Kickstarter, anyone?

[Sydius Mendoza]

At the risk of tearing open old scars with so much saltiness around, I would pose the question. Have any of you (esp. Pundit) thought about setting up a kickstarter campaign to help fund a re-print of the ADRPG books, or even a 2nd edition?

I realize there are angry feelings towards the individuals that currently hold the rights as they have done nothing with it. Perhaps you could run a kickstarter to raise funds to buy the rights from them. Just a thought..........................................

 I'll just take a step back before the knives come out shall I?

[RPGPundit]

I think that the "rights" are meaningless at this point, except to print the original Amber RPG books; nothing else is allowed to them. There can be no new edition because Zelazny's ex-wife is delusional and won't allow that without a huge payoff for her; the guys who have the "rights" to the Amber RPG therefore have no real rights to the Setting, and there is no copyright on the System. So all they have the right to do is to print the Amber RPG book exactly like it was originally with no changes.  That's my understanding, if someone else wants to claim something different, and then explain why there isn't in fact a 2e or any possibility of it, please go ahead.

I think at this point, we're better off making all kinds of games and supplements inspired by the Diceless RPG and/or very loosely inspired/influenced by the Amber setting.

RPGPundit

[Panjumanju]

As Pundit says, it's a mess.

The price on Shadow Knight is very low right now, and I've noticed the core book coming down substantially in price lately. It's not nearly as difficult to find one on the Internet now than it was five years ago.

I'm not saying a reprinting isn't needed nor wanted - it is, but with the books on drive thru rpg and the lowered price, they are more accessible.

//Panjumanju

[Sydius Mendoza]

I have copies from drivethru, it would be nice to get printed copies of both books. I'm aware that the estate has been problematic when it comes to new content, which is unfortunate.

I've seen used copies going for 40-50 bucks but to be honest I'm not paying that much for a used book. If all DbD owns is the rights to publish, what is the hold up? Effort, or money? Kickstarter would help if it is a matter of money, less so if they just can't be bothered to put the time in.

[Qwilion]

Since I have a working relationship with Diceless by Design, and I have also used used kickstarter, I have been thinking about this a great deal.

First thing you have to realize is that the PDF on drivethru is a Scan, its not a print ready production file. So the book would have to be relaid out completely using modern tools, and then there is the legal issue of a new printing (an electronic copy is not a new printing).  

Even considering all that its something I would like to pursue, but I want to prove to Diceless by Design what we can do with Lords of Gossamer and Shadow.

That also does not stop me from using kickstarter for Lords of Gossamer and Shadow in some way. (our print run will be handled by Cubicle Seven who publish The One Ring Rpg and the Doctor Who Rpg).

[Sydius Mendoza]

Good deal. It sounds like between LoGaS, and LoO that there is real potential to set off a domino effect. Giving DbD the proof/incentive/whatever to undertake a re-issue of the original source books. Which may, in turn, lead to the RZ estate realizing that there is money to be made, and authorizing a new edition. Or maybe nothing will happen.

[Tahmoh]

I have a spare copy of Amber Diceless if you want it Sydius, drop me a pm with your address and whatnot and i'll see about shipping it your way once i find it(i packed it away along with a ton of other rpg's awhile back to save on space).

[RPGPundit]

Good deal. It sounds like between LoGaS, and LoO that there is real potential to set off a domino effect. Giving DbD the proof/incentive/whatever to undertake a re-issue of the original source books. Which may, in turn, lead to the RZ estate realizing that there is money to be made, and authorizing a new edition. Or maybe nothing will happen.

I'll note for the record that I personally really hope that ends up happening! However, given the track record thus far, I have serious doubts about that coming to pass.

What I DO think could come to pass is that LoGaS becomes a big success, and produces other books; and the open-license for LoO results in a bunch of books for LoO or other games using LoO's system (there are already a couple of guys who've contacted me with ideas of books they want to make which sound really interesting).  So what we'll get is a revival of the Diceless RPG system, if not a revival of Amber itself.
And there's a lot of room in that for some really astounding and creative stuff to happen!

RPGPundit