Trust me, both Clark and Mike are 100% dead on correct. I will add in my
own experience in a related field.. online trading card games. I am one of
the recent new owners of the game Sanctum (mandatory plug:
www.digitaladdiction.com) after we bought out the company (Digital
Addiction). There are 7 of us.. 1 Sys Admin, 2 Marketting folks, 1 Treasurer
(me), 2 coders, and one guy with a lot of business experience in non-related
products, but he is smart. In 3 months, we have cleared a total of $3k,
have each dedicated about 50-60hrs a week to get it rolling and keeping it
from falling apart, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.. My wife is
patient, understanding and usually tired of my 'hobby'. We are set up as a
non-profit corporation, shielding us from legal liability, etc, and we
recieve no payment. We are operating as an NPO as we are promoting online
gaming, etc.. and allowing 'new coders' to donate time to get published,
etc. My point of this rambling is that we have placed everything we each
collectively had to spare on the line for something we believe in.. win or
lose, we come out the wiser and perhaps better, but it has not been easy, as
both Mike and Clark surely have stories to validate. If you want to publish,
by all means, go for it, and make sure.. not just sort of, but 100% sure you
are willing to dedicate the time and effort to make the best damn product
you can. If you don't, everyone who buys your product will know. And worse,
so will you..
Rob 'Grok' Lowry
CFO, Non-Profit Int'l Online Gaming Association
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clark Peterson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2001 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: [ogf-d20-l] Publishing Reality
> 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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