Iron Ration review

[Sanackranib]

I came across this site on the web (www.ironrations.com) and sent off for their product. ( its a little saddlestitched 12 pager) this months issue was an alchemist and her shop. I thought I would post this for all the other DM's here at En World.

so here is my little review:

I just got my 1st copy in the mail. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't an entire flushed out Alchemist complete with shop, Maps, building Stats, character stats, as well as adventure hooks. This litle product has got it all. This is a really usefull RPG aid. If all the other issues maintain this standard format then by George we've got a winner! This is the type of shop that the rogue in my party will keep in business. As a printer myself I realize that its tough to put out a quality product and be able to keep the cost down enough to attract new subscribers. IMO Christian, you have achieved that. My congrats on a job well done. The shop map, description and stats were especially helpfull and I look forward to using this in my game very soon. Keep up the great work.

I came across this site on the web and sent off for their product. this months issue was an alchemist and her shop. I thought I would post this for all the other DM's here at En World.

(note to moderator - if this isn't in the right spot then please by all means relocate it)

 

[Sanackranib]

Iron Rations

has anyone else seen or used their products?

 

[CrazyMage]

Just so everyone's aware, Christian had an earlier zine called Scrollworks which had some really great stuff but proved a little tough for Christian to keep doing. So if you like Iron Rations, ask Christian about Scrollworks back-issues.

I was a Scrollworks subscriber (and occasional contributor), so I got a copy of Iron Rations as well. I think that we will continue to see quality work from Christian and gang. Check it out!

There is also a thread in Publishers about this, but the more exposure the better

 

[Sanackranib]

exposure

thats probably where I came accross it origionally but I wasn't sure if I should post here or there. I posted here figureing piratecat could always move it if it was an issue.

 

[Christian Walker]

Re: exposure

thats probably where I came accross it origionally but I wasn't sure if I should post here or there. I posted here figureing piratecat could always move it if it was an issue.

Thanks for the kind words! I've had a lot of questions about IR, so if no one minds, I'd like to answer a few of them here. Below is a mini-FAQ of sorts.

What's a Fanzine?
Fanzines are fan produced magazines. Some are really slick, published in full color and are nearly as high in quality as professional publications. Others are run off on a Xerox machine. Many are simple, black and white affairs printed on 8.5" x 11" paper. With the advent of the web most fanzines have gone the digital route, since a two page fanzine can be published in html much more cheaply.
Bottom line: Most print fanzines are nearly identical to, say, a fan webpage. I just like sending and receiving letters in the post, so that's why I do IR in print.

What format is Iron Rations?
Iron Rations will be published on a sheet of 8.5" x 11" paper, double sided, black and white. Some issues will have two pages. Please note that the OGL will not be attached. Since this is a fanzine, I can't imagine I will run afoul of legal hassles since the material is freely distributed. I ran a GURPS zine like this, even sending issues to Steve Jackson, and never had a problem.
Please note that about 100 people received a version of Iron Rations #1 that was digest format. After I did this I realized that such a format was going to be too expensive and time consuming to keep in operation.

Is this like Scrollworks?
No. Scrollworks, my previous venture, was about as close to a prozine as you can get. It enjoyed a color cover, offered paid freelance work, and was published by a "real" company, Scrollworks Press. Iron Rations on the other hand, is just something I do for fun. Iron rations is not a magazine and I am no longer a publisher. I'm just a man with a laser printer and a head full of ideas. Besides, I lost about two grand last year on Scrollworks and am terrified about entering the fray as a publisher ever again.

Why are you doing this?
It saddens me that there are only one or two fanzines in production, Alarums and Excursion being one of them. Fanzines are wonderful because it's such a thrill to get good mail, to see what other gamers are doing with a particular game, and well, I LIKE PRINT!

Is it free?
Iron Rations is free. All I ask is that you let me know of any change of address so that the envelopes keep reaching you. There is no obligation to buy, although donations are accepted via PayPal at the IR web site.

Do you accept submissions?
No. However, if you get inspired and decide to publish your own zine, I will distribute it with Iron Rations. More on that later, but basically you would send me X copies of your zine that I would pop in the same envelope as IR. If lots of folks began doing this you would send me X copies of your zine, along with a donation to help cover postage. This type of publishing venture is more commonly called an APA, or alternative press association.

Is there a web presence?
Visit http://www.ironrations.com It doubles as my home page as well as offering IR support. There are web enhancements, a message board, and so on.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!
Christian Walker