Invasion of the 5-10 page PDFs . . .

[rpghost]

My problem comes in doing my own layout work. Where can I learn to do that without spending a lot of money I don't really have right now? Are there online resources? Do you recommend books that I might be able to check out of the library?

Flynn,

Our next book (due out in about a week) covers in very good detail how to do layout and design and creating of a PDF:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=3290

I'd suggest you pick it up when it's available. You can add it to your WISH list on RPGNow for now and check your wish list later to see if it's released.

James

 

[philreed]

That is all great stuff but makes me worried that the really developed story material with the investment in quality will get buried under a giant pile of "a dozen magic pipe cleaners" and "ten nose widgets made for one legged dwarves"...not that I couldn't use that sort of stuff myself in my one legged dwarf campaign.

What you need to keep in mind is that people aren't looking for "story material" as much as they are "plug and play" game material. The "Dozens" that you seem to imply are not quality are -- first and last -- game tools. They serve no purpose other than to add interest and variety to a campaign. If a DM needs "story material" he can read a book. If a DM needs game material, Ronin Arts is ready with lots of it and a lot more to come.

 

[philreed]

Er... Oddly, Phillip, this post inspired me to go ahead with a smaller presentation for Animal Archives 1: North American Prehistoric Animals.

And you did a great job on it. That's an awesome product.

 

[cleavthorn]

Thanks Phillip! Thats really nice to hear!

Animal Archives 2: South American Animals is coming out soon! 10 critters this time!

 

[jgbrowning]

As a total newcomer the marketing approach is a bit mind boggling, particularly when the desire is to put out great story and adventure / setting material. It looks like I will need to expand our production schedule to include a whole range of short .pdf's that spin off of our core product lines. Maps of starship sectors, ship stats and deck plans, villain bases, city histories and that sort of thing.

That's probably a good idea.

That is all great stuff but makes me worried that the really developed story material with the investment in quality will get buried under a giant pile of "a dozen magic pipe cleaners" and "ten nose widgets made for one legged dwarves"...not that I couldn't use that sort of stuff myself in my one legged dwarf campaign.

I'm kinda rare, but I think that most things put out aren't crap. Most things, IMHO, are ok or average. A quality product will get noticed, but it will take some time. Just like every other business, having a quality product isn't enough. You have to play your market for maximum effectiveness.

I went to your website. Looks cool. Welcome to ENworld!

joe b.

ps. and to clairify. I'm not talking about your stuff Phil. It's just the example used. I think most of your stuff is above average. One of the reasons your position is where it is. Good stuff & Good business strategy.

 

[2WS-Steve]

I'm kinda rare, but I think that most things put out aren't crap. Most things, IMHO, are ok or average.

I agree, Joe. Sturgeon's law is full of crap...

 

[HellHound]

I'm throwing in a "Me Too" in there.

I was surprised to see how many publishers on another forum felt that a lot of the products on RPGnow are crap.

To heck with them.

I think our industry is producing great stuff, and we are all working together to make it better.

 

[philreed]

I think our industry is producing great stuff, and we are all working together to make it better.

And having fun! Don't forget the fun.

 

[HellHound]

Hmmm... that's right, fun!

opening datebook...

Alright! I found a free spot, I'll pencil in 'fun' for next month, well, as long as we aren't in the middle of renovations.



Yep, and fun. The above was just an extrapolation of a Martin Atkins spoken word thing that went kind of like:

Telephone: Ring Ring!
Johnny Rotten: Hello? Oh, Anarchy? Uhmm, not today thanks, I'm having my pool cleaned.

We still run at least one game a week here, often pushing for two or more (heck, we went up as high as 5 a week during the best part of summer).

 

[SkeletonKey Ed]

Fun?

Crap, I knew I forgot something!



Ed