Some cool sounding stuff coming from Avalanche Press....

[Synicism]

And you know about a certain author's embarrassment from Avalanche Press ... how? Did this "embarrassed" author expressed his view regarding the cover artwork gracing his material to you personally?

I know at least two APL authors who didn't particularly like the covers, but really had no control over them. Then again, while their books don't sell as many copies as say, Mongoose, their latest couple have gotten good reviews regarding the content. Additionally, APL's print runs tend to be smaller and they seem not to leave inventory sitting on shelves forever because of that.

The individual numbers aren't huge, but so far their d20 strategy seems to be an efficient one. I wouldn't be surprised to see APL hanging around long after a number of other publishers have gone under.

Though you're right. I do wish the books were less expensive.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

As I have said in other threads about this very subject- the only reason they use such "cheesecake" is to get you to notice their product so you will pick it up to see what is inside. All it is, is marketing. As intelligent educated people (most gamers are, especially the ones who come here) we usually don't judge books by their covers, we judge them by their content. I find that when it comes to this company a good many are condemning AP's products solely on the basis of their marketing technique and not on the content of their products.

Oh, BTW I'd liked adventure in both Atlantis and Constantinople.

 

[Ranger REG]

Well, I'm not complaining. Just because I like the artwork on the cover does not mean I am less intelligent than the others who prefer the prudent puritannical path. Perhaps it is my perception, growing up in Hawaii and all that. But as long as the model is covered in the right place, a scantily-clad women is not something to get a heart attack over it ... unless you're pushing 90.

But if they were to use Pamela Anderson (the only girl that actually turns me off) as a model, then I'm not buying their book, regardless of content inside.

 

[Eosin the Red]

Fair enough. Just do me a favor would you? Kindly state the following two sentences out loud:

"I would like to adventure in Atlantis!"

... and then ...

"I would like to adventure in Constantinople!"

I am the wrong person to ask that, I was estatic when I saw a d20 Constantinople. I can't spell it, but have read several books about it. That setting to me is just incredible.

Their grasp of d20 rules at that point was also non-exsistant. I wondered if they even owned the core rules after reading tLDoC. Historically, I thought they did wonderfully.

I do get your point and concede that it may be valid. Not enough data to make that decision (for me).

 

[Paradigm]

Please,

I beg all of my fellow D20 publishers to avoid any nude images of Janet Reno as that will likely be the last thing I see as I am struck blind from the sheer horror of that sight.

Regards,

Eric Wiener
Paradigm Concepts, Inc.
www.paradigmconcepts.com

 

[Nightfall]

LOL! Eric you're not trying to tell us something about a Paradigm Concept product are you? *is teasing*

 

[Ranger REG]

Please,

I beg all of my fellow D20 publishers to avoid any nude images of Janet Reno as that will likely be the last thing I see as I am struck blind from the sheer horror of that sight.

Regards,

Eric Wiener
Paradigm Concepts, Inc.
www.paradigmconcepts.com

But it's okay to use Jim Farrell as Janet Reno, right? LOL.

 

[Synicism]

APL's Prices

Just FYI, Avalanche is planning to charge $16.95 for its 64 page, perfect bound softcovers. Mongoose charges $14.95 for books of the same size and so does Green Ronin. So $2.00 doesn't really seem like a big deal.

As far as prices are concerned, Privateer Press seems to beat them all thus far.

 

[HermioneO]

Cheesecake, Devil's Food, Twinkies ...

I've bought all the Avalanche Press stuff. I bought it initially because I am interested in fantasy takes on historical settings and they were (at the time) the only ones doing anything like that. I was not interested in the covers and frankly, without looking at the books again, I couldn't tell you what was on the cover. The most cheesecaky thing I can remember seeing on D20 was the interior art of the Slayer's Guide to Amazons, which was even done in classic pinup poses. But I believe that was all done deliberately, as a joke. I mean, they even had a centerfold

As a female, I can tell you that buxom women on the covers will not keep me from buying a d20 product. I collect it all, with few exceptions.

What will make me not buy a product is if I felt ripped off the last time I bought something from the same company.

While I found some of the rules interpretations clunky or not quite what I would use, I have never felt ripped off by Avalanche Press.

Becky

 

[trancejeremy]

From the chat transcript with Ryan Dancey

http://www.d20reviews.com/interviews/danceychat.htm

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This one goes back to a topic we discussed earlier... <keiko> question: have you, in your research, found that more women are playing? if not, how would you plan on attracting more of a female demographic?

We found that for all RPG play, the figure is about 13%. For D&D play, the figure was about 20%. I think that part of the reason for the discrepency is that the hobby gaming market spent a long time making products that had covers that many women found offensive. I think that's been changing for quite some time, and its having a positive effect. Many female gamers I know tell me that the single best thing we ever did for D&D in their eyes was the picture of Lidda picking the chest trap in the PHB.


Avalanche Press might disagree with that


Avalanche Press is making a big mistake, in my opinion. I really like those guys, and they make some of the best product on the market. But they're selling an "oreo" product. Tits & Ass on the cover, and hard core, well researched historical RPGs in the middle. That's a recipie that's doomed to long term failure. If they get caught in a "who can be sexier" contest with someone with lower scruples, they'll lose. And there's a whole audience of people who will never, ever buy (or stock) those products as long as they look the way they do now. I hope they change their strategy.

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