Ravenloft Sales

[Maximillian]

Now that Ravenloft is once more going out of print, I cannot help but wonder what the actual sale numbers were... I mean I'd like to know how much a product must sell, in order for a reputable company to keep publishing it. Does anyone know any actual numbers, for this incarnation of Ravenloft (3E & 3.5) since Sword and Sorcery got the licence from WotC?

[Coan]

Every 6 months or so this question comes up. To date there hasn't ever been a real answer. Unfortunatley I don't think you'll have much luck getting one. Companies tend to keep such information private and have little reason to give it out.

[Joël of the FoS]

Even the figures of a big company like WotC never got out. The only thing we know is that the PHB sold "by millions".

Joël

[Maximillian]

True enough, true enough... I only wonder whether I was the circulation of the product that led to its discontinuation, or some other reason. Because IMHO the current incarnation of RL should have sold pretty well... What do you think? Even an educated guess would be really welcome.

[Bluebomber4evr]

True enough, true enough... I only wonder whether I was the circulation of the product that led to its discontinuation, or some other reason. Because IMHO the current incarnation of RL should have sold pretty well... What do you think? Even an educated guess would be really welcome.

The fact that it was White Wolf's decision, and that they gave up the rights to another WotC property simultaneously (Gamma World) tells me it isn't something as simple as "low sales."

Right now White Wolf is producing d20 material based on two mega-popular PC online RPGs, Everquest 2 and World of Warcraft...those licenses no doubt cost them quite a bit. So they probably had to reorganize their product line and cut any other licensed properties in order to make that happen.

Add to the fact that someone from White Wolf had been heard to say that they felt they did all they wanted to with Ravenloft and it seems all the more likely to me that they gave up Ravenloft to free up some licensing cash. Unfortunate, but I guess that's how things go. :-/

[Undead Cabbage]

All considering, I sincerely doubt that Ravenloft's fan base will discontinue writing for them, however. One thing I have noticed about RL fans is that there may not be as many of them as say FR fans or GH fans, but those that are love it a LOT. Besides, all the stuff in RL is just too cool to leave hanging.

[Maximillian]

Some rather unexpected news have reached our ears. Just check Joel's thread: "Death of Darklord rereleased?" This might actually have something to do with the whole matter. I do not really believe in coincidence.