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I just got a disturbing e-mail from someone who shall remain nameless that was basically bitching me out because I offer a free D20 Ezine PDF for download at my site. The person stated that I was 'hurting' the E-publishing D20 industry by offering material for free.
Do you guys feel that way? That by offering a free PDF product that I am somehow undermining those publishers who choose to publish PDFs for profit?
I am confused and just slightly angry at the accusations this person spouted at me.
__________________ Shawn "KingOfChaos" Muder
Fire Controlman 3rd Class, United States Navy
Founder, Realms of Evil Games and the Realms of Evil Network
I shouldn't worry, they are obviously just jealous!
If you have the time and resources to produce something that supports the community and encourages people to play without charging for it then good on you.
One would however hope that the products you have to pay for are worth the money, i.e. better in some way (not trying to say you're e-zine is bad, haven't read it myself) - so maybe he's just annoyed because your e-zine is too good?
Thatīs simply ridiculous. Itīs like saying: "Well, Morrus, could you please stop updating EN World, because Iīm running a D20 news page where youīve got to be a member (fees and all) to get the news. Itīs hurting my business if you offer the same for free".
Well, right. Hope the person who send you that email doesnīt start selling air ("What do you mean? Itīs FREE?").
As a side-note: Iīve downloaded the first issue of your zine, and I canīt give a comment on the material you present in it. The layout is a little bit... light, if you know what I mean. But it has quite some artwork - some are pretty nice, and most "free downloads" donīt offer any art at all. Maybe thatīs the reason the writer of that email was "bitching you".
In conclusion: youīve got a reason to be angry.
Did you reply?
I got a similar email a few months back from a person who didn't like the fact that we offered so much free stuff on our site. I wonder if it was the same person? Anyhow, I politely told him to get a life.
"I am he who rules the world, don't you know? One little piece at a time. I am the stuff of Riordan Parnell's most outrageous songs, and I am a confused memory for those whose lives I've entered and departed." -- Jarlaxle, Road of the Patriarch
Your free ezine has no influence over whether or not I'd buy someone else's. Free d20 material never stops me from buying books that I *want*. His sales must be really low and he doesn't know why.
__________________
ENPublishing's E.N.Guild Series (Developer): Adventurers' Guild Available Now!
I feel left out. I offer free stuff and no one has complained.
__________________ Joe Mucchiello, Head Honcho at Throwing Dice Games
Priority One: Fatherhood.
Priority Two: Sanity.
Down on the list: seemingly real close to releasing a notebook essential. It's in layout! Has been for months now. (Just nod politely so I won't cry about this.)
"I've never heard of the term Flavor lawyer..." -- Scribble
As a side-note: Iīve downloaded the first issue of your zine, and I canīt give a comment on the material you present in it. The layout is a little bit... light, if you know what I mean. But it has quite some artwork - some are pretty nice, and most "free downloads" donīt offer any art at all. Maybe thatīs the reason the writer of that email was "bitching you".
Download issues #2 and #3 They're a big improvement over issue #1 where we were just learning
Back to the issue: No, I haven't replied to him and most likely I won't. It's not good for a D20 publisher to get into a flamewar with someone else and possibly have what they say posted on 5 or 6 other forums, with the person involved somehow trying to make it seem like the Publisher is in the wrong. It's bad proess.
__________________ Shawn "KingOfChaos" Muder
Fire Controlman 3rd Class, United States Navy
Founder, Realms of Evil Games and the Realms of Evil Network
Um, I cancelled Asgard magazine a few weeks ago. We did it because we're better off paying people for quality art and writing (which we have the capacity to do), than accepting free work which sometimes people don't put as much effort into.
Of course, I wouldn't b*tch at anyone for putting out free material. I mean, come on, there's tons of great free stuff available on the House Rules forum, and I don't complain at them. Thing is, though, for most people at least, it's hard to maintain a work ethic and put out quality work when you're not making any money off it. Of course, if I had a good job that paid well and gave me enough free time to write gaming stuff, I'd still try to sell my work, because if people think it's good enough to pay for, why not accept their praise?
__________________ Ryan "RangerWickett" Nock
Post Haste?
Originally posted by KingOfChaos I just got a disturbing e-mail from someone who shall remain nameless that was basically bitching me out because I offer a free D20 Ezine PDF for download at my site. The person stated that I was 'hurting' the E-publishing D20 industry by offering material for free.
Do you guys feel that way? That by offering a free PDF product that I am somehow undermining those publishers who choose to publish PDFs for profit?
I am confused and just slightly angry at the accusations this person spouted at me.
The folks at The d20 Magazine Rack have about half a dozen free zines. Tell him to go kvetch at my "publisher"
Last edited by mythusmage; 22nd March 2003 at 05:53 AM..
I got something similar back when I was doing up a d20 conversion for Dark Sun. I also got (far more) fan mail.
I gave up on publically distributing the conversion, and now that I've finished it we just use it locally. I often regret not "sticking to my guns" and all that, but I've got so much on my palte these days that I just don't have the time to return to a losing battle.
Whay you have to ask yourself is wether or not YOU want to stick it out, and keep publishing the e-zine. Does it please more people than it cheeses off? Is it consuming more time than you can alot to it? Is it worth it from an emotional perspecitve? An (most importantly) once it becomes a part of people's routine's, will you be able to KEEP publishing it?
I like doing free stuff. I don't have the time to commit to anything, as I would if there were money involved, and it keeps me busy. I like to think I write well enough to earn money doing so, but it's not an obligation.
This person really needs to send me one of those emails.
I have worked on EN World's guide to free adventures, I have d20 Summon Monster Stat blocks on my web page, I have a random NPC generator on my sight, and a I have a program that produces stat blocks of monsters. All for free.
Maybe I need to give more stuff away so this person will send me an email. ooh, ooh I know I can post my d20 Summon Natures Ally statblocks (comming soon).
I think this person needs to send WOTC an email because WOTC has posted the entire SRD and d20 modern SRD for free. Obviously this is alot of material that is being offered for free and that needs to be stopped because its hurting sales of electronic PDFs.
Really this person is a crack pot, I mean if they were serious about this email campaign against people who offer stuff for free they would have sent me an email and WOTC an email.
Originally posted by smetzger I think this person needs to send WOTC an email because WOTC has posted the entire SRD and d20 modern SRD for free. Obviously this is alot of material that is being offered for free and that needs to be stopped because its hurting sales of electronic PDFs.
WotC gives away a ton more stuff than just the combined SRD material; adventures, maps, folding cardstock printable models, and much, much more.
This guy could have been one of my many 'enemies' I seem to have gotten over the last year. Hell, I even have some moron threatening to steal RoE's content by using frames.. :P What kind of idiot does that? All that trouble because he kept spamming my IRC channel.
__________________ Shawn "KingOfChaos" Muder
Fire Controlman 3rd Class, United States Navy
Founder, Realms of Evil Games and the Realms of Evil Network
Maybe you should just tell him if he feels that the product is too good to "give away", you'll be glad to take his cash
Seriously though, don't waste your time and brain cells worring about such people. They are beneath consideration. They should be happy that we have such a thriving gaming community. I believe that the attitudes of people like you keep our hobby going. It certainly did in the dark ages b4 the OGL.
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