? For PDF Publishers

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

I hire midgets to carry around neon signs around advertising my newest products!

Actually, banner ads, a few dropped messages here and there, and putting it up for sale.

That's about it. I try to avoid being obnoxious about it and mentioning a new product in every single thread I post on every single board ever created.

 

[Morrus]

Things are changing in this industry, to survive publishers will have to make changes. Hate to say this, but the day of the short PDF are done.

That is absolutely not true, Alan.

 

[philreed]

That is absolutely not true, Alan.

I'm gonna have to agree with Morrus. We are only at the dawn of the short PDF.

 

[arwink]

Things are changing in this industry, to survive publishers will have to make changes. Hate to say this, but the day of the short PDF are done. You want to keep selling you need to publish works that offer more than just the mechanics. Your products need to add value or you will see them fail when somebody offers the OGC for free.

I'm kind of surprised by the assumption that short PDF's can't offer more than just mechanics. Most of my PDF's come in at 10 pages or less, and I like to think I cram a fair amount of fluff in there to balance out the crunch. It's no harder to include flavor text in a short PDF than it is in a longer one, and I'm hardly the only person whose doing so (I picked up the idea after reading Phil's PDF's, for example).

 

[philreed]

I'm kind of surprised by the assumption that short PDF's can't offer more than just mechanics. Most of my PDF's come in at 10 pages or less, and I like to think I cram a fair amount of fluff in there to balance out the crunch. It's no harder to include flavor text in a short PDF than it is in a longer one, and I'm hardly the only person whose doing so (I picked up the idea after reading Phil's PDF's, for example).

A common misconception Ronin Arts is constantly fighting is the idea that "A Dozen Drow Items" (to pick a random PDF) is nothing more than 12 items. It's much more than that, with lots of flavorful background text and subtle adventure ideas.

I guess the fact that people are confused means that I'm not doing a good enough job of promoting the content of Ronin Arts' PDFs.

 

[Morrus]

A common misconception Ronin Arts is constantly fighting is the idea that "A Dozen Drow Items" (to pick a random PDF) is nothing more than 12 items.

I must admit that I'm guilty of that. I assumed those PDFs were just a bunch of items (or what-have-you).

 

[mythusmage]

I must admit that I'm guilty of that. I assumed those PDFs were just a bunch of items (or what-have-you).

As had I. I'm going to have to get more RA products when I have the money.

But, I still recommend the inclusion of IP in all products. Material that cannot be found elsewhere that adds to the value of the product.

Suggested Format

OGC: Stats and basic description.

IP: Expanded description, background and history, item (spell, feat) name, advice on re-naming item (spell, feat).

Example:

IP: Thomas Pyro's Most Efficacious Method for Lighting Fires.

OGC: Stats (haven't figured out what those would be)

OGC: Basic Description; this creates a film of flame of a diameter equal in feet to the caster's level. The film will ignite anything that is readily flammable. Such as dry wood and tinder and similar items.

IP: Expanded Description; while meant to be used to light fires - at least that's what Tom said - it has been used to light other things. Structures for example, and on occasion clothing.

IP: Changing the spell; obviously the name has to be changed. "Flame Film" is nice and generic, but not terribly exciting. Same applies to the expanded description. Come up with different ways the spell could be used, and add in a few examples of the unusual ways in which it was used deliberately or by accident.

You still have OGC others can use freely, but you also have IP that gives potential customers a reason to buy the work.

 

[Man-thing]

I must admit that I'm guilty of that. I assumed those PDFs were just a bunch of items (or what-have-you).

Well, the thing is use can use them exactly like that. For the vast majority of the "A Dozen..." line the items often include history and hook imbedded in them. But, its not clearly deliniated as such. It more like 12 mini hooks tied to an idea, location, or person.

I think the only one that felt like a "item only book" was maybe A Dozen Magical Rings (but I'd have to go back to check). I believe I own the entire A Dozen... line and have found useful campaign ideas in each of them as well as specific new equipment to add.

Athenaeum Arcane: Menu Items was great as well, as it provided interesting meal description for both low end and high end taverns it also provide monsters to hunt for a purpose other than find dungeon, kill monster, take treasure. I think a few at least one of the meals was intended to only be served at in an evily-aligned area.

 

[TheLe]

I must admit that I'm guilty of that. I assumed those PDFs were just a bunch of items (or what-have-you).

That comes with the territory though.

When I release "17 Magic things I want to mummble about", people expect exactly what they see in the title. That is the core of the book; they expect that to be the core of the book, and that is what I give them.

I have no desire to educate to tell them that "17 Magic Weapons contains 19 items". Nor do I want to explain to them "It also has half a dozen mini quest ideas". That's just confusing. I prefer to keep that extra stuff as a bonus.

This is the just the blessing and curse that comes with using a number in the title of a book.

"17 Magic Helmets" is coming out in a couple weeks (shameless plugs). I'd love to pack it in with tons of stuff, but it's a waste of my time. Better just to keep the book with, well, 17 Magic Helmets, and maybe a couple more things to flesh it out. People aren't buying it for the mini quests, or the bonus material. People are buying it for the 17 items.

~Le

 

[lmpjr007]

As for ways to sell our products, Emerald Press just started our 1-in-20 program, meaning every 20th sale we make is free. A full refund to the customer for buying it at the right time. We've already seen a difference as many of our wish lists are being cleaned out. Free stuff does get noticed, particulary when it's supposed to be paid for.

That is a great idea! I think I might have to steal that idea.