Quote from: Mistwell;1135003Shmoozing with people absolutely gets you more freelance jobs. We call it networking these days, but whatever you want to call it, drinking with people after hours will in fact get you more freelance jobs no matter your talent level.

I've got friends in high end sales. "Booze and schmooze" gets you contacts, sales, jobs and promotions. Why? People get to know each other on a more human, less corporate level and its 1000% natural that you want to engage more with people you consider fun and feel you know more personally.

Quote from: Zalman;1135090This is humorous, though I can't figure out why a Scandinavian map is being used here to lambaste Americans.

I only recommend lambasting Razor 007.

Quote from: shuddemell;1135072Having known Owen for quite awhile, I would say it's symptomatic of his generation in a way. He, and many like him, are prone to Utopian thinking. In that if they imagine it can be so, it should be so. However reality doesn't really track that way. He mentions being chided for his weight online, and while that is unkind and rude, it's not surprising considering that he is morbidly obese. That's a statement of fact, but once again in his utopian ideal, you'll never be challenged for your failings, and only be lauded for your successes and accepted for everything else, whether in your control or not. I don't say this to get down on Owen, because he is a good person and excellent creator, but it is a sad reality for many that find the world doesn't live up to their unrealistic ideals. I am not even saying we shouldn't try and do better, but it is pointless to become bitter at reality, and then again, that may be why a "make believe" hobby appeals so much to some people.

These are all good points.

I think it's particularly difficult for many Americans to grasp that their nation stands on the edge of utter failure. This has nothing to do with LBM (that's a minor symptom) and everything to do with a failed economy that has been completely hollowed out - and then an illusion that "all is well" has been created by unlimited debt funding mindless consumption. (My own country is about a decade away from the same place.)

Owen is a seriously talented guy. There is no doubt about that. And being mocked his weight - especially when he's American and thus statistically likely to be obese or worse - is mindless cruelty. That said, 200-odd kgs or 400+ lbs is a level of morbid obesity where he is effectively committing suicide. That makes even less sense if he doesn't have a job providing health cover (or however this works in the USA). That's another poor lifestyle choice. It's also none of my business. However, how do you find another job when your sheer size means that, in many workplaces, you are a safety risk? Will health insurers even cover you?

As I posted at ENWorld, "get a haircut and get a real job." And, yes, "haircut" is code for something else. I wish him every success at turning his life around and living a life that is more healthy and fulfilling.

You final point about the attractiveness of a "make believe" hobby really sums up the problem.

Quote from: Spinachcat;1135146I've got friends in high end sales. "Booze and schmooze" gets you contacts, sales, jobs and promotions. Why? People get to know each other on a more human, less corporate level and its 1000% natural that you want to engage more with people you consider fun and feel you know more personally.

Do I trust you?

Once you reach certain levels in business life, it's all about trust. Do I trust you? Why is the old school tie network (or its equivalent) so powerful? Because it's about having reservoirs of trust.

I don't drink so I have had to come up with alternatives to the booze'n'schmooze culture (fortunately, most of my adult life has been in Asia so I learned basic singing techniques so that karaoke is not embarrassing for me), but these sorts of extra-curricular activities are all about building trust and, if you pardon the expression, esprit de corps. This is even more important in the current cancel culture and faggotocracy where anything you say can and will be used against you.

If you want to make money in RPGs, don't become a staffer or freelance writer. The only reason to be those is to live in the fantasy that you're somehow an "RPG industry professional" and independent writers/publishers aren't. But they're going to be making more money than you.  Assuming they're actually talented of course, which is another reason some people go the other way.

Quote from: VisionStorm;1135002I'm pretty sure it's that thing on top of Australia.

Wait a minute... where's Australia? Is it that gigantic blob below Europe? :confused:

em... off topic... but thats Indonesia and New Guinea above Australia.

New Zeeland should be a large boot-shaped landmass to the south east of Australia. Its actually not on the map.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1136643If you want to make money in RPGs, don't become a staffer or freelance writer. The only reason to be those is to live in the fantasy that you're somehow an "RPG industry professional" and independent writers/publishers aren't. But they're going to be making more money than you.  Assuming they're actually talented of course, which is another reason some people go the other way.

whoooo boy have I seen this one many a time over on BGG. "You are only a "hobbyist" if you self published your game. You arent a "real professional" like us."

Quote from: Omega;1136700whoooo boy have I seen this one many a time over on BGG. "You are only a "hobbyist" if you self published your game. You arent a "real professional" like us."

BGG is garbage. Noticed how 9/10 users carry "game designer" badges?
Just like Pundit said, if you're good you make money. While I match all criteria
of a industry professional, I rather stick around with the general public because I don't let my skills get to my head.
Where are the haters now? Once they saw those dtrpg medals stacking up they went under their rocks, never to be seen again.

It used to be that at least there were a lot of very talented designers who did work for big companies, back when that was viable and talent was catered to. Even back then, you had people with no real talent or ability who got off on the second-hand prestige of being associated with guys who actually could design that worked for some of the same companies. But now, anyone who has any real ability is going to be making more money producing their own stuff.

Quote from: RPGPundit;1138399It used to be that at least there were a lot of very talented designers who did work for big companies, back when that was viable and talent was catered to.

Those guys have been working for videogame companies for at least the last 25 years.
AFAICs the talented designers in TTRPGs now are all doing it as a labour of love, usually as a hobby, and aren't in the employment of a TTRPG publisher.

Quote from: S'mon;1138423Those guys have been working for videogame companies for at least the last 25 years.
AFAICs the talented designers in TTRPGs now are all doing it as a labour of love, usually as a hobby, and aren't in the employment of a TTRPG publisher.

Thank you. Some people still claim to make a living off of it. Thought I was going crazy for a sec.

From my perspective lots of color art in an RPG book is a gamble.  The right, good color art is a huge selling point. The wrong, bad color art costs almost as much, drives the final cost of the book up almost as much--and often indicates editor or director or management issues that likely also contribute to problems in the text.  Though I suspect that most color art is somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.  Which says to me that the decision to use color art is one that needs to be considered carefully, and then you either go all in to do it right or you don't do it at all.  It's a swan dive off the 10 m diving platform.  Your landing choices are mostly correct or mostly face plant.

But what do I know--most of the color art choices that make it into print leave me cold and are thus a huge negative price point consideration when I go to purchase.  That is, the art is not only not inspiring, it's an actual detriment to my enjoyment of the game.  Maybe where my imagination goes with the text is so weird that the color artist can't hit it.  Something like the image you have of the character in your head is nothing like the actor selected for the role when they make the film.

My advice would be to spend as much as you need on cover art (the more unique the better)
Not so much on layout, and a fair amount in between. You don't need to have illustrations on every single page!
I normally put one or two on every 4 pages, depending whether it belongs there or not.

My free piece of advice for 2020...