I just got an e-mail...

[KingOfChaos]

I just got a disturbing e-mail from someone who shall remain nameless that was basically bitching me out because I offer a free D20 Ezine PDF for download at my site. The person stated that I was 'hurting' the E-publishing D20 industry by offering material for free.

Do you guys feel that way? That by offering a free PDF product that I am somehow undermining those publishers who choose to publish PDFs for profit?

I am confused and just slightly angry at the accusations this person spouted at me.

 

[Blacksway]

I shouldn't worry, they are obviously just jealous!

If you have the time and resources to produce something that supports the community and encourages people to play without charging for it then good on you.

One would however hope that the products you have to pay for are worth the money, i.e. better in some way (not trying to say you're e-zine is bad, haven't read it myself) - so maybe he's just annoyed because your e-zine is too good?

 

[Flyspeck23]

That´s simply ridiculous. It´s like saying: "Well, Morrus, could you please stop updating EN World, because I´m running a D20 news page where you´ve got to be a member (fees and all) to get the news. It´s hurting my business if you offer the same for free".

Well, right. Hope the person who send you that email doesn´t start selling air ("What do you mean? It´s FREE?").

As a side-note: I´ve downloaded the first issue of your zine, and I can´t give a comment on the material you present in it. The layout is a little bit... light, if you know what I mean. But it has quite some artwork - some are pretty nice, and most "free downloads" don´t offer any art at all. Maybe that´s the reason the writer of that email was "bitching you".


In conclusion: you´ve got a reason to be angry.
Did you reply?

 

[Ghostwind]

I got a similar email a few months back from a person who didn't like the fact that we offered so much free stuff on our site. I wonder if it was the same person? Anyhow, I politely told him to get a life.

 

[astralpwka]

Your free ezine has no influence over whether or not I'd buy someone else's. Free d20 material never stops me from buying books that I *want*. His sales must be really low and he doesn't know why.

 

[jmucchiello]

I feel left out. I offer free stuff and no one has complained.

 

[kingpaul]

I feel left out. I offer free stuff and no one has complained.

Then I'll complain.

< tongue in cheek>
How dare you use pull technology for your free stuff! You should be on a massive push.
< /tongue in cheek>

 

[KingOfChaos]

As a side-note: I´ve downloaded the first issue of your zine, and I can´t give a comment on the material you present in it. The layout is a little bit... light, if you know what I mean. But it has quite some artwork - some are pretty nice, and most "free downloads" don´t offer any art at all. Maybe that´s the reason the writer of that email was "bitching you".

Download issues #2 and #3 They're a big improvement over issue #1 where we were just learning

Back to the issue: No, I haven't replied to him and most likely I won't. It's not good for a D20 publisher to get into a flamewar with someone else and possibly have what they say posted on 5 or 6 other forums, with the person involved somehow trying to make it seem like the Publisher is in the wrong. It's bad proess.

 

[Crothian]

Was it some randon fan or someone actually known in the industry?

 

[Cergorach]

Ok, did anybody cancel an ezine recently?