Open World Press announces...

[Ed Cha]

Thank you for all the great suggestions! I've also become interested in HARP and Hackmaster as well as some of the other systems you've all mentioned.

Of course, I will have to know the system to write in it, but it would be great to get one of their staff to help with conversion/mechanics editing.

Another issue I am thinking about is how to factor in pricing for a dual-system product. There is always someone who is going to complain about that, but I want to make sure it is priced fairly. It is difficult to match prices with WoTC when they are printing and selling so much more (because of their extensive distribution).

And now that I am adopting a different model ("direct sales first" meaning a smaller print run, but better margins and higher total profits along with control over price and an extended life span), my product will probably be in the higher end of the price range. Has anyone come up with a model for dual-system pricing?

 

[mhensley]

This will be the most fully-detailed city book ever published with over 200 locations

Ummm... City State of the Invicible Overlord has over 300 detailed locations and is a 272 page hardcover. You might want to tone down your hyperbole.

 

[Treebore]

It actually depends on what Ed means by detailed. If he means numbered, named, and maybe a description of NPC's, then CSIO has him beat. If he means maps of the interiors, services/goods provided, price lists, and write-up of the owners/employess and such, then he is putting out something better than CSIO in terms of details.

Either way, Ed has always put out good product, so even if it isn't the biggest and most detailed, it will still be well worth the money.

 

[Ed Cha]

Thank you for your support and kind words, Treebore. I'm glad you've enjoyed the books and you're absolutely right. I don't intend to make the biggest city sourcebook, but instead the most detailed. There are tons of big books out there and there always have been, but how helpful are they? It depends on the person reading them. If you want just general background information, then you might not want all that detail. If you do, then you will find my book helpful.

Anyhow, I just want to say that my claim to put out the most detailed city sourcebook ever published might be contentious, but no less valid than AEG's claim to be putting out "The World's Largest City". I'm sure the AEG book will be great, but who's to say that I won't publish something that is 1,500 pages long? Will "The World's Largest City" have to change it's title on my account? I mean really, is "The World's Largest City" no less absolute of a statement than "the most fully-detailed city book ever"? C'mon, folks!

By no means do I wish to start something up with AEG, mind you. I have nothing against them or know anything about them or their book. I've had this project in mind for a while now and I'm just going to do what I'm going to do and not worry about what others are doing. I bowed out of publishing "The Book of Names" (a project that I was really getting into) when the Troll Lords and Gary Gygax announced their "Extraordinary Book of Names". I did this because I like those guys and respect Gary so much and I just didn't want to compete against all that at the exact same time. This time, I'm just not going to do that.