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The Arcanamach
Master of Realmslore
1847 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Dec 2014 : 19:56:40
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quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
The next 5-10 years are CRITICAL for WotC.
Don't you mean for DnD? I think Magic keeps WoTC afloat.
I meant DnD and the Realms but as it pertains to WotCs management of the game and the setting. DnD will survive, as will the Realms (for the next few decades at least) because the brands are too well-known to just die out that quickly. But if WotC wants to continue to steer the ship they're gonna have to avoid hitting another iceberg. The only way it really dies is for the IPs holders to simply refuse to do anything with it and force it to die. But if they did that, the Realms would go back to Ed's control.
In fact, I would almost hope for that because then Ed could set everything right in his own (and better) way. But it won't happen that way. Hasbro knows it has solid cash flow in both the game and the setting. |
I have a dream that one day, all game worlds will exist as one. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2014 : 22:08:26
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quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
The next 5-10 years are CRITICAL for WotC.
Don't you mean for DnD? I think Magic keeps WoTC afloat.
I meant DnD and the Realms but as it pertains to WotCs management of the game and the setting. DnD will survive, as will the Realms (for the next few decades at least) because the brands are too well-known to just die out that quickly. But if WotC wants to continue to steer the ship they're gonna have to avoid hitting another iceberg. The only way it really dies is for the IPs holders to simply refuse to do anything with it and force it to die. But if they did that, the Realms would go back to Ed's control.
In fact, I would almost hope for that because then Ed could set everything right in his own (and better) way. But it won't happen that way. Hasbro knows it has solid cash flow in both the game and the setting.
Actually, Ed wouldn't be able to do much, in that case. He's one man, not a publishing company. He'd have to shop it around and likely sell it to someone else, and there is no guarantee he'd have any control, afterwards. And another company would have their own ideas, which may or may not fit the setting.
And that's assuming that control did revert back to Ed, without it being contested. Sure, that was the original agreement... But a lot has happened since then, and large companies often prefer to sit on defunct IPs rather than let someone else make money off of them (just look at some earlier products/settings from the TSR days). Hasbro can afford a lot more lawyers than Ed; even with a fairly straightforward contract, they could still fight it until Ed has no choice but to give up or go bankrupt. |
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Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Caolin
Senior Scribe
769 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2014 : 23:02:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
quote:
Originally posted by The Arcanamach
The next 5-10 years are CRITICAL for WotC.
Don't you mean for DnD? I think Magic keeps WoTC afloat.
I meant DnD and the Realms but as it pertains to WotCs management of the game and the setting. DnD will survive, as will the Realms (for the next few decades at least) because the brands are too well-known to just die out that quickly. But if WotC wants to continue to steer the ship they're gonna have to avoid hitting another iceberg. The only way it really dies is for the IPs holders to simply refuse to do anything with it and force it to die. But if they did that, the Realms would go back to Ed's control.
In fact, I would almost hope for that because then Ed could set everything right in his own (and better) way. But it won't happen that way. Hasbro knows it has solid cash flow in both the game and the setting.
Actually, Ed wouldn't be able to do much, in that case. He's one man, not a publishing company. He'd have to shop it around and likely sell it to someone else, and there is no guarantee he'd have any control, afterwards. And another company would have their own ideas, which may or may not fit the setting.
And that's assuming that control did revert back to Ed, without it being contested. Sure, that was the original agreement... But a lot has happened since then, and large companies often prefer to sit on defunct IPs rather than let someone else make money off of them (just look at some earlier products/settings from the TSR days). Hasbro can afford a lot more lawyers than Ed; even with a fairly straightforward contract, they could still fight it until Ed has no choice but to give up or go bankrupt.
This may be complete hearsay but I remember reading that the deal attached to the Forgotten Realms licensing is that TSR(now WoTC) has to continue publishing Realms material in order to retain the rights. Not sure if this is true or not. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2014 : 23:18:18
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quote:
Originally posted by Caolin
This may be complete hearsay but I remember reading that the deal attached to the Forgotten Realms licensing is that TSR(now WoTC) has to continue publishing Realms material in order to retain the rights. Not sure if this is true or not.
I've heard the same.... But there has been more than once that a large company, though clearly in the wrong, has gotten its way by simply outspending the single individual who was fighting them. I'm not saying Hasbro would fight like that, but it's certainly possible. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Caolin
Senior Scribe
769 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2014 : 23:54:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Caolin
This may be complete hearsay but I remember reading that the deal attached to the Forgotten Realms licensing is that TSR(now WoTC) has to continue publishing Realms material in order to retain the rights. Not sure if this is true or not.
I've heard the same.... But there has been more than once that a large company, though clearly in the wrong, has gotten its way by simply outspending the single individual who was fighting them. I'm not saying Hasbro would fight like that, but it's certainly possible.
See, if the clause is that the IP has to be published to a certain degree each year then I don't think things ever get to this point. If it ever did it would show that WoTC doesn't want to invest anymore money in the IP. So engaging in a court battle to retain those rights would be counter intuitive. The court would most likely make them continue publishing material in order to retain the rights. There's no way Hasbro would be able to argue keeping the rights just so they can shelve it. Of course this assumes that the agreement is cut and dry.
So an actual future scenario would be that WoTC would continue putting out something no matter how small until it just becomes economically unfeasible due to complete lack of fan interest. Or some other entity comes along and blows them away for the rights. But I think Ed would still have a say in any rights transfer.
That's my slightly educated view on it. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 19 Dec 2014 : 00:04:31
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| I agree that it's more likely that WotC will print just enough to keep the IP... But as I've noted, they don't have a history of letting go of IPs - they prefer to sit on them, instead. So the scenario I presented is not outside the realm of possibility. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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CorellonsDevout
Great Reader
USA
2708 Posts |
Posted - 21 Dec 2014 : 02:17:44
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quote:
Originally posted by BenN
THO:
Thanks a lot for the update! I'm intrigued about Spellstorm, and will definitely get it as soon as it's out in kindle form.
As for the sequel to The Herald, in particular I'm interested in what happens next in Myth Drannor, how Ilsevele & the elves pick up the pieces, etc.
Erin:
Sounds great! I really enjoyed Fire in the Blood, so I will definitely get the sequel. 
I echo this |
Sweet water and light laughter |
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Are there ANY novels in the pipeline?
