Sell me on creating new d20 fantasy PDFs . . .

[philreed]

This is a bit unusual for a "sell me" thread but after chatting with various people I thought I'd give it a shot.

It has now reached the point that I cannot justify spending my time writing new d20 fantasty PDFs. The drop in the market has reached a point that I cannot make enough money to cover the amount of time it takes to write one of these. Where I once sold 80 of a new release over the first 30-45 days I can now sell about 20-25 in that time.

This is unfortunate since I enjoy writing new material for d20 fantasy (I especially enjoy writing releases in the A Dozen . . . series). For now, though, I must spend my time on other projects (including looking at more projects outside of the game industry).

So "sell me" (convince me) on writing new releases . . . even though I cannot make enough money selling them to cover my writing time.

 

[JoeGKushner]

You should just do them in your 'spare' time if you enjoy writing d20 material.

Not much of a 'sell' idea I admit but when reality calls, it's often good to open the door.

If d20 fantasy don't pay the bills and other material does... well, that's what I'd follow.

 

[ZeroGlobal2003]

Well, I can't sell you on it, cause I'd need to get sold on it too. I've been working on small stuff for a while, but haven't even gotten it published. I'm thinking currently I'm just gonna have to scale my ideas back to 'my game only' topics.

Something that is important for you to remember, is that success comes from success. I'm not coming down on you, I've never read your stuff, and so don't have an idea of the quality or what not, but the sales drop might be related to your products, not the market in general. Heck, even when there is a tough market, someone has to be succeeding, or there wouldn't be any one doing it.

Generally in business, if sales drop off, you have to look at what you are doing, what your competitors are doing, and what seems to be selling. If company X is selling more books then you, you need to make your books more like theirs, either in art, topics, or format, and then go above and beyond them in other aspects. If you can't do that, then you are on the way out.

Zero

 

[philreed]

I'm not coming down on you, I've never read your stuff, and so don't have an idea of the quality or what not, but the sales drop might be related to your products, not the market in general.

I'll leave the quality aspect of my work for others to discuss. What I will say, though, is that this is an industry-wide problem. For example, I know my own PDF sales and when I see my own products with horrible sales climbing into the Top 10 at RPGNow then I know everyone is suffering through poor sales.

I suspect a lot of the problem boils down to the same reasons that the print market is on a major decline these days.

 

[doghead]

I suspect a lot of the problem boils down to the same reasons that the print market is on a major decline these days.

Too many products, not enough consumers.

I would have to agree with JGK. If it doesn't make sence financially, do it only if you have the time and the inclination.

thotd

 

[philreed]

If it doesn't make sence financially, do it only if you have the time and the inclination.

That's my current plan. This week, for example, I've finished Ken Hite's newest book (which should be at Origins and will be released in PDF the first week of July), worked (and will continue to work) on the layout for True20 Worlds of Adventure, and should finish writing vs. Pirates.

 

[shaylon]

It sucks to hear this. I think your work is pretty great. I can't really sell you on keeping the d20 fantasy up because I can't figure out a way to boost your sales that someone else hasn't already thought of.

I like Joe's idea though. If you truly enjoy it work on them when you can and release them as you can; let your higher income products take precedence but don't give up on it.

-Shay

 

[Pinotage]

Have you considered that some of your products may perhaps be too niche? 101 Feats and Another 101 Feats sold well, I believe, or at least I think they hit Silver on RPGNow.com. Perhaps the A Dozen series is too focused? I enjoy most of the things you write, and was disappointed to see that you no longer do fantasy. But, you're one of the few publishers that does this for a living, so it makes sense to do what keeps you afloat.

Pinotage

 

[doghead]

That's my current plan. This week, for example, I've finished Ken Hite's newest book (which should be at Origins and will be released in PDF the first week of July), worked (and will continue to work) on the layout for True20 Worlds of Adventure, and should finish writing vs. Pirates.

It seems like you are already pretty sure about how to proceed.

I've been out of touch with the gaming industry (as a consumer) for years now. But from the bits and pieces I have seen around here (like the occasional 'state of play in the gaming industry' thread), the industry is going through a rough patch. Whether it is a 'correction', a 'restructuring' or a 'bust', time will tell.

thotd

 

[DonTadow]

I've been doing stuff in my spare time here and there. YOu're right it surely does not make up for hte time it spends. And just think if you're in the business like me, its even less pay. What if you got with a couple other people and split the time and workload.