Well, I might as well ask for some advice.

[Fiery James]

Well, you told me something invaluable. This is not the way to make money. In fact, this is the way to waste time that could be put to good use in doing something that might make some money sometime, such as writing short fiction or novels. Probably, I should just view my campaign setting as being the background material from which to develop said short stories and novels (or at least some of them). I shouldn't waste another penny on the damn thing, because if a 4 year-old-company with 30 products is losing money, then I'm NEVER going to be able to do it on my own.

I think I'm going to end up like one of those old farmers who pieces together 1 income out of 230 different activities. And clearly, spending 11 months and $12,000 trying to break into the game industry was not one of the ways that I'm going to get my income up $16,000 this coming year (which is what I need to get married).

Well, back to the drawing board ... or should I say, the hamburger flipping.

Well, it's not a sure-fire way to make money, that's for sure.

But there is something else to it, something that's at the core of why FDP is still around: it keeps us sane.

Our "real" jobs are stressful, kids and families keep us busy, everyday life is crazy.

But Fiery Dragon makes us happy. Sometimes products make a decent return, sometimes the return is minimal. But, it always makes us happy, and that has to count for something.

If you're looking at a way to raise money for a wedding, publishing RPG material is not it. This is what I'd do: release it as a PDF (lowering your physical production costs) and pimp it online any chance you get. Sell it for $10 or $12 a copy. Maybe you'll sell 1, maybe you'll sell 30, but it'll get you some cash and you don't have to pay for printing up front.

Then, I'd grab a second job, work extra hours, sell everything you don't really really need on Ebay or at a garage sale, budget, tighten the belt, and save save save. Sixteen grand is a lot of money to come up with, but it's possible in "the real world".

And then, after you're happily married, go back to rpg stuff at night. Create some more sourcebooks. Release them as PDFs -- don't worry about print. People sometimes think that print is the key to the big cash, but it's also the quickest way to build up debt.

Keep writing, though, 'cause it keeps your creative juices flowing. But, figure out what your goal is and focus on that. If it's raising money to get married, then raise enough money to have the wedding your fiance deserves, and enjoy!

(I tried to weave some positive things into that cynical diatribe. It's been a rough week, and my "real" job is uncertain -- once again -- so I'm a little jaded today. Read all of the positive stuff twice to make up for the negatives.)

Best of luck on the wedding. Sometimes, I wish that I'd win the lottery, 'cause then I could create rpg stuff full-time without a care. But the truth is, with my wife and kids, I'm already pretty much the luckiest guy I know, so I can't really expect more, can I? Give the lottery to some guy who's alone and poor -- I'll take my life any day.

(Thanks! This thread has become therapy for me today)

- James

 

[Great Mastiff Games]

Many thanks for the kind words, James ... and I did read the positive parts twice .

The PDF is probably the best idea of all -- close to zero costs, maybe a bit of profit. Would that be something that could be sold on rpgshop.com too?

 

[annadobritt]

Print books sold at RPGShop.com and pdfs sold at RPGNow . RPGNow also has POD (Print on Demand) for books. They do a very nice job, too.

 

[jmucchiello]

I use godaddy.com for hosting. Whenever I"ve called tech support (and that hasn't been often), the person on the phone was knowledgable, not some lowlevel flunky.

You want to make money writing? What planet are you from? Only the extremely lucky earn an independent living writing. You have to do it for love, not money.

 

[Great Mastiff Games]

...

 

[Scribe Ineti]

You want to make money writing? What planet are you from? Only the extremely lucky earn an independent living writing. You have to do it for love, not money.

I think that should read "Only the extremely determined earn an independent living writing."

There's no luck involved in writing. You write, then you find a way to sell the writing, whether it's getting an agent, submitting to publishers and magazines and contests and so on, or self-publishing. If you have talent enough to write a good story, someone somewhere will buy it. You just have to be determined, and patient, and do your research.

I agree that most self-publishing writers, RPG or otherwise, should do it for the love of writing or the love of game design; not for money. RPGs are the wrong industry to get into for quick $$.

Good luck!

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I wont bother repeating what everyone has said.

Send the Enworld reviewers some copies, It will take a few weeks but eventually it will be reviewed.

Enter the ennies 05.

 

[Wycen]

I will also suggest getting in contact with D20 Filtered, and getting them a preview or copy for review. You can find out more about D20 Filtered at: http://www.silven.com/publishing/productlines.asp?case=d20filtered

And another place to contact, they were offering free advertising awhile ago, is http://www.intrepidheroes.com/modernized.htm

And certainly post news here at ENWorld, RPG.net, mortality.net and even 3rdedition.org. Each of these websites has forums which are friendly to posting announcements about new gaming products. Gamingreport.com and ENworld have front page news you can submit so that people don't have to click through to read various forums. (I know I'm missing other sites, please feel free to post and remind us ).

And for those wanting to know more about ACROHELION here's a review: http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10679.phtml

 

[exile]

Man, reading all of this maks me want to cry. I feel so bad for you for sinking that much money into a first-time publishing attempt to pay for your wedding, especially since it sounds like getting married is really more important to you than ublishing the setting.

I don't know much about PDFs, but that sounds like the way to go as far as selling the product you've already got. As for more product, it's fine to keep writing (if you have the time), but that time would probably be better spent working a second job per James' suggestion. I certainly wouldn't focus on supplements as a way to raise money for the wedding.

By the way (and I know weddings can be expensive), but why don't you look at doing something less expensive than 16,000. Several friends of mine have been maried on a shoestring (an inexpensive pawnshap enagement ring for one couple, a justice of the peace with just myself and another friend as teh wedding party/witnesss, followed by a dinner at Outback).

Whatever comes of it all, good luck to you.

Chad

 

[Cergorach]

By the way (and I know weddings can be expensive), but why don't you look at doing something less expensive than 16,000. Several friends of mine have been maried on a shoestring (an inexpensive pawnshap enagement ring for one couple, a justice of the peace with just myself and another friend as teh wedding party/witnesss, followed by a dinner at Outback).

I've been told that certain parts of a coke can, can also serve as a wedding ring, a drunken captain can wed you on a barge, expensive parties are not a requirement for a wedding. ;-)