Here is a different publishing reality:
Bill Webb and I started Necromancer Games a short
while ago. We didnt know shit about the industry. We
dont know any names in the industry. When someone said
Chris Pramas had a d20 company I said "who?"
I asked the same stupid quesitons you did. A year ago
I didnt know an .eps file from my elbow. I didn't know
what c1s or 10 point stock or 3 color process. I found
that people were kind enough to answer my stupid
questions and people will answer yours.
I knew of a place called Wargames West so I called
information and got their number. I asked them about
carrying my upcoming products (of which I had none).
They laughed and then referred me to Eric Rowe at the
Wizard's Attic. That was the best thing that could
have happened to me.
I also had a website up. Based on the fact that my web
site gave the impression I was serious, Eric decided
to represent me.
I got lucky and out of the blue Steve Wieck called me
and wanted to hook up. I was at the right place at the
right time.
If I had taken Mikes advice there would be no
Necromancer Games. And we are doing well. In fact, if
we never put out another product and never made
another dollar we would have been a huge success.
I dont mean to disagree with Mike. I think he is right
in many respects. New d20 companies need to set
realistic goals. I think the unfortunate truth is that
new companies that dont have product out yet have
already missed the boat. My guess is few new ones will
survive the glut that is coming by this summer. But I
dont know. I see retailiers getting burned ordering
too much d20 stuff and having it not move like they
thought and then backing away from new companies
without names.
So keep that in mind.
Plus, you need to understand what you are getting in
to. This is for most people a labor of love. Long
hours after you come home from your day job. Pissing
off your wife or "significant other." Lots of expense
up front. No pay off for a while. No real promise of a
bright future.
You need to decide what is your market--your local
game store, your city or state, your half of the US,
or international. Print or electronic media? How many
products do you want to release? Do you have material
ready to put out? How much will you put out? What will
it be? How much cash can you raise to cover all the up
front costs. It better be in the neighborhood of
$5000, at a minimum ($3000 to print your first 3000
copies of the first product and $2000 for expenses for
all the shit you will need).
Nothing beats a business plan.
But the flip side is that there is nothing cooler than
the energy of starting your own business. It is all
yours and you are responsible for its successes and
failures. That is cool.
So ask your questions. If you decide not to do it,
great. But dont be scared away.
Remember, Origins awards dont mean shit. Resumes of
writers dont mean shit. That only matters if the
content is crap because people will buy crap from a
recognized name. The key is quality. Put out quality
product with professional production values and your
stuff will sell. Dont skimp on the quality of the
printing, paper, artist, etc to save money. Your first
offering is your calling card.
Bill and I are two gamers who had the same dream you
have and with not a lick of experience in the "game
industry." Look where we are now. If you would have
told me I could make the money we have made in two
months selling D&D modules I would have told you to
drop the crack pipe. Not to mention the sheer geeky
joy of knowing that we have published stuff we
created.
I do very much agree with his closing comment. Go to
your game store. Ask yourself if you can match what
Atlas or Green Ronin or Necromancer does. If you say
yes, go for it.
But if you are going to do it you better get moving.
There will be a glut of product this summer. And the
retailers that carry everything now wont want to then
because they will have the luxury of waiting and
seeing and relying on d20 stuff they know will sell.
In any event, my bottom line is this: we did it. You
can too. Just know what you are getting into before
you do. Ask the dumb questions. If I hadnt, I wouldnt
be writing this email.
Clark Peterson
Total Game Industry Outsider
President of Necromancer Games
=====
http://www.necromancergames.com
"3rd Edition Rules, 1st Edition Feel"
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