Friday, October 31, 2008

[Obsidian Twilight] Support the cause!!!

I have been trying to get the word out there for support for Obsidian Twilight, and it has been going well. We have had a large increase in traffic to the blog with more and more people interested to learn more and wanting to get involved with the setting. So I have decided to ask you fans and supporters to help spread the message. We have created two different banners at each with two different banners (728 x 90 pixels & 469 x 60 pixels) that you can download and use at your website, blogs, signatures or where ever you want. I hope you will take a few seconds out of you busy schedule and download these banners and use them as often as you can. Even with all I am doing with getting the word out there for Obsidian Twilight Patron Project, I am going to need your help to make it a success.

So if you can help, please do. Thanks! Go here is your link to download: http://www.lpjdesign.com/downloads/OTBanners.zip

Samuel L Jackson is Sho’nuff in The Last Dragon Remake

Read it here!!!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Third writer for Obsidian Twilight Announced!!!

OK here is someone that I have not work with for a while due to his busy schedule writing for such great RPG companies as Skortched Urf Studios. Chris Field is going to add his special spin on Obsidian Twilight adding some incredible disturbing evil prestige classes to the setting. If you are a fan of Nicolas Logue, then Chris Field is right in the same ballpark. So if you wanted some scary and disturbing stuff in this setting, Chris will bring it to you. Talk to you later…

PS: Make sure you vote in our Obsidian Twilight Patron Project Poll.

Vote in the Obsidan Twilight Patron Project Poll!

Look over to you right on this screen and vote! Thanks!

Does Obsidian Twilight need an Adventure Path?

Here is a intersting question, should Obsidian Twilight have an Adventure Path, or in our case a Sidetrek Adventure Weekly?

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Downey, Jr. Re-Ups With Marvel -- 2 More 'Iron Man' Films & 'The Avengers'

Read more here!!!

Obsidian Twilight: Second Project writer signed

Well it should come as NO SUPRISE that my second project writer is the very own Joshua Cole. Joshua Cole worked very hard with me on NeoExodus: A House Divided. Joshua is my "race correction guy"; when ever I come up with a crazy idea for a race, Joshua actually makes the races playable for games. (I can get a little crazy at times about what I want to create). Right now I told Joshua about some of the initial ideas I have for the races of Obsidian Twilight like the Osirians and the Hallowed, and we are now thinking over the actual gaming mechanics. I came up with a good gaming mechanic in the shower (All my great ideas come to me when I am in the bathroom) so I have to make sure it goes to the right race. Just 4 more races to go.

We also have another solid "YES" from another writer, who will be named later. I plan to have him work on the Obsidian Twilight Prestge Classes (Let's just say, for a setting this freaky, he was born to write for this.)

Also another major announcement: As I stated on the Paizo Messageboard: "Well I have made a decision that I will have NO ANIMAL HEADED HUMANOID RACES!!!! No Wolf-men, bird-men zebra-men or whatever. None of it!!! So now you have to think what kind of cool races I am going to make....like the Osirans who can...well you have to wait to see. "

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Obsidian Twilight = A Place Beyond Hell

While I was working on the outline Obsidian Twilight, I began to notice something very interesting and familiar about it. The more I kept writing, the more it began to remind me of something else. I then figured out what it was. Obsidian Twilight began to remind me of another RPG setting I wanted to and planned to write someday. The name of the setting was “A Place Beyond Hell”. I will not go into the WHOLE premise of A Place Beyond Hell, but I best described it as “Undead Nazi Elves in a fantasy setting”. Looks like I will be actually finishing A Place Beyond Hell without even knowing it. Talk to you later…

Monday, October 27, 2008

[LPJDesign] Races of Fantasy: The Demigod released

Louis Porter Jr. Design, in association with Devil’s Workshop, has released its newest supplement line for the worlds most popular role playing game. Here is information on the Races of Fantasy: The Demigod:

Demigods are a race of outcasts, having no civilization or society to call their own. Instead they exist on the fringes of mortal civilization, trying to find a place where they fit in this world while trying to also understand their divine nature. Mortals are almost universally unnerved by Demigods; in educated lands they are treated as curiosities while in more superstitious areas they are often persecuted as bringers of ill fortune. In regions where their divine parent is well regarded they may be honored and celebrated, but most prefer to be thought of as more than their divine parent’s mascot. This leads many Demigods to live a nomadic life, wandering from settlement to settlement as they seek a place in a world that does not seem to want them or treats them as an object of worship. A great new exciting PC race for 4E.

This supplement includes:

  • All the information to play the Demigods as PC Race including Personality and Relations.
  • Over 5 All New Demigods Feats including Blood of the Gods and Burning Radiance
  • Demigod Counters
  • Initiative and Monster Cards
  • Blank Power Cards (At-Will, Encounter and Daily)
  • Magical Item Cards
  • Initiative and Effects Tracker
  • History Sheet
  • Clan / Family Sheet
  • Character Sheet

Written by Written by Lee Hammock. Available Here!

Obsidain Twilight: The graphic design...

I started the work on building what the graphic design of Obsidian Twilight would look like in its final book and PDF format. I have be a graphic designer for 15+ years and this in one of my favorite parts of design. Anyone who looks at a LPJ Design book, knows on sight that it is a LPJ Designed book. There are a lot of thought that goes in on designing something not only to "look pretty" but to envoke a particular emotion. For me, I want Obsidian Twilight to live up tothe two words I have been using to describe it, horror and survival. It is that simple. So here is the first draft of the logo. Nothing super spectacular, but a nice logo. Simple, easy, looks good in color and black & white, and you can read it easily. You would be surprised how many beginning graphic designers make looks that look great, but you can not read what it says or is hard to read. My favorite logo mistake for this is what GMS did with his book Underworld. Leave professional work to professionals. For me, this logo is in a good starting place. From here, who knows?

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Ninja Scroll Officially Headed to the Big Screen!!!

Read more here!!!!!

Obsidian Twilight: Playing the race card...

A racial choice update, a comment on my previous day's blog said the races I picked to use were not original enough. Well I have to agree with that so I have decided to take a step back and rethink all the races I planned to use. If you have any ideas and concepts I should use, let me know. Talk to you later...

Friday, October 24, 2008

Obsidian Twilight: The Sixth Race

OK after much thought, I have come up with the five out of six races that will be in the Obsidian Twilight setting: Gnoll (SRD modified), Half-Caliban (Made for the setting and brought over from NeoExodus: A House Divided), Half-Giant (SRD modified), Harrowed (made for the setting) and Sasori (brought over from NeoExodus: A House Divided). Now the sixth race I havce decided that I will make a contest/group project for the partons. So when we announce the patron project and have it available, you will get a chance to add a race you have created offically to the Obsidian Twilight setting. So get your thinking caps on. Talk to you later...

Coming Soon for 4E - Races of Fantasy: The Elohim

The lost children of the gods, the elohim contain some fragment of their divine ancestor’s power. Elohim are a race of outcasts, having no civilization or society to call their own. Instead they exist on the fringes of mortal civilization, trying to find a place where they fit in this world while trying to also understand their divine nature. Mortals are almost universally unnerved by elohim; in educated lands they are treated as curiosities while in more superstitious areas they are often persecuted as bringers of ill fortune. This leads many elohim him to live a nomadic life, wandering from settlement to settlement as they seek a place in a world that does not seem to want them.

A new PC race for 4E. Written by Lee Hammock. Coming soon to RPGNow.com and Paizo.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Obsidian Twilight: Word Count

With the writers getting in place, I had to get together the word count for the project. Take a look for yourself.

1. Introduction: 1k to 2K Words
2. History of the Setting: 3K to 5K
3. PC Materials: 10K to 20K words
4. GM Materials: 2K to 5K words
5. NPCs: 4K to 7.5K words
6. Adventures: 2K to 5K words
7. Extras

Total Word Count: 22K – 44.5K words
Avg. Word Count: 33.25 words
Est: Page Count: 44 – 89 Pages
Avg. Page Count: 67 pages

Obsidian Twilight: First Project writer signed plus one

We have officially signed our first writer to the Obsidian Twilight Patron Project and it is Neal Bailey. Neal has worked with me on several projects including the Race Creation Cookbook and the Prestige Class Cookbook. Neal has a lot experience of understanding the "math part" of game design to keep balance in playability. I have total faith in Neal's abilities and think he will be agreat addition to the Obsidian Twilight Patron Project. We also have another writer "signed" but that one is a BIG SURPRISE so you are going to have to wait on it. Talk to you later...

[LPJDesign] ONE DAY SALE -- SUNDAY OCTOBER 26th

This Sunday, October 26 we are having our monthly ONE DAY SALE. The majority of Louis Porter Jr. Design and Devil’s Workshop products will be on sale at 25% OFF their normal cost at RPGNow.com. If you put any of our products on your Wish List from us, then Sunday is the day to buy it. Only this Sunday! Only at RPGNow.com!

See us here: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Obsidian Twilight: New Spells and Subtitles

In the secret lab I have been working on the new spells we are going to have in Obsidian Twilight. Here is the list of what I have come up so far: Acidic Chains, Alter Ooze, Arrows of Stone, Assault of Cold, Black Cloak of Magma, Break Bones, Disrupting Storm of Acid, Hail of Slime, Hellish Curse of Bone, Hellish Curse of Silver, Sludge Blast, Spectral Lightning Touch, Spell of Lust, Zone of Blessed Energy, Wall of Black Energy.

I don't know how many spells I am going to have in this setting, but I think this a good start. I am also thinking of adding a subtitle to Obsidian Twilight, like with Haven: City of Violence and NeoExodus: A House Divided. So far I have come up with Obsidian Twilight: Land of the Black Sun, but since their are FOUR suns in Kaug, it might be to solid. Oh well, there is still a lot to do on the outline so I am not worried. And I still need to start to work on the Obsidian Twilight logo. Talk to you later...

Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 2: The Undead Chronicles – The Harvest On Sale

Louis Porter Jr. Design, in association with Devil’s Workshop, has released Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 2: The Undead Chronicles – The Harvest at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com. Here is information on this product:

No one could possibly foresee the flurry of undead activity. Now Merzell’s Fall is in ruins, overrun by hordes of undead seeking living flesh; worse, several Rushers and suppliers are missing. Caba Dell, the cagey undead hunter, tells of tales of the zombies dropping back every spring to a clearing. There, they harvest their own flesh, but for what purpose nobody knows. Perhaps this harvest area holds the key to explosion in zombie activity, and maybe even presents a last chance to save the innocent. Welcome to Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 2: The Undead Chronicles tosses our heroes into a zombie hot zone as all hell is about to bust loose. This volume can be cut up and used to spice up your regular campaign with some high octane encounters or linked together to play a larger, robust, rollercoaster ride of a mini campaign. Jump aboard Sidetrek Adventure Weekly tonight!
Written by John Ling with Greg Oppedisano. Available at RPGNow & DriveThruRPG: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=58570

Also don’t forget…
Sidetrek Adventure Weekly Presents: The Trodoon Gate Saga available at RPGNow.com. Available in PDF format here: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=56569
Available in Bookshelf edition here: http://www.lulu.com/content/2807312

And coming soon…
Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 3: Empire of Tears. See the ad here: http://www.lpjdesign.com/images/SAW3Ad.jpg

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

It might be time for the Yanimator!!!!

As usual I am looking for an artist. Well I got a response from an artist I have been playing e-mail tag with for a while. His name is Kevin Yan AKA Yanimator. He is a member of the world famous Udon Studios and well known as a Paizo Pathfinder artist. He is solid and well respected artist and I think we will work well together. But there is one thing, will I have him do the cover the NeoExodus: A House Divided Ultimate Edition (completed and just waiting for a cover) OR the cover for the possible upcoming Obsidian Twilight? Time and cash will tell. Talk to you later...

Obsidian Twilight: Outline

When working on any RPG setting from the ground up I use a simple ouline to help with the basic "skeleton" and framework. Once I know what is in my outline, I build the world from there. Here is the standard outline I always start with:

1. Introduction

  • Overview of the setting
  • How to play in the setting

2. History of the Setting

  • 20 years ago
  • 10 years ago
  • 5 years ago
  • 1 year ago
  • Now

3. PC Materials

  • Epic Items
  • Feats
  • Prestige Classes
  • Races
  • Skills
  • Spells
  • Wondrous Items

4. GM Materials

  • Environment
  • New Rules
  • Special Situations

5. NPCs

  • Major NPCs
  • Minor NPCs

6. Adventures

  • Adventure Plot
  • Sidetrek Adventure
  • Complete Adventure

7. Extras

  • Character Sheets
  • Initiative Cards
  • Tokens

Talk to you later...

Monday, October 20, 2008

Obsidian Twilight: Name of the world

After many days, I have come up with the "tentative" name of the main world of Obsidian Twilight. Let me introduce the world of...

KAUG!!!

Talk to you later...

Coming Soon: Bitter Fruit from the Tree of Woe

Also known to many as the book of complete evil, the Bitter Fruit from the Tree of Woe is a tome that is said to hold the entire knowledge of evil for the world of Exodus. While no one has ever found a complete version of the Bitter Fruit from the Tree of Woe with all the pages included, this book includes a detailed look of the nature of evil and terror with complex challenge of confronting the many dilemmas found in the setting of NeoExodus: A House Divided. The Bitter Fruit from the Tree of Woe includes new evil races, new evil feats, new evil spells and much more including:
  • All the information to play the First One (Aneishi, Exodites, Khaynites, Kobura, Kroca), as PC Races including Personality and Relations.
  • Plus an all new Paragon Classes for the First One (Aneishi, Exodites, Khaynites, Kobura, Kroca).
  • Over 150 All New Feats including Agonizing Spell, Blood Drinker, Feast of the Heart, Living Contagion, and Touched by Evil.
  • Over 75 All New Spells including Crucify Foe, Id Assassin, Lust for Undeath, Rotting Touch, and Scry Blast.
  • Character Sheet
  • Miniature Counters
  • Initiative and Monster Cards

This OGL 3.5 edition sourcebook for the of the world’s most popular Role Playing Game intended for mature audiences and provides a Game Master with unflinching access to subject matter that will broaden any campaign. Coming soon to RPGNow.com, Paizo and Lulu.com.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

2 bookshelves, 2 chairs, 1 desk and one entertainment center...

That is what I spent the last 7 hours putting together and I am tired. Talk to you later...

Why a writer SHOULD write for a percentage of sales over per word rate

Short, sweet and to the point on this one. If you write per word, normally the company you work for does all the marketing on the project and if the project is a hit, you receive nothing extra for it. For example, a project I did 6 years ago with a writer cost me $200 for thier work. That project pay for itself in the first three months and the last six years where I have had good sales on that product has made me well over $5,000 on it. If the writer had taken the percentage of sales of only 10% he would have made more than two and a half times the money, PLUS he would still be making money on a project from 6 years later.

Another reason you want a percentage of sale that it forces you as the writer to get outhter to promote your sales of a product. The more sales you get, the more money you make. Plus doing all this self advertising makes you more known to other companies where you can get more work. It also can help build you a fan base where you can do your own project under your own name like Monte Cook or Wolfgang Baur It is a win-win situation.

Why do you think the business is named Louis Porter Jr. Design? It is another way of marketing Louis Porter Jr.. Talk to you later...

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Should LPJ Design do a 4E product for sale?

Good question. Better question would be, "What product would we do for 4th Edition?" I will have to think about that. Talk to you later...

Now I have a chair...

The new LPJ Design office in my new place with my wife and mother-in-law is moving along well. Unlike my old apartment, my office is in a seperate room now so I don't bother my wife when I get up at 4 AM inspired by and dream or idea I just had. It is great! We are in the process of getting the furniture delieveried from the greatest furniture store in the world, IKEA!!!! I am a HUGE IKEA junkie. It is kind of scary. Here is the chairs we bought for the new desk (Top and Legs. Simple and easy, just the way I like it. You can make custom desk at IKEA too.) So I am guess that LPJ Desing will be up and running in its new location by at the lastest by Wednesday of next week. Talk to you later...

Friday, October 17, 2008

Obsidian Twilight: Moving a with a rapid pace

Well after some phone calls, phone tag and emails it looks that we "may" have a BIG NAME WOTC writer attached to this project and a new artist providing cool interior artwork (I like the look of it! If the artist works out, I will be introducing the artist to many of my RPG PDF publisher friends). We are still hashing some of the important and specific issues, but I am confident that we maybe able to start talking about this project in real detail starting mid November or early December. As soon as a few other things have been agreed on we can start the funding part of this project to get patrons. So if you like what you have seen and read, now is the time to be saving up your pennies. Talk to you later...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Where is the rest of Sidetrek Adventure Weekly 2: The undead Chronicles?

OK here is the real deal on my current product schedule. I just moved in with the new wife to her place with her and her mom. Since moving out of my apartment, I have diassembled my computer and have not assembled it in the new place due to a space issue. So with that, I am currently without access to my computer (I am using my wife's to check e-mail and make posts but all the LPJ Design stuff is on mine).

BUT I "hope" to have the new furniture in the house and my computer up and running releasing products as early as next week. Besides the SAW 2 #4 to release I have 3 other product that are just in limbo. All this waiting has been to the wedding, honeymoon, moving out and getting adjusted. This is completely MY FAULT and you will be getting the remaining 3 episode of SAW 2.

Sorry again about that.

Obsidian Twilight: Patron Project

After looking at all the other RPG Patron Projects and how much they cost, I have come up with this rough draft for Obsidain Twilight Patron Project:

Silver Level Patron - $30
A Silver Level Patron will receive:

  • The complete project with a professional, full color layout out as a PDF and access to the professional, full color soft cover Print-On-Demand final book version of the project at cost.
  • Access to daily, evaluation and commentary on design discussion.
  • Admittance to the daily design & development dialogue.
  • Question & Answer sessions along with articles with topics chosen by the patrons with any member of the production team the patrons choose including writer, developer, artist, cartographer, editor and even the layout artist.

Gold Level Patron - $75
A Gold Level Patron will receive:

  • All the standard privileges listed for Silver Level Patrons.
  • Evaluate, review and suggest improvements at the initial sketch stage of interior art, cartography, layout, player handouts, and any other visual aspect or graphic elements of the project.
  • The ability to choose a topic of an article from a specific staff member of your choice.
  • Direct access to the project manuscript and to design Q&A sessions
  • Recognition and Acknowledgment in the credits.
  • 3 easy payments of $25.00 USD- Gold Level Patron. This will immediately bill $25.00 USD with 2 Recurring payments on a 30 day billing cycle, Failure to make a subscription payment results in cancelation.

Platinum Level Patron - $100
A Platinum Level Patron will receive:

  • All the standard privileges listed for Gold and Silver Level Patrons.
  • Receive a signed full color soft cover Print-On-Demand final book version of the project personalized to you.
  • 4 easy payments of $25.00 USD- Platinum Level Patron. This will immediately bill $25.00 USD with 3 Recurring payments on a 30 day billing cycle, Failure to make a subscription payment results in cancelation.

Diamond Level Patron - $200
A Diamond Level Patron will receive:

  • All the standard privileges listed for Platinum, Gold and Silver Level Patrons.
  • Receive a professional, full color hardcover Print-On-Demand final book version of the project.
  • Get to submit an idea in the form of a monster or prestige class which the writer(s) will incorporate into the project, which you will receive full publishing credit for.
  • 5 easy payments of $40.00 USD- Diamond Level Patron. This will immediately bill $40.00 USD with 4 Recurring payments on a 30 day billing cycle, Failure to make a subscription payment results in cancelation.

Feel free to comment what you think about this rough draft. Thanks!

OFF TOPIC: Do me a favor make sure you "Follow this Blog" (look to your right) and sign up. It will really help know who is reading the blog. Thanks!!!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Obsidian Twilight: Potential Artist

There are a few artists I would like to work with if this project of Obsidian Twilight does actually get off the ground. Here is my personal top list of arists:

1. Reiq: His art works says it all. Plus he makes very hot looking women.

2. Jeff Wamester: We have wanted to work together for a while and this might be the right project for both of us.

3. Stanley Lau: Amazing style of work.

4. David Grier: Very cool gallery with a good sense of style.

5. Sergio Quijada: very solid artist with a respected repuation.

6. Chester Ocampo: An Imaginary Friends artist with talent to spare.

7. Catherine Lu: SUPER-Talented!!!!!

8. Ya Lee: His portfolio says it all.

9. James Ryman: Lots of RPG/CCG experience

10. Andrew AKA HOON: Just look at his website. Amazing.

So if this project does get off the ground we might actually have the money to pay these guys the rate they are looking for. We will see how this turns out. Talk to you later...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Dark Sun + Ravenloft = Obsidian Twilight

I have been thinking. I like this idea of the Dark Sun + Ravenloft that I came up with and I have decided that this might be a good idea for Patron Project type of thing. Since Dark Sun and Ravenloft of WOTC IP, I cannot exactly do what they did, but I can do my own version of what a world would be like if an massive extinction level event happened with a massive undead influence. A D&D version of a zombie/undead apocalypse. Now that could be a lot of fun! Right now we only have the name of the project, Obsidian Twilight, but that is a start. Now I have to thing about how many patrons we could get. Talk to you later...

Don Cheadle Replacing Terrence Howard as Rhodey in Iron Man 2!

Read it first here!!!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Business NOT as usual

I am sure many of you who came here to my blog regular have noticed the business focused blogs that I have placed up over the years. I really enjoy talking about business as it relates to the RPG industry. I have a very unique perspective on how business should be done in the RPG industry, since I have been lucky enough to have people outside of the RPG industry to notice some ideas and concepts I have done and try to get them into different markets. Personally I love what the RPG industry has created with the creation of the OGL and PDFs. These have been the two greatest changes in the market of the last ten years. But now things are different.

With the creation of the GSL, WOTC has wanted to basically “crush” what the OGL created. Personally, I think the GSL in its current form is a bad thing. The OGL had is issues also, but overall it was about making the industry stronger as a whole. And I believe it has done that. But now with the schism of the GSL and OGL, with 3rd party publishers in the middle I have to ask, “What is best for the RPG Industry?” And after much though I have to go with the answer of: BOTH. Diversity is best because not everyone likes just one thing. The more choices we have the better it is for everyone. So play 4E. Play 3.5. Play OGL. Just play RPGs. That is what is important.

Now with all that said…

==shameless plug==
If you like Eberron and like 3.5 & OGL, then take a look at NeoExodus: A House Divided. Hey, it’s free and you might like it. How can you beat FREE!!!
==shameless plug==

Talk to you later…

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Old School Flashback...

Just found this. Take a look at 3:22 second in.

Talk to you later...

What is reasonable paywise?

I have been wondering this of late since the US dollar is going up in value against the Canadian dollar and the British pound. I mean a month ago, if I paid you for work in $100 US dollars it was equal to $100 CN dollars. Now that same $100 US is worth $116 CN. Now lets not kid anyone, PDF RPG payrates are not great by ANY means. But if you could get 50% more money for your work or 50% additional value to your money to buy goods or services, isn't that a good thing? As a writer if you write something, that sell only 10 copies should you get as much as someone who sells 25,000 copies? Now reverse it, if you sell 25,000 and the next writer sell 10 who should be paid more?

A lot of artist feel the going rate for art work is $100 a page. But, if it only takes you 2 hours to do ($50 a hour) is that a fair rate? If the average artist works 40 hours a week and 50 weeks per year, that's 2,000 hours per year. At $50 per hour, you'd be making $100,000 before taxes. Here are some other jobs in that salary range:

1. Captain/Pilot in Command (Large Jet) - Median Salary: $50.91 hourly
2. Art Director - Median Salary: $50.32 hourly (This is normally only freelance if you are VERY, very lucky)
3. Construction Manager - Median Salary: $50.66 hourly
4. Physicist - Median Salary: $50.40 hourly
5. Data Warehousing Manager - Median Salary: $51.00 hourly
6. Patent Attorney - Median Salary: $50.84 hourly
7. Commercial Loan Officer - Median Salary: $50.13 hourly
8. eCommerce Manager - Median Salary: $50.97 hourly
9. Professor of Mechanical Engineering - Median Salary: $50.08 hourly
10. Estate Planning Director - Median Salary: $50.67 hourly

How much is reasonable paywise? That is a good question. Talk to you later...

Friday, October 10, 2008

What ever happen to Xao: Island of Iron and Silk?

That is a good question. I did all the inital work on it. The outline. The basic setting information. Prestige Classes. Races. All the history of the Crescent Jade Dynasty with August Jade Emperor, the Heavenly Mother in Silk and the Eight Hsien (Immortals). We even put out the Demonfaced Killer as a toe in the water to see what people thought. Even with all this, it really never got off the ground. I had wanted Nick Logue to write it. His experience and love of the Asian culture with his actual time having been over there to live and study made him a perfect connection. But due to time issues it made it not possible.

But the good news is that Rite Publishing is doing The Lands of the Jade Oath Patronage Project! It looks and feels how I wanted Xao to be. I might have to pick this on up when it hits the digital PDF shelves. Can't wait to see it. Talk to you later.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

If I combine the Dark Sun and Ravenloft settings, I get...

...well I don't know what I get, but doing something like this has been on my mind for a while. So I wanted to get people's opinions on what they thought about it. Tell me what you think

Ten Tactics for building a fan base or group for your products…

Just something for you to think about for building fan bases and groups on and offline. How many of these ideas are you using?

  1. Celebrate Accomplishment: Reward group milestones or goals reached, whether collective or that of a group individual, with shared praise and/or a small physical gift of appreciation.
  2. Share stories: Use them to build bonds and strengthen ties between group members.
  3. Invent rituals: Summer camps do it. So does organized religion. Great corporations have their own lingo, their own culture. How you speak and the totems and daily rituals build connection.
  4. Create exclusivity: Don't invite everyone to the group. Just leaders or influential people, or those with something tangible to add.
  5. Create a goal: Define something people want to rally around achieving.
  6. Listen Carefully: As well as speaking have a strong ear for what the group is saying. Trust that the group knows what it needs to grow.
  7. Introduce Group Members to Each Other: Listen, Learn & Introduce people to each other. Make connecting people a priority. One of the biggest fears in life is rejection. If you can help eliminate that fear you are helping somebody.
  8. Be the Example: Walk the walk and talk the talk...people only follow those who take their own advice and show they mean what they say.
  9. Build the Story of the Group. Set the Vision: Define the group's journey, goals, interactions, future, and how teamwork will get them where they want to go in a story that epitomizes what the group is about. Weave every person, skill, and resource into the story.
  10. Invent language: Great corporations have their own lingo, so do great sports teams and niche gurus everywhere. (separate from Invent rituals).

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

I might need a graphic designer...

I do all the graphic design for LPJ Design. Why wouldn't I? I mean I have been a graphic designer for over 15 years. But the one thing that I don't think that I do as well as I would like to would be designing logos. Logos are the huge nemesis for me. You would not believe how long it took me to create the NeoExodus: A House Diveded Logo, and that is just type. Since I am redoing the LPJ Design website (AGAIN), I have decided to do another LPJ Design logo (AGAIN). I love the original LPJ Design skull logo, but I felt it was a little confusing for corporate companies who are looking to hire me. But I love the skull. So I want to keep it with this new logo. Looks like I have a few ideas to think over. Talk to you later...

Monday, October 6, 2008

LPJ Design 2008 Third Quarter Report

The third quarter of 2008 is over, and it is an even more hectic time for RPG publishers of both 4E and OGL. 4E has been selling for a few months and the GSL was release, rejected by the publisher and taken back to be “revised”. While all this has been going on, LPJ Design has been doing what we do best, putting out all kinds of new products for its OGL fans and customers.

The second Sidetrek Adventure Weekly series; The Undead Chronicles; has been released with the first three adventures receiving excellent reviews from several of the major 3E and OGL blogs websites and specifically at RPGNow.com with its five out of five star review by Peter Ingham. The high interest level, excitement altitude in this adventure series has propelled it into one of the best selling adventure series on the OGL PDF market today. While most would be satisfied with all this going on, LPJ Design is kicking it up a notch working hard on the third Sidetrek Adventure Weekly series; Empire of Tears. As with the first and second series, this one looks to be another superstar in the making. With all the great work Werecabbage Publishing has done on this with series, lead by the amazing leadership of Line Editor Greg Oppedisano, the Sidetrek Adventure Weekly brand is a continued success.

In addition, the collection print-on-demand version of the first Sidetrek Adventure Weekly series Sidetrek Adventure Weekly Present: The Trodoon Gate Saga has been a great seller at our Lulu.com store.

On the NeoExodus: A House Divided front, we had a “slow” period with only 5 product releases. The two most recent releases; Races of NeoExodus: P’Tan and Enemies of NeoExodus: Folding Circle; have both received four out of five star reviews at RPGNow.com from Nathan Collins. With the release of Races of NeoExodus: P’Tan, longtime LPJ Design writer, Joshua Cole returns to the NeoExodus: A House Divided setting. Joshua Cole’s work on the campaign setting has been invaluable and with the several new projects planned like Lexicon Chronicles: Arcane Intelligence, Monsters of NeoExodus: Dragons and the upcoming book of evil for the NeoExodus: A House Divided setting, Forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Woe. These products should be hitting the digital shelves of RPGNow.com very soon.

With all this new excitement we have also brought the incredible artwork of Jason Walton to this fantasy punk setting. Jason Walton well known to LPJ Design fans as the original artist for the Haven: City of Violence Setting. It is great once again to be working with him again.

On the 4E front, LPJ Design has tested the gaming waters of 4E with the release of the free Initiative Cards: 4E. The Initiative Cards: 4E has proven to be a winner with fans and with that we expanded this idea with the release of Initiative Cards: 4E Custom Version. This version comes with a limited licensing agreement, that this resource can be used by RPG publishers in any of their upcoming RPG ideas or projects and use the Initiative Cards: 4E Custom Version in any of their own products as if they owned it them. With so many 4E publisher hitting the RPG PDF market daily we are planning to expand our limited licensing agreement products and line with lots of great product that will help 1st time publisher not only save money but make the right entrance in the PDF market.

With the third quarter completed, LPJ Design looks forward to the fourth quarter, better known as the “Holiday Season” with a lot of great RPG releases, monthly One Day Sales; including the once a year Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sale; and some great free product releases. The first three quarters have been solid in helping grow business for LPJ Design and this fourth quarter looks to be no different. Thanks for your support and check out our online store at http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com.

I'm Back!!!!!

Back from Vegas with lots of great stories to tell. The wedding was great (even though I almosted missed it). Talk to you later...