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Revolutions are Always Verbose: Effecting Change in the TTRPG Industry
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<blockquote data-quote="slobster" data-source="post: 8354651" data-attributes="member: 6693711"><p>This may or may not be relevant to this thread....</p><p></p><p>But one thing I've noticed as I've gotten peripherally involved in publishing indie material here in the US, is how much the internationalization of art and publishing services has undermined attempts by artists/writers/editors in the indie RPG space here in the US in hoping to demand a living wage.</p><p></p><p>I have artist acquaintances based in the US who charge between maybe $50 and $500, depending on size and complexity, for what I inexpertly consider a "professional" piece of original fantasy art. The kind of stuff you probably want or need to have pop up when someone is browsing rpgnet and deciding whether to spend money on your product. Knowing how much effort they put in (you aren't just sketching out a picture, you have to work to the client's brief, make changes if demanded, and you have to do the self-promotion to get the commission in the first place), I think it's absolutely unsustainable for them to do most of those commissions at that price, but hey, they gotta eat. </p><p></p><p>On the other hand, I have friends from other parts of the world where a dollar goes a lot further, and they might charge one half to <strong>one tenth </strong>of the price that I consider borderline unethical here in the US! But they are some really skilled illustrators, so you aren't skimping on quality, just paying less by going to where people work for less, and the internet makes that offshoring a lot easier.</p><p></p><p>The same pattern repeats for formatters, editors, even writers (there are some technical and copy writer contractors that one company I worked with uses in the Phillipines who speak/write impressively fluent English, and honestly they basically don't charge money at all, I was blown away).</p><p></p><p>Look, I know that people pointing out how globalism can lead to raw deals for workers is hardly new. I know this isn't an original observation, and I promise I'm not kvetching about how furriners are takin' our jerbs. I hope that the people who work for those lower prices are doing well, I wish them well, I just also don't know how to bring that into alignment with working for a better deal for creatives here in my home country where those books are actually put together and sold, and where people who love the hobby here just can't make a decent wage because the race to the bottom is too fierce.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="slobster, post: 8354651, member: 6693711"] This may or may not be relevant to this thread.... But one thing I've noticed as I've gotten peripherally involved in publishing indie material here in the US, is how much the internationalization of art and publishing services has undermined attempts by artists/writers/editors in the indie RPG space here in the US in hoping to demand a living wage. I have artist acquaintances based in the US who charge between maybe $50 and $500, depending on size and complexity, for what I inexpertly consider a "professional" piece of original fantasy art. The kind of stuff you probably want or need to have pop up when someone is browsing rpgnet and deciding whether to spend money on your product. Knowing how much effort they put in (you aren't just sketching out a picture, you have to work to the client's brief, make changes if demanded, and you have to do the self-promotion to get the commission in the first place), I think it's absolutely unsustainable for them to do most of those commissions at that price, but hey, they gotta eat. On the other hand, I have friends from other parts of the world where a dollar goes a lot further, and they might charge one half to [B]one tenth [/B]of the price that I consider borderline unethical here in the US! But they are some really skilled illustrators, so you aren't skimping on quality, just paying less by going to where people work for less, and the internet makes that offshoring a lot easier. The same pattern repeats for formatters, editors, even writers (there are some technical and copy writer contractors that one company I worked with uses in the Phillipines who speak/write impressively fluent English, and honestly they basically don't charge money at all, I was blown away). Look, I know that people pointing out how globalism can lead to raw deals for workers is hardly new. I know this isn't an original observation, and I promise I'm not kvetching about how furriners are takin' our jerbs. I hope that the people who work for those lower prices are doing well, I wish them well, I just also don't know how to bring that into alignment with working for a better deal for creatives here in my home country where those books are actually put together and sold, and where people who love the hobby here just can't make a decent wage because the race to the bottom is too fierce. [/QUOTE]
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