D20 Weapons Supplement

[JimWardrip]

I'm currently putting the finishing touches on a weapons and equipment supplement for the D20 system and as of yet I haven't decided on a means of distribution.

I can either go with a PDF format and sale 'packages' based on era/setting. The Pro being it's cheaper for the consumer, you only purchase/print what you need, and I can produce/update more frequently. The Con being the stigma attached to PDF products in certain circles.

or...

I can go with a publisher and get the entire piece printed as a whole.

My question is: 'would you like the option of only purchasing for certain era's and get it in PDF format, or would you rather have one big book with some material you may not want/need?'

Any comments/opinions are welcome.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Crothian]

How much material and what are the different eras that you have?

My first reaction is put it in print. I perfer print to PDF. The only thing I've ever gotten PDF is Book of Eldritch Might and that was because of the author. I like to go to the store and look through the book to know what I am getting. I read reviews, and they are getting better, but nothing beats looking through it yourself.

 

[Sayburr]

I think you need to shop around and find a publisher willing to do a print run for you. PDFs are fine, but you are handcuffed by a smaller buying market... only those who find your site and are willing to buy without seeing the entire product and who are willing to use a credit card... also, you are going to be selling mostly to people with high bandwidth since it takes way to long to download a large file.

Monte Cook can do it because of the name, but you also have to notice he is also selling printed material. He is selling to both markets.

My advise... shop around... Go to www.kenzerco.com and send in a sample. Their setting pretty much takes in all eras so they might be very willing to pick up this for their world.

 

[Psychotic Dreamer]

Personally I would say go with both. That way people only interested in getting only stuff for certain era's can get what they want. People that want the whole thing or prefer print can get what they want.


I'd be interested in what eras you are making stuff for.

 

[sppeterson]

One thing to keep in mind is that your pdf version competes with your print version, especially if it sells at a lower price. Retailers and distributors might be less inclined to carry your print product if you release it first as a pdf.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Well, as a consumer, here are my thoughts.

What type of illustrations will this book use?

Are these magic items, or just real world weapons?

Will all of these weapons have individual stats or will it follow some of the material from Sword & Fist in assigning a weapon it's own name, but damage, etc... from another weapon?

Is it a product that is going to explain the historical signifigance of weapons and armor, pointing out why weapons evolved as they did?

Will it involve siege weapons?

Will it involve poisons commonly used on weapons?

Will it involve tools for augmenting weapons? Special scarabs, sharpeners, etc...

One of my all time favorite series of books are the old Palladium books of weapons and armor. Not a lot of game material there, but the art was pretty good, the weapons were different, and there were some interesting ideas.

As to PDF versus print, go with print. PDF is a viable way of doing business but it is a limited market. Out of the eight to tweleve people I know, I'm the only one who occassionaly gets PDF products, and sometimes those are on the strength of my freelance reviewer status rather than me as a consumer

 

[JimWardrip]

>What type of illustrations will this book use?

As of right now, if it's print each weapon will have a B/W illustration as will several pieces of selected gear. I'm not sure if I'll go this route if it's a PDF.

>Are these magic items, or just real world weapons?

Real world only.

>Will all of these weapons have individual stats or will it follow >some of the material from Sword & Fist in assigning a weapon >it's own name, but damage, etc... from another weapon?

All weapons have their own stats and is greatly expanded over what's typically available.

>Is it a product that is going to explain the historical signifigance >of weapons and armor, pointing out why weapons evolved as >they did?

To an extent. And the more historically significant weapons have a great deal of supporting text associated with them.

>Will it involve siege weapons?
Yes as will early artillery pieces.

>Will it involve poisons commonly used on weapons?
No.

The material I've focused on including covers the period from around the beginning of the 18th century to the end of the 19th. Mostly firearms with some artillery and selected melee weapons included and of course selected equipment from the period. I feel this period will probably fall in between what I anticipate being in the Arms & Armor book (just guessing) getting ready to be released and what I know for certain is covered in the Spycraft Modern Weapons and Equipment Guide that AEG is putting out in June. There may be some minor overlap with these two products but it should be minimal.

The biggest reason for even exploring the idea of doing it PDF is that I can include everything that I've written and add to it as I finish other works. Some (several) things will have to be cut from a print version and once it's done it's done, I won't have the same flexiblity in adding additional areas.
But based on what I've read here so far and from other opinions I've sought, I think that print will probably be the course to take.
Many thanks to everyone for your comments.

-Jim

 

[Ranger REG]

My question is: 'would you like the option of only purchasing for certain era's and get it in PDF format, or would you rather have one big book with some material you may not want/need?'

Any comments/opinions are welcome.

Thanks,
Jim

One big book with sections divided by era, region/culture, etc., and weapon illustrations.

And if it goes well, hopefully it will be seen in print edition (so I can pick it up at my FLGS).

 

[Hard8Staff]

Jim,

The main thing is to find out how much a publisher is willing to pay you for the product (and when!). I'd shop it to several.

I would recommend against printing and publishing yourself for reasons far to numerous to mention here (but chiefly being cost and time to market).

If I were you I might consider publishing in PDF, WHILE shopping it around. I know if I saw a good submission that was previously published on-line, I'd still be interested. Most people do not buy on-line PDFs in place of books. And if it's a success people will want the complete book with artwork and maybe a few more bells and whistles tossed in.

Just my 2 coppers.

If you want more, email me privately, I'd be happy to comment further.

David Kenzer

 

[Tetsubo]

I'd prefer if it were printed. I would also prefer the weapon illustrations to be clean B&W images. Would you be handling just firearms or real world hand weapons as well? If this does make it to print I hope you make an announcement.