Many RPG companies don't even make SKR's salary in annual revenue, let alone able to pay staff that much!OTOH, it seems I would do well to quit my job as a teacher in Italy and move to the US to be a game designer...
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Sean K. Reynolds talks RPG salaries, puts his on record.
- Thread starter darjr
- Start date
Nikosandros
Golden Procrastinator
I know, I was just joking about how much lower salaries are in Italy...
Myrdin Potter
Hero
Would RPG companies pay more to non-owners if they raised prices? Or would the owners keep the extra profit?
Could prices actually be raised? WoTC double the price of their last AL modules. I responded by not buying any since I just run them (for free) in the local store and over $150 for the season hit my limit.
There certainly is a market for high priced RPG products but RPG companies that try and raise prices have not seen to have done that well in my experience.
I can’t speak for them.
That’s part of the problem. Many people say that RPGs are too expensive already.
aramis erak
Legend
THe recent WotC solicitations don't list salary nor wage ranges on the sites I've found them on...
but they used to. A starting salary last I checked was somewhat above minimum at 40hrs/week... noting that Seattle's minimum wage is higher than national levels. (Currently $16.69/hr, Minimum Wage - LaborStandards | seattle.gov, so $34,715.20 assuming 40-hours a week, 52 weeks a year, counting paid vacation time)
In 2003, Washington State minimum was $7.01/hr, and AFAICT, Seattle wasn't above it at the time, for $14,590.80.) SO he was, about 2.5× minimum while at WotC, and now is only about 1.5× minimum for Seattle... but I don't know how wide the raised minimum of Seattle applies. Current washington state minimum is $14.49, for $30149.20... all fo these are off by a day's work, and don't account for unpaid leave, nor employee not having to pay into their health insurance (which lowers Seattle small employer pay minimum).)
For a number of Kickstarters, it's not that much more for the dead tree, and there are other bits in the core that make it worthwhile. That's why I went ahead on T2K 4E for the dead tree, and on Stargate SG1.
I'm wishing I hadn't on One Ring 2E...
Dragonsbane
Proud Grognard
Shockingly lower numbers than I had thought, especially with the crazy prices of books these days.
Case in point!
Dragonsbane
Proud Grognard
nods As a grognard, I have wife/kids/house/shitloads of responsibilities. $150 for a game/book/videogame is just way too much for me. I don't know if I speak for the entire demographic. $50 for a core book? Maybe once in a while, but not often, and not for book after book of subclasses and options that apparently need to be "fixed" or streamlined or whatever in 2024. Thank goodness for cheaper PDFs!
Interestingly, although I play Cypher System mostly now from MCG which employs SKR, I complain because it seems MCG has the most expensive books out there. Invisible Sun and Ptlous really made me rethink my spending in the hobby... it was such a turnoff I barely spend on books now, except DriveThruRPG for cheap PDFs. I homebrew so much it doesn't matter much, I even put some of my homebrew on DriveThru for very cheap for Cypher, and it sold pretty well, even with Ptlous out.
Sure. I get it. But if you're looking for an explanation as to why game designers get paid very little, this is a good place to start.
CubicsRube
Hero
This is it. For various reasons consumers aren't willing to spend a lot on RPG books.
Combine that with a much lower number of purchases compared to other media types and there's just little in the way of revenue going around in which to pay people.
The only way the industry will change is if customers are willing to pay more, or if there is a substantial increase in customers.
Any other discussion is just wishful thinking.
