putting the franchise in the best possible light, do you. You know, a 'senergy' between them (ex: Activision says they want to make a Trek online RPG...well, why not just add graphic to CODA, hide the dice roll, and presto...)

[Cmdr Powers]

I would assume that Decipher will publish game stuff in the Communicator since they are now running the Star Trek club (IIRC).

[el queso]

Hopefully they won't run things in Communicator, it's barely possible to get in England from what I've seen.

Personally, as a fan of any competition the d20 system has, I feel there are a few things that CODA must have to succeed.

Avid fan-base. I think these lists say enough for that. The fact it uses Star Trek and Lord of the Rings also helps.
Good regular web-services. The web-enhancements for d20 and the Icon Links for LUGTrek were both good, that and a proper online presence really shows that the company in charge cares.
Finally, what this is all about, a magazine or periodical of some sort. Even if it's a little PDF magazine or a small membership-based booklet then it'd be fine, but once again it shows that Decipher are big enough to do all these things.

Cases for all of these:
D20 system. That said, WotC/Hasbro evidently don't seem to care about the customers, just their money. They are the big Microsoft of the RPG world.
Hackmaster. Don't groan. The Hackmaster system is the one that has had the most support I've seen. The Hackmaster Association, Hackjournal, Demo's in RPG shops, web-support, etc. To be like Kenzer & Co with Hackmaster, but with CODA and Star Trek would be a way to cement the system in to people's minds and make it real competition for d20. This site and these lists are evidently one step in the right direction, but how many new players know how to get here?
Anyway, I think I've gone on long enough, just a concerned retailer & GM wanting this system to take off.

Charlie E/N

[REG]

Originally posted by el queso

Cases for all of these:
D20 system. That said, WotC/Hasbro evidently don't seem to care about the customers, just their money. They are the big Microsoft of the RPG world.

Got any data to back that up?


As for a TrekRPG magazine or Trek gaming magazine, I'd support it. But I don't like it on a quarterly basis (once every three months or a season). It's either bimonthly or monthly circulation.

[Dan Stack]

Sleep-Deprived Moderator Hat On...

WotC-bashing (and defending) should be done in its usual place, the General Discussion Area. Though I'm wondering if it should get its own Forum...

[el queso]

Originally posted by REG

Got any data to back that up?

Sorry to continue with the WotC-bashing here, but their support of Europe has been terrible. I signed up for Polyhedron in September last year and recieved one issue. Then much later I heard about the big lay-offs and how all of RPGA UK had gone. They no longer supply the UK or Europe with RPG stock because it's "unprofitable", but the CCGs are still allowable. I'd go in to more but I don't want to start big wars here. I was just making the point that as far as customer support goes, it's an area that Decipher could do much better than WotC in.

Charlie E/N