market research for horror gamers

[Wraith Form]

PayPal helps. I'm not going to absolutely guarantee that I'll be buying the modules in the next few weeks (money is a bit tight right now, as I just shelled out a huge lump for the Conan RPG books...all of them), but please accept my promise that I'll be buying as soon as I can afford. Besdies, I know your products aren't horribly expensive..!

(I'll see if I can sweet-talk my wife into a few little expenditures: anniversary time is next month!)

 

[Von Ether]

Your point about making a bigger presence here is well taken. While we try to throw in our $0.02 here from time to time, apparently it hasn't been enough. I think to date, we've been a little overly cautious out of fear that as a publisher we walk a line between contributing to the discussions and pimpin' our wares. We'll try to do a better job of joining in without getting (too) obnoxious.

If you make the answers relevent to the question, as compared to some lame segue, you will be fine. In fact, the only people I've seen make an issue out of it are those who either have a personal grudge or are competition to the poster. If someone asks outright, "what horror adventures are out there?" As a businessman, you're obligated to put yourself first in line to mention your own company.

And last I checked, the gaming industry was a business.

 

[one-end]

Hey Preston,

I have bought, and I am currently running, Last Rites of the Black Guard. For my campaign, which sits sort of in the middle between Shadow Chasers and Urban Arcana, this adventure is awesome.

Personally I like where the adventure is going and what is unlocked because of the actions of the party but that is just me.

I would really love to see more occult horror. I love the Hellboy, Cthuluesque stuff a lot too and think that you guys have produced some good stuff I have considered picking up Bloodlines but would probably use it to launch a new campaign as I think my party is pastthat one now in level.

Cost of your products is great. Personally I do not mind PDF's at all. Especially for an adventure. I can print out things I want, mark it all I want, and I still have a pristine copy laying around.

Keep up with the creepy stuff. I love it! Things that go bump in the night; be they Mummies, Werewolves, or Ghosts are the stuff that makes for good adventures.

 

[TheLostSoul]

Mjello...

I have heard of your company, checked your website and downloaded much of your Pinebox setting, though I have not bought any of your products. It is not a matter of price or quality (which looks great, based both reviews and the previews), but a matter of system. I do not use D20 Modern for my modern games. I have been wondering if I should buy one of you modules and convert it to either World of Darkness or BRP Call of Cthulhu, but I have so far choosen not to.

I must admit that what I have seen of your products looks very interesting and after seeing the preview and reading the reviews, I have been considering wether or not to buy D20 Modern, so I could run the modules. So far I have decided not to and keep with WoD and BRP CoC. The same goes for Savage Worlds.

 

[one-end]

Eh. I would buy d20Modern just to run Last Rites of the Black Guard. That damn good.

Not sold on the new WOD system myself.

 

[JimAde]

Just as a side-note: I discovered 12 to Midnight through Barsoomcore's excellent Modern SRD. I'm not running a modern game at the moment, but when I do you guys will be at the top of my list based on what I've seen of Pinebox.

As to what gets my dollar: I'm a cheap SOB so price is a factor, but the biggest factor is reviews I trust (like those on EN World). A well-reviewed product that fits my campaign will get my money over a less-expensive one taken on faith.

 

[WayneLigon]

Or do we simply fly under the radar?

Yes. Never heard of y'all at all before seeing this post. I'll look over the website.

 

[jaerdaph]

Your point about sourcebooks versus adventures is worth further considering. I'm not sure whether or not I agree with you (or maybe we're not reading the same threads), but we'll be able to test that theory soon enough. Our next product, in layout right now, is a sourcebook called Green's Guide to Ghosts. We'll be posting a preview of the cover early next week.

Perhaps - I know I've seen a lot of threads asking for d20 Modern adventures with no FX.

Looking forward to Green's Guide to Ghosts. And while we're talking market research: I already knew about that product from the president's address on your Web site:

http://www.12tomidnight.com/articles/2005_outlook.htm

 

[Prest0]

Wow, thanks for all the responses guys!

Wraith, the businessman side of me is certainly glad you're eager to check out Bloodlines. On the other hand, I'm a fiscal conservative at heart so part of me cringes when I hear you are willing to stretch the pocketbook a bit on our account. I really appreciate your support and I WANT you to try Bloodlines, but it's not going anywhere. We'll be just as appreciative of your business two or three months from now as we would be today. Just don't forget about us in the meantime.

Von Ether, thanks for the encouragment. We'll definitely be jumping in the thick of things here. The same goes for you, one-end. I'm really glad you are enjoying Last Rites. I hope it leads to many more creepy adventures. The sequel IS in the works!

LostSoul, I can appreciate where you're coming from. Sometimes it's faster just to come up with something yourself than try to convert to a different system. Even though we are already publishing in d20 and Savage Worlds, it is unlikely we'll be expanding beyond that any time soon. If nothing else, look for our annual Halloween Sale. At that point, it might be worth your while to check out a couple of our adventures just to mine ideas.

JimAde, Barsoomcore's SRD *is* excellent, isn't it? We were more than happy to donate the space on our system for such a useful tool. I refer to it myself while I'm at work, where I can't keep the book handy. I'm glad you found your way to us, and I think you'll really enjoy playing modern adventures when you take the plunge. I got really burt out on fantasy at one point and turned to modern horror for a change of pace, and that's what eventually led me to here and now...

WayneLigon, I hope you like what you find. Feel free to post in our forums or e-mail me directly if you have any questions.

Jaerdaph, that's a good point about the call for no-fx adventures. We'll just have to leave it to others to carry that particular torch.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

Well ive heard of you. I had no idea what you sold to be quite honest. But if you want opinions im happy to offer mine.
PDF's arent my style, I like having the book right in front of me and be able to read it in bed before i go to sleep.
Paying for something that has no package or anything tangible is just irritating for me, i understand your a business and your trying to make money but to be honest im not spending money on computer code without something i can touch coming with it ( one of the reasons i bought NWN at the store and didnt pay less online for a download).
Since ive never read your books i cant have an opinion on your style of horror, but i can tell you that while im a fan of cthulhuesque games i already own actual cthulhu products and dont really need clones, but if you have a buffy, friday the 13th, nightmare on elm street or a hellraiser feel then you might have yourself another customer.
Are all your produts d20 modern or could say they fit in with Forgotten Realms ( the game i run) and still be scary in a world with Dragons, Beholders and Mind Flayers.