"The Best in d20 PDFs"

[philreed]

Unfortunately, I'm also sure you'd generate unfair criticism along the lines of "Who does this guy think he is" and "Look at him cashing in on other people's hard work" and "I can't believe how biased his selection is". Might not be worth the hassle

And that's pretty much exactly why I haven't done it.

 

[RangerWickett]

*raises hand*

Ooh, I can do it. I just need all the pdf publishers to send me complimentary copies of all their products. And then give me about a year to read them all.

Okay, so maybe not.

Of course, I tend to write huge sweeping systems of alternate rules which wouldn't fit well into compilations. Maybe I should work on this. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[philreed]

I should note that I would never create something like this without the support of the original publishers. I feel anyone creating such a product, no matter how much they stick to just OGC, without the support of the publishers would be in the wrong. Such a product, to be truly valuable to not just gamers but also the community, would need the publishers behind it.

Monte did exactly the right thing with his Year's Best. The way he approached that compilation showed respect for all of the publishers involved -- he didn't simply create an OGC collection without giving credit where it was due and he provided the publishers with a useful advertising opportunity.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

There was a reference above to the inability to use credit cards.

In Canada, there's something called "MyCard", which might be out in the States as well. It's treated as a credit card, but it's really a debit card. You put money on it, and then you spend it on the 'net. You can't lose more than you put on it, and it has no influence on your credit rating. (So if someone manages to steal everything you have on it, you just lost $50 maybe, rather than $2000).

Of course, the user fees are quite high. But then again, isn't that the truth with credit cards?

 

[Lord Mhoram]

In Canada, there's something called "MyCard", which might be out in the States as well. It's treated as a credit card, but it's really a debit card.

In the US most debit cards are associated with VISA or Mastercard, and can run as credit cards. You have to have enough money in the bank for the "credit" transaction, and it is processed by the vendor as credit, but it just comes from your debit card account (usually a checking account). I've been doing this for quite a while. I have a debit card for the express purpose of purchasing online.
No fees, other than normal debit card use fees, which with my credit union is zilch.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Monte did exactly the right thing with his Year's Best. The way he approached that compilation showed respect for all of the publishers involved -- he didn't simply create an OGC collection without giving credit where it was due and he provided the publishers with a useful advertising opportunity.

Did publishers see an upswing in sales though? It'd be great if they did and a good incentive for another compilation and might get more companies to be involved.

 

[Joshua Randall]

You are right that the quality of PDFs vary, they vary even more then the printy books.

... and somewhere, Gutenberg rolls over in his grave.

 

[philreed]

Did publishers see an upswing in sales though? It'd be great if they did and a good incentive for another compilation and might get more companies to be involved.

I've heard rumblings that a few of them did. I haven't spoken with anyone directly, though, so I can't say with any certainty what the impact was.

 

[Bloodstone Press]

The other thought is a book similar to "Monte Cook Presents: The Year's Best d20", but only for d20 material from the best of the best in PDFs only. You could even go so far as to provide several of the PDFs (or all, if the various designers agree) on CD-ROM, along with the print book. The CD-ROM would also include product catalogs detailing the designers other products (as well as links to their websites) and details on the easiest ways to purchase PDFs online.

I think that's a good idea.

It could even be something that RPGnow/Minion Development does as a way to promote its publishers and the PDF market, rather than one particular publisher becoming the lightning rod for criticism (along the lines of "Who does this guy think he is" and "Look at him cashing in on other people's hard work" and "I can't believe how biased his selection is".).

 

[Conaill]

Hmm... How about a yearly "best of the Ennies" collection, perhaps? Only based on material volunteered by the publishers, and the proceeds go to next year's Ennies organization and awards.

That would get around both the "biased selection" and "cashing in on other people's hard work" objections...