If I combine the Dark Sun and Ravenloft settings, I get...

[lmpjr007]

Just in case you didn't see:

Owen K.C. Stephens hired to work on Obsidian Twilight

Louis Porter Jr. Design announced today the hiring of Owen K.C. Stephens, Author of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game, to join Louis Porter Jr. Design as a developer on the upcoming fantasy horror post apocalyptic setting, Obsidian Twilight compatible with the 3.5 edition of the world's most popular roleplaying game.

“I have worked with Owen on several NeoExodus: A House Divided projects and found him to be an excellent person with a lot of ground-breaking style. I think his knowledge and experience with roleplaying games will be a great asset to the work we are doing on this project.” commented Louis Porter Jr., owner of Louis Porter Jr. Design. “I'm excited to bring him on this Obsidian Twilight patron project. His unlimited inventiveness, originality and amazing understanding of the rules will help position LPJ Design as leaders in the Patron Project RPG business. With the skills and abilities that Owen brings will complement the talent of the other writers, Joshua Cole, Neal Bailey and Chris Field.”

Owen Kirker Clifford Stephens was born in 1970 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was introduced to gaming by his uncle in 1978 (though his uncle now claims no memory of the event) and was instantly hooked. Owen moved with his wife and three cats to the Seattle area in 2000 after accepting a job as a Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast. While there, he worked on numerous Star Wars Roleplaying Game projects and the Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game. He has written freelance for numerous companies, including White Wolf and Steve Jackson Games.

Owen's gaming credits include d20 Critical Locations, d20 Cyberscape, Advanced Player's Manual, The Black Company, EverQuest Player's Handbook, Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn, Power of the Jedi Sourcebook and Star Wars Arms and Equipment Guide.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yes, this is going to be a PDF, Soft cover B&W book and Hard cover Full color book. The PDF will be available from LPJ Design during the patron project, the available exclusively at RPGNow.com. We are estimated this product will have a $15 price point and will look beautiful. The actual "dead tree" versions will be available ONLY TO PATRONS via Lulu.com. So patrons get access to everything, non-patrons can only get the PDF.

If I understand what you mean by "patron", I can't say I like this as a business model.

Hopefully, at some point the books will be available for non-patrons. Otherwise, count me out as a potential customer.

 

[Knightfall]

If I understand what you mean by "patron", I can't say I like this as a business model.

Hopefully, at some point the books will be available for non-patrons. Otherwise, count me out as a potential customer.

I have to agree with you, Dannyalcatraz.

The idea of "patron" publishing bugs me. It smacks of elitism. I know that's not the point of such projects, but it's how it comes across.

 

[lmpjr007]

If I understand what you mean by "patron", I can't say I like this as a business model.

Hopefully, at some point the books will be available for non-patrons. Otherwise, count me out as a potential customer.

I have to agree with you, Dannyalcatraz.

The idea of "patron" publishing bugs me. It smacks of elitism. I know that's not the point of such projects, but it's how it comes across.

I think you are looking at this the wrong way. It is NOT elitism, it "Hey look behind the RPG publishing curtain and see EVERYTHING that really goes on." If you are thinking about starting your own RPG business, you should think about joining a parton project, not just mine but any patron project. You get to see everything from the ground up. It is a win-win for them.

Now if you want to purchase the setting, anyone can get it either PDF (full color) or softcover book (black & white); but only a patron will get access to the softcover book (black & white or full color), hardcover book (black & white or full color). Best of all at some levels of patronage you will get the books and PDF for FREE!!!

Hell for $30 US, you get a free PDF in full color with original art, written by four great writers including Owen K.C. Stephens, plus you can actually input questions to these writers and artist about what they are writing and drawing and how you would like to see it, PLUS you can purchase the softcover (black & white or full color version) at manufacture's cost not retail. If you spent $30 US on the Player's Handbook, why don't you ask WOTC why they don't give as much as I am giving you?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've been a part of the arts community for basically my entire life, so I really do understand the intent and reasons behind a patronage model.

However, I simply dislike it for the type of product in question.

If you spent $30 US on the Player's Handbook, why don't you ask WOTC why they don't give as much as I am giving you?

See, my problem is the only thing I want is the hardcover or softcover product. Whatever else they add to the package had best be physical or I don't need it and won't use it. Even if I were to find a .pdf desirable enough to purchase- something that hasn't occurred at this point- I'd want to see and own the book first.

(BTW, in your initial post re:format you said that physical versions would only be available for patrons, but in the latest version, you seem to distinguish between softcover B&W and other physical versions- which is it?)

I'm not asking you to restructure your business to conform to my peculiarities, but you should be aware that I'm not the only person who feels like this. At some point, consumers like myself will be the minority- right now, I'm not so sure that your business model is upside down.

 

[Chacal]

I hate my players so much that I'm tempted to add Midnight into the equation

Seriously, it's intriguing. This thread made me think of weird combinations, like adding dark-sun thingies in Zalavat (from Arcana Evolved)...


Chacal

 

[lmpjr007]

See, my problem is the only thing I want is the hardcover or softcover product. Whatever else they add to the package had best be physical or I don't need it and won't use it. Even if I were to find a .pdf desirable enough to purchase- something that hasn't occurred at this point- I'd want to see and own the book first.

(BTW, in your initial post re:format you said that physical versions would only be available for patrons, but in the latest version, you seem to distinguish between softcover B&W and other physical versions- which is it?)

Patrons have access to all four versions of Obsidian Twilight book and get the PDF of free. Non-patrons only have access to the softcover B&W editions and must pay for the PDF version.

We just changed that recently after speaking with a few people on this topic.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Better! I have no qualms at all about buying softcover B&W game books.

How much is the softcover B&W version, anyway?

 

[lmpjr007]

Better! I have no qualms at all about buying softcover B&W game books.

How much is the softcover B&W version, anyway?

Still under debate, but I am hoping for $20 maybe less.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Still under debate, but I am hoping for $20 maybe less.

Sounds reasonable to me.