GOD RULES: Player's Guide (5e) Kickstarter Pre-Launch Page

[Upper_Krust]

Hey U_K!

Hey Arcanist amigo!

I was wondering, what CR would the old 3.5e Cometary/Prismatic/Force/Nexus/Void/Time dragons be in the new 5e rules?

Well an 'Epic' dragon should be about CR +8 higher than a 'standard' Ancient Dragon (so 28 or 32). While one of the Cosmic Dragons would be around CR +24 higher than a Standard Ancient Dragon (so 44 or 48).

Current neck-deep in the Powers (Boons) Chapter - which alone will end up with about 451 Boons (41 for each of the 11 tiers: From Epic to Zetetic)

 

[ArcanistDragonborn]

Hey U_K! This is just me wondering, but it seems like you have a different tier system than what you had in the last tier document you showcased in the old thread, and would you mind showing off the 11 new tiers if you want to do that?

-Arcane

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey U_K! This is just me wondering, but it seems like you have a different tier system than what you had in the last tier document you showcased in the old thread, and would you mind showing off the 11 new tiers if you want to do that?

-Arcane

Hey amigo, yes I am finishing off the Powers chapter and unlike the Gameplay/Dimensional Tiers: after the Epic Tier its: Immortal Tier < Empyreal Tier < Sidereal Tier < Transcendent Tier < Eternal Tier < Perpetual Tier < Supernal Tier, the Divine Boons are Tiered by the Ability Score prerequisites: Exalted (Score of 20+), Deific (score of 30+ etc.), Hieratic, Cosmic, Transcendental, Aeonic, Omnific, Pleromic, Metempiric & Zetetic.

So...

• Each Boon Tier has a 10 point prerequisite increase - which roughly corresponds to a 4 Divine Rank/1 Dimension increase jump (though some boons can increase ability scores naturally)
• Each Boon Tier has 41 Divine Boons (It just worked out like that; I wasn't aiming to have the same number per tier).
• A dozen boons (2 per ability score) are basic core abilities (Aura, Critical Hit Damage, Force Field, Regeneration etc.) that get better each tier (each time you gain a new divine rank you can change all boons so if you meet the prereq you can upgrade). So there is Deific Regeneration and Zetetic Regeneration etc.
• A dozen boons (again 2 per ability score) each tier are modifiers to these core boons. So if the character has Regeneration they might also take the Limb Gravity (Hieratic) Boon where severed limbs automatically reattach themselves at the end of the next turn.
• There are also 29 Energy [Effect] abilities (most are new) with 10 energy modifier boons
• There are 24 'Body' Forms (characters can turn their body into Sand or Fermions or Plasma or Neutronium or Quarks etc.)

Divine Ranks 1-2 will probably take Exalted Tier Boons (not impossible to have scores of 30 here but by default on average unlikely).
Divine Ranks 3-4 should be into the Deific Tier Boons
Divine Ranks 5-6 can sneak into the Hieratic Tier with some forward planning

This Chapter (chapter 6) will likely take me another 1-2 weeks to finish. Then just the Artifacts (Chapter 7) and Magic (Chapter 8) chapters to finish off- although both of those are a bit tricky even though half completed.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Kickstarter related question:

With Drivethru RPG handling Printing and Shipping I don't need to charge for those things in the Reward Tiers. Additionally I want to give the PDF away "for free" to backers who want buy the Hardcover book. I don't want to artificially charge more simply to differentiate the PDF and Hardcover costs.

So what if I merge the PDF and Hardcover into one tier?

For example...

***

IMMORTAL TIER £30
This package includes 1 copy of the PDF and the OPTION to purchase 1 copy of the Hardcover copy (initial cost) of God Rules: Player's Guide (Cover A: God Reaper Cover).

Note (for those just wanting the PDF) if you only want the PDF version then you are not obligated to buy a Hardcover copy. This tier just gives you the OPTION to buy the Hardcover copy 'at cost'.

Note (for those who do want a Hardcover copy) that Print and Shipping Costs are not included in this price. DrivethruRPG will handle fulfillment where you can set your print quality and shipping fees. Expect standard quality printing costs (for this 480 page book) to be around +$37 while premium print (glossy pages) costs will be around +$60.

***

Is that straightforward and simple enough?

If I separate the PDF into its own tier then it looks a bit weird asking for the same money for the Hardcover copy (+ PDF); even though that is the fair thing to do since any Printing and Shipping fees are paid later to DrivethruRPG.

I know its unusual because people (including myself) are so used to PDF as a separate tier and the Hardcover price to include Printing, with only Shipping fees handled later via Pledge Manager.

Any thoughts?

 

[lichmaster]

If I separate the PDF into its own tier then it looks a bit weird asking for the same money for the Hardcover copy (+ PDF);

Why should that be the same cost?
PDF should cost X, Hardcover should cost y( >x) and also includes the PDF "for free"

I know its unusual because people (including myself) are so used to PDF as a separate tier and the Hardcover price to include Printing, with only Shipping fees handled later via Pledge Manager.

Any thoughts?

My thought is that 30$ for the pdf only or for PDF + Hardcover "option" feels like an upsell, even if if's not the case.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Howdy lichmaster!

Why should that be the same cost?

PDF Cost = the amount I make from each copy

Hardcover Cost = the amount I make from each copy + Printing Cost* + Shipping Cost*

*In the Kickstarter Printing and Shipping are paid separately to DrivethruRPG

PDF should cost X, Hardcover should cost y( >x) and also includes the PDF "for free"

If PDF Costs £30 (approx. $40)...

...then Hardcover Costs £30/$40 + $37+ (Printing) + $6+ (Shipping) = $83 or more (depending on Printing and Shipping options).

But Printing and Shipping are paid to Drivethru after the Kickstarter not to me during the Kickstarter (similar to how in most Kickstarters Shipping is often charged separately/after the Kickstarter except this time Printing + Shipping are both charged separately/after the Kickstarter)

My thought is that 30$ for the pdf only or for PDF + Hardcover "option" feels like an upsell, even if if's not the case.

I'm trying to do the opposite and keep my profit 'uniform' regardless of format, rather than inflate my profit just for the Hardcover (when backers still have the additional cost of Printing and Shipping), yet still give physical backers the PDF for 'free'.

The hardcover costs $83 = $40 (paid in Kickstarter) + $37 (Printing) + $6 (Standard Shipping in USA)

I get $40 (from the Kickstarter) then DrivethruRPG get $43 (after the Kickstarter)

My point is I don't understand why I should charge backers more for the Hardcover (+PDF) when they still have to pay $43 to DrivethruRPG.

The matter is a tad confusing I'll grant you. I have noted other Kickstarters (also using DrivethruRPG for fulfillment) add +$10 to the Hardcover + PDF to differentiate the price from just the PDF price. Should I do it that way?

 

[lichmaster]

Should I do it that way?

I won't tell you what you should do, but I'll tell you how I feel about this.

I'm not interested in buying a Hardcover for this one for two reasons:
1) I already have a lot of printed material and storing it is becoming an issue, although I much prefer having a physical book (or better, physical + pdf)
2) shipping costs are creeping up and becoming unpredictable. To the point that this is now a non-starter, unless it's something I really want and I can get bundles so that those costs make more sense.

Thus, my obvious choice would be the PDF. However, 40$ for a PDF is really high: as a reference the PDF for A5E's Adventurer's Guide (which is 650 pages!) is only 25$ on DTRPG, and we're talking about core material for what IMO is an objectively better version of 5e (by leaps and bounds).

Absolute price aside, having a PDF only and a pdf+hardcover option at the same price makes no sense because pdf only is then an objectively worse deal and probably no one will buy it.
At this point I'd rather see only the PDF+print option

 

[Upper_Krust]

I won't tell you what you should do, but I'll tell you how I feel about this.

Happy to hear all opinions lichmaster.

I'm not interested in buying a Hardcover for this one for two reasons:
1) I already have a lot of printed material and storing it is becoming an issue, although I much prefer having a physical book (or better, physical + pdf)

I'm in the same boat. I prefer a physical copy but running out of shelf space.

2) shipping costs are creeping up and becoming unpredictable. To the point that this is now a non-starter, unless it's something I really want and I can get bundles so that those costs make more sense.

Shipping via DrivethruRPG still seems fairly cheap although their Printing Costs are relatively high.

Thus, my obvious choice would be the PDF.

Makes sense.

However, 40$ for a PDF is really high: as a reference the PDF for A5E's Adventurer's Guide (which is 650 pages!) is only 25$ on DTRPG, and we're talking about core material for what IMO is an objectively better version of 5e (by leaps and bounds).

Well a few things as regards that:

1. I typically set my PDF pricing roughly equal to the (standard quality) Print Costs on Drivethru. That gives me a good guideline. For this book that is approx. $37. So that is my target.
2. I'm in the UK and thus my Kickstarter must be in British Pound Sterling and the current Dollar to Pound has went up several points over the past few months. Over the past few years £30 would have been $37, currently that's $40 but dropping over the past few days.
3. I also have a cheaper Pencil Sketch version of the book for £25 (currently $33 and dropping).

Absolute price aside, having a PDF only and a pdf+hardcover option at the same price makes no sense because pdf only is then an objectively worse deal and probably no one will buy it.
At this point I'd rather see only the PDF+print option

That's my point though, I only want to have the PDF + Print Option. I don't want two separate tiers.

 

[lichmaster]

Shipping via DrivethruRPG still seems fairly cheap although their Printing Costs are relatively high.

Only if you live in the "right" part of the world, unfortunately.

That's my point though, I only want to have the PDF + Print Option. I don't want two separate tiers.

It makes sense. With that pricing you're ultimately saying that the print option has a value of 0$ for you. If making that option available doesn't cost you anything it is particularly fair of you to not ask any money for that option, so kudos for that.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Only if you live in the "right" part of the world, unfortunately.

That's certainly true, but historically 90% of the market is either North America or the UK (both places DrivethruRPG Prints and Ships from) and their shipping rates seem relatively low $6 for USA, £5 for UK.

It makes sense. With that pricing you're ultimately saying that the print option has a value of 0$ for you. If making that option available doesn't cost you anything it is particularly fair of you to not ask any money for that option, so kudos for that.

Yes. that's it. I don't want to charge backers more for the Print Version when they already pay the Printing (and Shipping) costs separately.