Trying out a super-sale

[Mark]

Why seek exclusion?

That's my own opinion as well but I can see how a lot of newer publishers would be helped a great deal by picking up the E-Publishing Guide. It's the difference between telling someone what they must do and telling them what they should do. No matter how good it is for them, I am loathe to do it.

 

[d20Dwarf]

First, why? I was still potentially just off the turnip truck. The book could just as easily been complete garbage as it could have been a masterpiece. There's no way I could guarentee it was not the former based on reputation.

Second, for money? Without another publisher? That would have been a nightmare I would not have tolerated. And would not have done it. Without RPGNow, there would be no Joe's Book of Enchantment. Now that I'm "IN", I see no reason to raise the bar of entry on those who follow me. Who knows when Who's Book of Whatnot will come out and wow us all.

Why seek exclusion?

You can keep being egalitarian, but I'm more interested in growing the pdf market so those in it can make money. Jim's Book of Jack Crap can still be produced, all we're advocating is a more focused, quality controlled venue for selling...a revamped RPG Now. There's no Constitutional right to be e-published.

 

[V_Shane]

You can keep being egalitarian, but I'm more interested in growing the pdf market so those in it can make money. Jim's Book of Jack Crap can still be produced, all we're advocating is a more focused, quality controlled venue for selling...a revamped RPG Now. There's no Constitutional right to be e-published.

OT: but it relates (in my case anyway), nearly all music/MP3 sites that host indie music require an annual fee AFTER they review your work. It may slim down the masses, but it certainly controls submissions (reviewing is free with comments) and really makes people think about doing they're best. Jame's suggestion is pretty minimal to the overall cost and effort being put into what one is doing. It saves alot of headaches, knowing the ropes before swinging out into the jungle.

 

[jmucchiello]

OT: but it relates (in my case anyway), nearly all music/MP3 sites that host indie music require an annual fee AFTER they review your work. It may slim down the masses, but it certainly controls submissions (reviewing is free with comments) and really makes people think about doing they're best. Jame's suggestion is pretty minimal to the overall cost and effort being put into what one is doing. It saves alot of headaches, knowing the ropes before swinging out into the jungle.

Except that James is not reviewing any material. You buy the publishing book, you still get to sell Crap. If a service including review was included that would be different. This is a just an arbitary barrier to entry. Why not also require proof of purchase of a copy of the Chicago Manual of Style?

You can keep being egalitarian, but I'm more interested in growing the pdf market so those in it can make money. Jim's Book of Jack Crap can still be produced, all we're advocating is a more focused, quality controlled venue for selling...a revamped RPG Now.

So how does buying the e-publishing book improve the typoes and bad mechanics in the books? This is not about quality. Buying the e-pub book only tells you how to avoid mistakes that cost the publisher money, not how to avoid mistakes that cost the consumer money. If you are trying to grow a market then you want to improve the consumer's experience with the market. The e-pub guide does nothing to accomplish this.

 

[RangerWickett]

How are you supposed to misspell 'typos'?

 

[Fast Learner]

How are you supposed to misspell 'typos'?

My friends and I always refer to them as "tyops" when corresponding electronically... it's much funnier.

 

[rpghost]

Except that James is not reviewing any material. You buy the publishing book, you still get to sell Crap.

I thought I had mentioned this in a vendor update... guess you or I glossed over it.

In 2004, RPGNow _WILL_ be making more of an effort to say "NO" to vendors. It's been very hard in the past as I'm just a nice guy, want to give everyone a chance, don't want to be accused of favortisium, etc... but RPGNow is a store and we plan to run it more like a store this year. This includes more control over what we bother to sell. So this year we WILL be saying no to people (and getting all the hate mail it is bound to generate).

Anyway, I've decided against setting any signup or anual fees at this time as I don't want to give competitors an advantage. I do however wish to ask nicely that people seriously consider the Gold Vendor program and all it has to offer. We do need the extra revenue to maintain a high quality of service and continued enhancements of the system.

James
RPGNow.com

 

[Dana_Jorgensen]

I do however wish to ask nicely that people seriously consider the Gold Vendor program and all it has to offer. We do need the extra revenue to maintain a high quality of service and continued enhancements of the system.

Does this mean you plan to fix the numerous broken features you offer with the gold vendor program?

 

[rpghost]

Does this mean you plan to fix the numerous broken features you offer with the gold vendor program?

Of course. We don't intentially leave anything broken. If something is actually broken and not working we fix it ASAP, just need to be told about it. But if you mean broken in a more loose sense of you not getting value out of the tool, that's another store. We always welcome the input... we have a TO-DO list... just be specific about the issue and offer suggestions for fixes and we'll do our best.

James

 

[JoeCrow]

In 2004, RPGNow _WILL_ be making more of an effort to say "NO" to vendors. It's been very hard in the past as I'm just a nice guy, want to give everyone a chance, don't want to be accused of favortisium, etc... but RPGNow is a store and we plan to run it more like a store this year. This includes more control over what we bother to sell. So this year we WILL be saying no to people (and getting all the hate mail it is bound to generate).

So, got a rough idea of what your criteria for vendor suitability might be? Just wondering, since I might be joining the ranks later this year.