If I wanted to get something (4e) free published, where and how to do it?

[GreyLord]

If I were to write some alternate rules for 4e, and wanted to get it distrubuted/published via internet, how would I do it. Is it even available to publish something like a 4e variant as an article or something. I'm uncertain how ENworld works with this stuff these days, especially in relation to 4e. I'm definately unsure of how everyplace else works it.

I figured this would be the best place to ask a question like this.

 

[defendi]

Well, the license for 4e make "Variant Rules" problematic. However if, after reading the license and the faqs, and then asking us any questions you might still have (and wading through all the "I'm not a lawyer, you should talk to one" disclaimers), you still think you have a book, you have options. The most popular are probably Drive Thru RPG and RPGNow. They take a percentage, so it costs nothing to list. The catch is they demand professional looking books, so you might end up laying out money on artists and the like.

Alternately, there's no reason you can't just put it on a site you put together yourself. I'm pretty sure there are freeware carts (I think ZenCart is one), you'd just have to be technically savvy enough to set it up or no someone who is. I use Paypal to take payments for my site so I don't have to worry about security issues (I never see a credit card number, so you can't hack me to get them). That route, you likely just have to worry about server fees.

 

[GreyLord]

Well, the license for 4e make "Variant Rules" problematic. However if, after reading the license and the faqs, and then asking us any questions you might still have (and wading through all the "I'm not a lawyer, you should talk to one" disclaimers), you still think you have a book, you have options. The most popular are probably Drive Thru RPG and RPGNow. They take a percentage, so it costs nothing to list. The catch is they demand professional looking books, so you might end up laying out money on artists and the like.

Alternately, there's no reason you can't just put it on a site you put together yourself. I'm pretty sure there are freeware carts (I think ZenCart is one), you'd just have to be technically savvy enough to set it up or no someone who is. I use Paypal to take payments for my site so I don't have to worry about security issues (I never see a credit card number, so you can't hack me to get them). That route, you likely just have to worry about server fees.

Thanks for that information. I was looking more towards the lines of maybe the shorter articles that some put out instead of a book. Perhaps something on EN world, or one of those places, which have alternate rules or additional rules that could be useful to everyone.

I haven't ever really stuck with a provider long enough to get my own steady webpage...always on the move to find the best prices I suppose. That's probably the BIGGEST reason I'm looking for someplace or something to distribute it on a more steady basis where I wouldn't have to worry what happens when I switch providers and/or email and webpage they give out switches.