Supporting advertisers at EN World (WARNING: Rant)

[Ed Cha]

I noticed that nobody in the "What are you buying next?" thread mentioned Dawning Star, the new d20 sci-fi RPG book from Blue Devil Games. Justin D. Jacobson of Blue Devil Games has spent a lot of money on advertising this in many places, including right here at EN World. If people don't buy the book or even bother to click on the ad, it is less likely that people like him will buy more advertising here and help support the site.

I have Dawning Star. It is a fantastic book with top-quality production values. I would think that people at EN World would love to have a book like this in their collection and be raving about it by now.

So I'm pretty disappointed that not that many people are talking about it here. Sales are pretty brisk for Dawning Star, as far as I know, but it should be way better (especially from EN Worlders). Justin has spent A LOT of money on this thing. It deserves to be in the spotlight.

I guess some of you may think I'm just expressing all of this because I make some money from sales of the book, but I am mostly bringing this up because I'm frustrated. I know Justin is a really great guy and has been SO supportive of what we're doing at Indie Press Revolution (an experimental project to help independent creator-publishers like myself). And I know he's put a lot of investment into the Dawning Star project, so I would really like to see it succeed. If that's considered selfish, then damn me. But that's the truth of what I'm feeling.

I have bought advertising here at EN World on behalf of Open World Press and Indie Press Revolution before. I've spent hundreds of dollars here. I did it partly to support the site. Now I'm asking you to do your part, too.

Sorry if I sound a little demanding, but this is important to me. Personally, I don't see how this thread is different from one asking you to send money to EN World. At least, if you pick up Dawning Star, you will get a great book (and free shipping). In other words, buying Dawning Star (and stuff from other advertisers here) supports EN World. I know not all of you may be able to afford to buy a new RPG right now, but I'm just asking the ones who can to think about it.

Thank you very much.

P.S. Justin, I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission to post this, but this is just my personal statement. I hope you're not offended.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Ummm, do you really think that this rant will help sales?

Did you bother mentioning it yourself on the thread?

I think that it would be a good idea to think before posting something of this nature, then not do it.

The Auld Grump

 

[Crothian]

Well, I doubt Ed would list the book as one he is going to buy as he probalby already has it. I know that's the reason I didn't liist it there.

 

[Ed Cha]

Actually, I did mention the book in that thread. I was pretty surprised nobody had before. It's a really good book as even Crothian can testify in his review right here.

Yes, I would like this thread or anything I do to result in sales for Justin. I would also like to see more advertising dollars go to EN World. Is that so wrong?

 

[GlassJaw]

You make it sound like it's our civic duty to buy this product. Personally, I don't think that's a very good approach. Browbeating what's most likely your core audience doesn't seem to be good business strategy IMO.

It seems to me your frustration stems more from the crowded d20 market rather than whether your fellow EN Worlders buy this product or not. If you have a quality product, buzz will generate itself. There are many products that have come to the forefront based on word-of-mouth alone.

But anyway, if you wanted to generate some hits to the site, you succeeded. I'm not interested in another sci-fi campaign setting.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Actually, I did mention the book in that thread. I was pretty surprised nobody had before. It's a really good book as even Crothian can testify in his review right here.

Yes, I would like this thread or anything I do to result in sales for Justin. I would also like to see more advertising dollars go to EN World. Is that so wrong?

Considering that I no longer have any curiosity in what the book is about, and had at least some monor interest befiore your rant, then yes, I would say that it was. I might have at least clicked the banner ad, I generally do with E. N. World advertisements, but that is now not very likely (not impossible, but not likely.)

Yelling at people is a very bad way of getting a positive reaction.

The Auld Grump

 

[Ed Cha]

Yelling? I didn't put any sentences in caps. I'm just expressing my opinion and addressing an issue. I'm sorry if I've offended though.

 

[trancejeremy]

On a semi-related note, I signed up for that ad here that supposedly gives you $4 for free.

Sadly, upon reading the fine print, they really don't. In fact, they want you to give them money, as far as I could tell. The whole thing is rather confusing. All I really know is I'm not getting $4.


But anyway, on this subject, while Dawning Star: Operation Quick Launch is an extremely well done product, it's not D&D, but d20 Modern/d20 Future. Most people here probably only care about D&D (and maybe free $4).

Also, I think some people might be waiting until later books come out. There's something of a chicken or egg syndrome to new settings - people often won't want to buy it unless there is support for it. But unless people buy it, there can't be support for it. Even though there is an extremely impressive line up for it planned, things could go awry (like in many other SF settings, like Dragonstar) and they could never come out.

And some poeple are just behind on their purchases. I know there's stuff from 2001 or so I still haven't gotten around to buying.


Anyway, to anyone else reading this thread, bear in mind like a lot of small company owners, Ed really puts his heart & soul & blood into his company, IPR, and so is very passionate about it.

 

[Crothian]

On a semi-related note, I signed up for that ad here that supposedly gives you $4 for free.

Sadly, upon reading the fine print, they really don't. In fact, they want you to give them money, as far as I could tell. The whole thing is rather confusing. All I really know is I'm not getting $4.

Seriously, you should post about that in meta

 

[Ed Cha]

I just want to mention that I've given away more money to gaming and gaming-related organizations than I've made in RPGs so far this year. So it's not really about money for me.

Jeremy, you're right about the setting thing and people being behind on their purchases. I didn't think of those factors. Don't get me wrong, the book is doing well, but I want it to do really well. Justin has been so helpful in supporting Indie Press Revolution.

Anyhow, I guess I didn't express myself right. I meant to really say, "Please look at this book. Support advertisers and you support EN World." I didn't mean to come off as saying, "Buy this book. It's your duty to EN World." I guess I was just being overzealous.

I clicked on the $4 free thing, too, actually.