Creating a game

[DnD Warlord]

If I wanted to make my own RPG and sell it how hard is it? Not the mechanics (hard enough) not the fluff (still hard enough) but the actually selling it. Where do you find printing and editors? How do you spread word of it?
If I wanted to make my own retro clone d&d useing the old ogl is that easier or harder then a whole new fantasy system?
I figure you guys MUST have some expertise here.

I have made my own rules and even whole system mash ups before... but if I wanted to sell it could I??

 

[Bayushi_seikuro]

I would think it would be easier/'better' to use an OGL system. I think it works out a lot of the math quirks people don't think of if that makes sense. How many times have you seen someone's house rules, and while they correct one thing, they really break something else? YMMV

 

[Umbran]

@Morrus must have a thread about this somewhere...

 

[Morrus]

I have one about promoting a Kickstarter. And some occasional podcast episodes about the behind the scenes stuff of publishing.

 

[Blue]

I know nothing about this, just have questions.

When you say "and sell it", are you looking as self-publishing or trying to get one of the RPG publishers involved? I know some of them like Evil Hat work with a number of designers, but I think that might be the other way around - the hire designers to work on their properties.

 

[DnD Warlord]

I know nothing about this, just have questions.

When you say "and sell it", are you looking as self-publishing or trying to get one of the RPG publishers involved? I know some of them like Evil Hat work with a number of designers, but I think that might be the other way around - the hire designers to work on their properties.

no idea...
I literally have spent years saying "Here is what I would do" and now wonder "Why don't I just do it?"

 

[Morrus]

If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to try to answer. I might not know the answer (there are many people more informed than me), but I'll give it a go.

 

[DnD Warlord]

If you have specific questions, I'd be happy to try to answer. I might not know the answer (there are many people more informed than me), but I'll give it a go.

I am mostly wondering if there is a company that 'everyone' goes through for printing hard copies of books? Is it like you need to pay to print X number to make it worth it?

I assume that you need to print like a thousand or more books to make it worth it, and that people who set up kickstarters use that as the basics of how to set goals.

 

[Morrus]

I am mostly wondering if there is a company that 'everyone' goes through for printing hard copies of books?

No, there are lots of printing companies across the world. We use one in Lithuania; I know some use China, and there are companies in America. And elsewhere.

Is it like you need to pay to print X number to make it worth it?

I assume that you need to print like a thousand or more books to make it worth it, and that people who set up kickstarters use that as the basics of how to set goals.

All of them will give you a quote of the printing costs so you can work out whether it's worth it. Just email them. The costs do go down dramatically as you increase the volume, yes. It's much cheaper than print-on-demand, but PoD is also a (much less profitable) option.

 

[Jd Smith1]

No, there are lots of printing companies across the world. We use one in Lithuania; I know some use China, and there are companies in America. And elsewhere.

All of them will give you a quote of the printing costs so you can work out whether it's worth it. Just email them. The costs do go down dramatically as you increase the volume, yes. It's much cheaper than print-on-demand, but PoD is also a (much less profitable) option.

At least with PoD, you don't end up with stacks of books in your attic, as a ex-player of mine has since learned.