This is a Kickstarter for a multi-edition adventure:
//www.kickstarter.com/projects/270273121/ryubix-manor-madness-betrayal-murder-vengeance-fam
I decided to back this based on the rather witty Kickstarter video, and received the preview PDF as a result. I'm happy to report it looks like just my kind of thing. It's a fine old-school style haunted mansion "dungeon". Nice touches include the descriptions of wandering monsters, which are thus much more interesting than just the usual random lists. There are character descriptions of the "inhabitants", and the map and room descriptions are nice and clear and not over-long. The layout is also very clear, although I don't know whether the final layout will be further refined. This is the sort of thing that makes running a game from a published adventure easy, with everything easy to find at a glance.
22 days left to go, though and it still needs more backers. Get ye backing, old-schoolers! My use will be in playtesting the higher levels of my BLUEHOLME™ Compleat Rules.
I sense a Tegel Manor/Castle Amber vibe...
Does the preview PDF confirm this?
Hmmm, on the one hand, that looks pretty cool.
OTOH, the preview is what sold me on Dwimmermount. If you can make a fancy preview, why do you need a KS?
Indeed, if it's completed, why go to a local printer to have it printed? Slap it up on RPGNow or Lulu.
Two good questions:
For Dirke:
Ryubix Manor began life 30 years ago as my own vision of Tegel Manor. Having grown up in Central Florida with plenty of trips to Disney's Haunted Mansion, the concept of a huge haunted funhouse struck a chord with me, and JG's Manor is the ultimate example of that. What I wanted for myself, though, was more backstory, history, and continuity--an internal consistency that a funhouse, no matter how incredible, wouldn't be able to provide. I wanted Steven King's Overlook Hotel, but in a D&D setting. So I broke out the Brother Electric typewriter, put on Pink Floyd's Meddle CD, and started writing.
That first 35 pages of correction-tape covered module grew by fits and starts over the next thirty years until it reached its current and final form. Does it have a Tegel Manor vibe? They're both haunted houses. They both feature magic portraits. They both contain all the haunted house denizens you would expect, but are they the same experience? No. The reason I put the preview up for Backers at any level was to answer this very question. The GM Notes and Personality Section should make it clear that this is something deeper.
I put countless hours into crafting Ryubix Manor, and I want my Backers to be satisfied with their investment. Pledge a dollar, download the preview--if you're not convinced, cancel the pledge.
For Jeremy:
"OTOH, the preview is what sold me on Dwimmermount. If you can make a fancy preview, why do you need a KS?"
—Are you referring to my 90 second Power Point presentation, or the first 25 pages of the module? The KS video was a creative (I thought) way to show potential Backers that yes, this was a haunted house adventure, and to show some of the maps they'd be using. Since I don't consider the video to be fancy by any charitable definition of the word, I'll assume you're talking about the first third of the Manor I'm releasing to Backers. I didn't 'make' the preview, I'm simply giving Backers the first part of the module as a preview of what to expect for their pledge. If they like what they see, I know they'll be happy with the whole product.
Why KS?
—As the author of Ryubix Manor, my opinion of the module is obviously biased. I think it's the cat's meow. I want to see it in print. I want to hold a copy of it in my hand. I want others to have a copy, too. That's my dream. There is a cost involved to make that dream come true. ISBN numbers, printing, layout, technical editing—these things are not free. I'm a working stiff with a family, not a corporate games manufacturer making profit with a pipeline of products. Kickstarter is the perfect medium to promote a dream like mine—the public will decide if what I'm offering is worth the expense, or not. I'll know in 20 days or so, won't I?
"Indeed, if it's completed, why go to a local printer to have it printed? Slap it up on RPGNow or Lulu."
Again, these sites do not offer their services pro bono, there are again costs involved. My wife is a Director of Publications for a company based in the UK. She's done her research, and told me this was the better way. If you are interested in the intricacies of her cost analysis of KS vs RPGNow/Lulu, contact me for her email address. (Personally, I just smile and nod—she's my wife, after all)
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Thanks,
Vince
Is it cube-shaped?
Quote from: Maeglyn;728733Again, these sites do not offer their services pro bono, there are again costs involved. My wife is a Director of Publications for a company based in the UK. She's done her research, and told me this was the better way. If you are interested in the intricacies of her cost analysis of KS vs RPGNow/Lulu, contact me for her email address. (Personally, I just smile and nod—she's my wife, after all)
A Kickstarter is definitely needed if you haven't already commissioned and paid for art.
If you already invested that cost then the question is valid. "Why are you using the kickstarter to pay for a traditional print run?" Why are you getting an ISBN?
Lets look at your kickstarter numbers.
You are printing a full color 100 page book. 96 module plus the four pages of the map as RPGNow doesn't have an option for a poster map.
I am go with letter size standard color. My map is in color although the interior mostly b/w. This will have the added advantage of allowing the b/w art to print in true grayscale rather than being dithered.
So the cost for a 100 page standard color book on RPGNow is $3.76
You plan to sell the book plus map for $25. Because you don't have a poster map lets cut it down to $20.
So $20 - $3.76 - $0.25 (RPGNow cost) = 15.99 profit per book. If you signed a non-exclusive with RPGNow, you get 65% of that.
Yup pay about $7 to get a book shipped to you to make sure it prints the way you expect.
Finally assume that the 48 kickstarter backers have already bought the book. Which means you take home $498.88 at this point.
You still have to pay the $225 Technical/Copy Editing cost . Leaving you with $273.88 in profit.
You have $273.88 dollars in your pocket after 48 book sales instead being $425 in the hole after a funded Kickstarter. Not only you have that profit every added sales just piles on top of it. And your fulfillment cost is limited to answering the occasional email.
With all due respect to your wife a print run is not a good strategy for a first time independent author in the RPG industry. You will be in the hole after it completed with no certainty of additional sales recouping your costs of $2,500 (ISBN plus printing). It may be what works for other types of books but that not the case for RPG books.
Don't get me wrong, I hope you prove me wrong and succeed.
Here are examples from my own sales which have been moderately successful for an OSR publisher.
For example in Scourge of the Demon Wolf, a adventure/source book sold 200 copies over its first year. I made $916.81, I paid $200 for the art plus $14 for two proofs for a net of $702.81. Of course I did the cartography, layout, and exchanged labor for the editing.
As a rules supplement Majestic Wilderlands is going to be more popular. It first year was 414 copies with revenues coming to me of $1907.69 of which I paid $150 for stock art. Did my own cartography, layout, and bartered for editing.
My last product Blackmarsh is a special case as the PDF was free. I made 76 print sales for a total of $129.41. But on the other hand I had 2,048 downloads which was the point of the release.
Hi Estar:
You draw a compelling argument for the use of DrivethruRPG, and you pose an interesting question as to why I would want an ISBN number. I'll explain the need for an ISBN first, because it ties directly to POD sites such as Drivethru.
This information pulled directly from the following site: http://www.isbn-us.com/faqs/
What is an ISBN and how is it used?
ISBN stands for "International Standard Book Number". It is a unique identifier for books, eBooks, tapes, and CD's. The ISBN numbering system is used worldwide and publishers around the globe identify their work in this standardized format. Each title or edition must be identified by a unique ISBN. In essence, the ISBN number for books is similar to a license plate which guarantees that each book type product is identified uniquely.
Do I have to have an ISBN?
From the point of view of the international ISBN system there is no legal requirement to have an ISBN and it conveys no legal or copyright protection. However, both brick/mortar and online book sellers in the US require ISBN identification.
In short, an ISBN registers your work internationally, allowing you to sell your work anywhere (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kay-Bee Toys, etc)
RPGDrivethru uses LSI as their printer, who (per their site) requires any ISBN to be removed from a manuscript to be printed:
"No. In fact, even if you do have an ISBN, we ask that you remove it from the cover file that you upload. When you use the Cover Template Generator on Lightning Source's website, it will require you to enter an ISBN. Simply enter all zeroes (i.e., 000-0-0000-0000-0) for the ISBN. On the cover template you receive, delete the bar code and leave the bar code area a as blank white box on the cover file that you upload to us."
The company my wife works for happens to use LSI for distribution in international markets. When she read this, she was rather shocked, as LSI insists that the ISBN be entered for printing (and tracking purposes) for ALL manuscripts her company publishes through them. Her company's sales through LSI are tracked by ISBN—it is the first piece of information LSI require for any inquiry. I am in no way suggesting any dark and mysterious doings here, obviously RPGDrivethru--as a third party middleman between you and LSI—has their own tracking system for prints and sales. This is what my wife does for a living, though, and if she says an ISBN is an important part of the publishing process, I defer to her judgment.
Your personal examples of POD and PDF sales are impressive. It's obvious that you are successful at what you do, and that you're able to supplement your income doing something you love (Insert the envious look of your choice here). I don't see myself in that light—publishing Ryubix Manor has consumed the great majority of my free time for the last six months, and if the KS is successful, will continue to do so for months afterwards. Suffice it to say I'm not quitting my day job to write game material any time soon! I do, however, want to use one of your examples to explain one of the advantages in using Kickstarter to present Ryubix Manor.
You state that Scourge of the Demon Wolf sold 200 copies over the course of a year—if those sales had been Backers through a Kickstarter, this is how the numbers would have played out:
• 200 backers at $15 = $3000
• 250 print run at $3.60 = $900 (this would be my cost, as I live 45 minutes from the printer, and am not paying S&H to my home address)
• 200 envelopes at $1.09 = $218 (This cost does not reflect bulk purchase, this is the 'big box' price per unit)
• 200 mailings at $2.90 = $580 (Assuming U.S. delivery—these are all generalizations, of course)
• ISBN $200 (one for PDF, one for bound copy)
• Art= $200
• Total outlay: $2098
That's $902 clear as opposed to $702.81, including 50 additional copies which could be sold on Amazon, to your local game shop, at GenCon-anywhere you desired with that ISBN-at a 30% discount to resellers, for another $525 to you. Yes, you might never sell those additional copies, but judging from the popularity of your work so far, I don't believe it would be an issue.
I, on the other hand, will probably take a bath on the Manor, but I knew this from the start. I state quite clearly in my Kickstarter that my funding goal would not cover my estimated costs:
"Yes, the total is more than my stated goal. I've been crafting this module over the course of several years for my own personal satisfaction, and is a labor of love. My dream is to publish it. How can I ask you to back me if I'm not willing to back myself?"
"The difference between my stated goal and the final cost is well within my means, and a small price to pay to see this project succeed."
You've asked me, 'Why Kickstarter?" Because the last 11 days have been the most exciting, stressful, intense days you can imagine. I jumped off the deep end with this project, and 48 other people jumped in with me! Kickstarter is a personal leap of faith for everyone involved, not an act of prudence.
Vince
Forgive me, Pundit. I realize I'm answering the last two posts out of order, but it seemed only sensible to answer the easy question first, and save the tough one for last.
I considered a cubed Manor, but the thought of color coding all those rooms made me dizzy--just call me an old square...
just my two centavos,
Vince
You raise some good points and some my reply is going to boil down to different approaches for different folks.
Quote from: Maeglyn;729198In short, an ISBN registers your work internationally, allowing you to sell your work anywhere (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kay-Bee Toys, etc)
RPGDrivethru uses LSI as their printer, who (per their site) requires any ISBN to be removed from a manuscript to be printed:
....
The company my wife works for happens to use LSI for distribution in international markets. When she read this, she was rather shocked,
...
Her company's sales through LSI are tracked by ISBN—it is the first piece of information LSI require for any inquiry.
The difference is indeed because RPGNow is handling fulfillment. There is a spectrum of publishing services available. The simplest and costliest on a per book basis is create your project as a PoD project on Lulu, RPGNow or Createspace and sell through the storefront they provide you. It is also the least riskiest.
The next step and to use these services as a printer and a distributor. Here RPGNow drops out because all they care about is RPG Books sold through their website. Lulu and Createspace in contrast does offer ISBN support and distribution placement. But it is more costly upfront and initially more risk although not as much as getting a print run and distributing it yourself.
Then for a small publisher the next step beyond that is to get a print run and ISBN and go through the same channels as any other book seller would.
In my experience, for the level that you and I are at in publishing, gamers that buy rpg books on-line go to Lulu and OneBookshelf sites first (RPGNow, ThruDriveRPG).
Now as Goodman Games shown and other top third tier publishers it not a big leap to go from Lulu/RPGNow to Amazon and traditional distribution. But it is a leap none the less. Perhaps when I have some more products under my belt I will do likewise.
When I did the Majestic Wilderlands Supplement I read too many crash and burn stories on people buying print runs and getting burned. I had at most $500 that I could lose on a printing project. Lulu and RPGNow allowed me to come way under $500 and get my project out there. Like you I do this because I love what I write and want to get it out there.
Quote from: Maeglyn;729198That's $902 clear as opposed to $702.81, including 50 additional copies which could be sold on Amazon, to your local game shop, at GenCon-anywhere you desired with that ISBN-at a 30% discount to resellers, for another $525 to you. Yes, you might never sell those additional copies, but judging from the popularity of your work so far, I don't believe it would be an issue.
You absolutely right on your figures. A traditional print run is going to be cheaper with volume discount. Except for one thing, that on top of the labor I already put in I have to responsible for all the storage, shipping, and handling. For the initial run is it worth the extra $200. My answer is no and obviously your answer is yes.
I would like to add that a publisher on Lulu or RPGNow can pay the print cost of the books and hand sell them. I done this for a number of years with local game stores and with the good folks at Black Blade publishing selling my material at Gary Con and North Texas Con.
Again I wish you the best of luck.
They say you can't argue with success, and in essence, that's what I've been doing. Having put so much of myself into this project, even well-meaning advice on an alternative direction was difficult to accept. Someone once described this to me as the 'Calling Your Baby Ugly' syndrome. Thank you for taking the time to point out other options--I've posted a link to this thread in my KS to pass your experience on. I'm still gung ho about my project, so full speed ahead!
Vince
Quote from: Maeglyn;729421so full speed ahead!
Allons-Y!
This is now out on RPGNow.
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/127913/Ryubix-Manor
Anyone have it? Is it any good?