What happened between green ronin and osseum

[Wulf Ratbane]

Uh, thanks?

That blows, man.

Well, it actually blows worse than that. $6000 is just what I figure Osseum skipped with.

Actual production costs on Slavelords of Cydonia was considerably more than that. That $6000 represented the first few months' sales of that book and a big step towards making Slavelords profitable, instead of a very expensive risk.

I mean, Slavelords was a big risk even without the Osseum meltdown.

My release schedule, however, was so slow--basically one book every quarter-- I can't even begin to imagine what they must have stuck Green Ronin for. I can only extrapolate from my experience, and it's a frightening figure. Over on RPGnet, when this first broke, Nicole mentioned a box set and two big hardbacks. Production cost on those would have approached $50k, I would think. Gross sales figures would have been a HUGE chunk of cash for one guy to just disappear with.

Plus, the GR guys earn their day to day living from this business.

That's sacrifice.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

First time I see anyone smiling as he speaks of losing 6 grand.

My wife's opinion on the matter is probably more in line with what you're imagining.

Thought it's actually safer, where she's concerned, to lose $6000 on a business investment than it is to drop $200 on poker.

Although my time is far more profitable and enjoyable spent sitting at a poker table for 3 hours than sitting at the keyboard for 3 hours-- and frankly, fraught with less risk-- but she doesn't see it that way.

 

[shaylon]

Basically that $6000 was my gift to the hobby I love.

This is terrible to hear. I am sorry that you too were a victim of this Osseum situation.

As for Green Ronin, I know it has been a tough road for them. Last year they did very well at the Ennies, and Pramas spoke a bit about what happened. I got the story from a friend later on, and went a picked up some of their products the next morning in the dealer hall.

It's funny. I am new to the hobby, well actually newly returned after quitting in the middle of the 2E days, and I strictly bought Wotc for the first year or so. It wasn't that I thought 3rd party was bad, it was more that there was so much to choose from that I wasn't certain what would be good to buy. That story got me motivated to buy from GR, and since then I have bought some Malhavoc, FFG, and many other 3rd party pubs. I am so impressed with Green Ronin's products and their attitude towards this whole situation. It is very hard to go through something like this, and I thank Pramas, Nikchick, Kenson, Schwalb, and all the rest for sticking it out and continuing to produce great product. I really love the True20 stuff!

-Shay

 

[Nebulous]

Maybe we'll see the perp on COPS in the near future. Shirtless, cracked out, carrying a dufflebag of loose change and a few gamebooks. Maybe some dice.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I really love the True20 stuff!

Can you tell me about it?

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Maybe we'll see the perp on COPS in the near future. Shirtless, cracked out, carrying a dufflebag of loose change and a few gamebooks. Maybe some dice.

Yeah! And then they can show us what he looked like after the implosion!

 

[Barak]

The whole thing is really weird to me.

I don't mean I don't believe it or anything, mind you.

But.. How much cash can the guy has actually stolen? I understand that the figure must be fairly large, by normal standards.

But.. The guy skipped town, to a degree that a PI can't actually find him. Now, I don't think PIs have magical powers or anything, but, in this day and age, that's pretty hard to do. And it also means that the guy must have cut contact with his family/friends/whatever. I really can't imagine doing that for the amount of money I figure he must have made off with. Of course, it's hard for me to imagine stealing that kind of money in the first place, but -that- I can somewhat fathom.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I don't think anyone actually knows why the guy cut/run though.

Was Osseum itself in a major implosion and he bailed or was it doing fine and he decided to just take the money and run?

 

[Glyfair]

Besides Bad Axe and Green Ronin, who else was burned by them? I know that for a time Bastion's stuff was also distributed through Osseum, but I don't know how or if they were affected.

A google search shows the following companies were dealing with Osseum at some point (not necessarily when the incident happened). It's not necessarily complete, either. Do-or-dice has some products listed under their title, which might have been from other companies.

Bastion Press
Red Spire Press
Thunderhead Games
Green Ronin
Bad Axe Games
Gaslight Press
Mystic Eye Games
LPJ Design (Haven:City of Violence)
Flames Rising
Human Head Studios

(and that's just from the first 3 pages of Google links)

 

[Nebulous]

This is actually the first i've heard about this. It does suck for all parties involved. My cops post was in jest of course, but people with drug addictions have been known to do completely unreasonable things. Of course, that's entirely speculation.