The original Alternity post from Jim Butler

Hello,

For those that haven't seen it yet. Posted to the Alternity list by Jim
Butler:

What^Òs Happening with Alternity?
We started the Alternity game line to create a rules system that
supported
roleplaying many kinds of science fiction genres. Since its launch,
we^Òve
produced a number of supplements to enhance the rules system. We^Òve
expanded
all of the essential rules elements through supplements like Dataware,
Starships, and Beyond Science: Guide to FX. We^Òve created an
exceptionally
strong rules base for science fiction games.

Now it is time to listen to the voice of the customer. Sales of
supporting
material beyond those of the initial core books (Player^Òs Handbook and
Gamemaster Guide) are too low to support the cost to design and produce
additional material. Fortunately, we^Òve already created everything
needed to
play a science fiction game of virtually any flavor.

Our plan is to continue to sell Alternity core game materials for as
long as
there is an interest in them. Thus, we^Òll keep available the Player^Òs
Handbook, Gamemaster Guide, and other supplements that allow our fans to
enjoy science fiction worlds of their own creation. You^Òll be able to
order
these products through your favorite local hobby shop as well as through
online resellers. Beyond Science: Guide to FX completes the basic rules
needed to create a great science fiction role playing experience with
the
Alternity game and it will be the last core Alternity product to be
printed.

The remainder of the Alternity products to be produced in 2000 will
round
out the Dark Matter campaign, or will be designed to be used with just
the
core books like Gamma World and StarCraft. The StarCraft game will be
released in May, and the Gamma World Campaign Setting ships in June.

We^Òll also continue to support the Alternity game through files
available
for download from our website. One of the products originally scheduled
for
release, Warships, will instead be made available to you as a free
download
on the website. The Alternity webpages will likewise remain, offering
Alternity game players a storehouse of information for their science
fiction
games and a gathering place for fans of the game system.

Support for the Alternity game and its related campaign settings in our
periodicals will shift over to Amazing Stories later this year as well.
Dragon Magazine^Òs new focus will be on the 3rd Edition of the Dungeons &
Dragons game.
What About Star*Drive?
The last printed Star*Drive campaign setting product will be the Alien
Compendium II: The Exploration of 2503. We also have plans to make
available
The Externals as an online release. The Externals will wrap up the
Star*Drive setting from active development through Wizards of the Coast.
>From there, we^Òll be turning Star*Drive over to the fans to be
supported as
an official online campaign setting.

Novels are still being published for the Star*Drive setting for the
remainder of 2000. Look forward to seeing Nightfall at Algemron, the
final
volume of the Diane Duane^Òs Harbinger trilogy, in April. William Keith^Òs
novel, Two of Minds, ships in July, and Thomas Reid^Òs Gridrunner ships
in
September.

The RPGA^Òs Living Verge campaign will continue for as long as there are
enough players to support it. As the members run the RPGA, only they can
decide the fate of their favorite campaigns. We^Òll continue to support
the
efforts of the Living Verge as long as there are players involved.
What about Dark Matter?
Releases for the Dark Matter campaign setting will continue as planned.
We
have a full line of releases slated for the setting, including novels.
In
Hollow Houses, by Gary Braunbeck, ships in August. Don Bassingthwaite^Òs
novel, If Whispers Call, ships later in 2000.

In May, we^Òll release The Final Church as an online download. Later in
2000,
we^Òll release Xenoforms, the ^ÓAlien Compendium^Ô style reference to the
Dark
Matter setting.
In Conclusion
It has become increasingly important to Wizards of the Coast to focus
our
attention on increasing the number of people who know how to play our
core
roleplaying games and helping them stay active gamers longer. Having two
slightly different sets of rules in Alternity and Dungeons & Dragons
makes
it difficult to focus the company's resources on developing and
retaining
players. That is the driving reason behind our decision to shift
resources
away from continuing to develop the Alternity game. In the future, we
will
continue to explore the worlds of science fiction roleplaying using
rules
that are derived from 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons.

The legacy of Alternity lives on in the new D&D rules. Many of the
important
lessons learned in developing Alternity, like the importance of a
standardized core mechanic, the use of a flexible skill system, and an
emphasis on balance at all power levels have been carried over to the
D&D
development effort. In this sense, the new edition of D&D is a hybrid of
the
classic Dungeons & Dragons game and the modern Alternity rules. We will
be
referring to this foundation in the future as the "D20 System"; a game
that
is neither fantasy nor science fiction but has the potential to be used
for
both kinds of role playing successfully.  That shared foundation will
allow
us to deliver a consistent gaming experience to players regardless of
genre
and will directly impact our ability to bring new players into the hobby
and
keep them gaming longer than before.

It^Òs our hope that you will see this time of transition as we do - not
as an
ending, but as a growth and evolution of the company's long-term
commitment
to science fiction roleplaying.

If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Keith Strohm,
Category Managers for RPGs (aikiboy@???????.com) or Jim Butler, Brand
Manager for Alternity (oracle@???????.com).

Good Gaming!

Jim Butler, Brand Manager
Alternity, D&D Worlds
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
http://www.wizards.com
(425) 254-2289

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