What are we doing wrong

[annadobritt]

Here's what I see going on here:

them: "Why did noone respond to the contest?"
everyone: "We didn't even know there was one. Let's take a look."
them: "I guess we didn't publicise it enough."
me: "Well, maybe it's because the 'zine is poorly edited and doesn't really have interesting content."
them: "We can fix the grammar."
me: "Well, grammar is nice, but the real flaw is the content."
them: "We can fix the grammar."

That's why I keep responding, and why I get more and more frustrated. I don't see that I'm really getting through.

All right, Vaxalon, what sort of content should be in the zine?

Remember, Backara is a low-magic campaign setting.

 

[Xeriar]

All right, Vaxalon, what sort of content should be in the zine?

Remember, Backara is a low-magic campaign setting.

Low-magic campaign settings set in d20 can't rely on guts alone.

Most of the rules expansions that people are interested in actually involve magic, see.

They have to have some serious 'feel' or something else that draws people in for the merit of the world, not the system someone runs it in.

You could probably do a good job with helpful hints and fleshy advice (as in, how to make a city seem real, for example, and so on.)

 

[annadobritt]

I realize that the purpose of the thread is to find out why the number of responses for your competition is low, and that your intention wasn't to invite criticism of the eZine in general. However, it seems that most of us have never read or heard of Backara before this, and that is likely part of the main problem with the competition. Therefore, when you gave us the link to your work, our first inclination was to see what the Herald was all about. Naturally, this led to critiques from first time viewers, including myself. Take what we say with a grain of salt, but also bear in mind that a lot of what we are saying may also shed some light on your competition turnout. I can see that you've all put a lot of work into the Herald. It may not be for everyone's tastes, however.

I understand that, TiQuinn. I'm not taking offense at anything that has been posted here. I just want the Herald to be the best it can be.

 

[Dagger75]

I to have never heard of your site or of the e-zine either. I was going to go to the web site but it was down. I am officially intrigued now though.

 

[annadobritt]

I to have never heard of your site or of the e-zine either. I was going to go to the web site but it was down. I am officially intrigued now though.

Try this link:

http://www.backara.org

 

[alsih2o]

What bothers me more is that the content is so trivial.

this strikes me as weak commentary. i own lots of D+D books, all are trivial. come up with real critique or don't comment.


my $.02

 

[CRGreathouse]

gurgi and annadobritt:

If you'd like some help with the rules/crunchy content and its revision/editing, drop me a line:

crgreathouse@yahoo.com

I can't commit to helping out on a regular basis, but I'd be willing to help get you 'off to a good start', so to speak.

 

[gurgi]

hey we always after new souls,
we also have several big crunchy bits both in work and sitting on shelves. Check out the backara forums for some. The herald will be used more and more for the crunchy bits while the Gazetteer which goes with Temples lore from D20Ezine will focus on the flavour.

Grammar is a problem we are correcting it,

crunchy bits well visit the forums:
http://mortality.net/board/board.php?FID=107
Though next issue of the herald includes reputations and more to the magic system which is what magi and clergy refer to

But the forums also have training rules and over bits other items being developed, modifying G&G rules, fear and sanity of which you may have read the idea collection post in the homebrew forum here.

we are doing crunch and will release more and more however the fact that most didnt know anything about backara here didnt answer the question.

Since a 1000 people had downloaded long before I posted here so why didnt that 1000 enter??

that was the original question and I would as from now on the only question to be answered.

any helpful suggestions, grammar jabs etc etc should be emailed either to herald@backara.co.uk (its up again)
to myself gurgi@backara.co.uk
or anna anna@backara.org

Please remain on topic!!!

 

[Algolei]

I have never entered any contest before, from any magazine or website. That is why I would not have entered, had I in fact remembered to download the second issue (which I have only just done now ).

Sorry.

It's not the prize that's holding me back, it's the fact that I have nothing in mind to contribute. Plus I'm lazy and pessimistic towards all contests that don't involve my particular gifts: Eating and sliding things on sheer ice surfaces (it's true, it's true ). Since you're looking for more participants, and since -- if I'd remembered to download issue 2 -- I would be one of your Regular Readers, I will attempt to come up with a suitable entry. However, I can't promise anything because...well, I suck.

(Is that the kind of information you were looking for? )

 

[gurgi]

many thanks Algolei,
We will see if we can come up with an eating competition on an ice surface

So far the list has been to restrictive or not restrictive enough and worried about not winning.

Afraid I can't do much on the second one but the first we can work with I believe any others?