Wednesday, March 31, 2010

36th Annual Origins Awards - Rigged against big companies?

After looking at the 36th Annual Origins Awards Finalists, I have to wonder where is Paizo?  I mean, they didn't get ONE nomination?  Really?  The Origin Awards always confused me and then when a GAMA member explained how they get the nominations, it made me laugh.  The whole process sounded a little rigged to me and now these nomination I have to wonder is the whole process rigged?  I don't like WOTC in the least bit any more, but I know they should have been nominated for SOMETHING. No WOTC, Paizo or White Wolf products were finalist.  Does it sound funny to you?  Talk to you later...

Monday, March 29, 2010

[LPJ Design] Race Creation Cookbook (PFRPG Edition) available at Lulu.com


Louis Porter Jr. Design, has released for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, the Race Creation Cookbook (PFRPG Edition). Here is information on the Race Creation Cookbook (PFRPG Edition):
 
The best selling point based race creation sourcebook of all times returns UPDATED AND REVISED exclusively for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game system! GMs with a taste for fantasy world-building can either borrow races for their setting from other sources, or build new fantasy races from scratch. Presented in this sourcebook are guidelines for designing new fantasy character races with access to a wide variety of abilities and balancing drawbacks. Whether these are exotic new fantasy races or variants of more familiar fantasy races, the tools are in your hands. This sourcebook contains everything you need to create variations on your favorite fantasy races to all new, all different fantasy racial ideas that no one has seen before. This sourcebook includes:
  • Core Ability Score Adjustments
  • Bonus Feats versus Racial Feature
  • Skill Adjustments
  • Defensive Racial Features
  • Effect Immunities and Saving Throw Bonus
  • Spell-Like Abilities
  • Size and Creature Type
  • Miscellaneous Features
  • Movement and Vision
  • Natural Attacks
  • And much more!!!

 If you like creating new fantasy races for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game system and gaming but wished there were rules that actually made sense and balanced, you prayers have been answered. The Race Creation Cookbook is the book you have wanted to see done in an easy way to add to your game. This 32 page sourcebook is available for the low cost of $14.99.
 
Written by Neal Bailey with art by Anthony Cournoyer. Available at Lulu.com!
 
Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under license. See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Retail Store need to be more like online stores…

This weekend while at the book store I overheard this little comment, “I am really surprised how much I like this book. I think I will buy it from Amazon.com when I get home to save money.” Now they were already in the bookstore with the book in hand, liked the book but still were going to buy the book online because they knew it was a better deal. And with that little revelation It all made sense to me. When all things are equal, price is the motivating factor. Simple and easy right? Then I thought, what if retail store instead of attempting to sell their books to customers in store, what if the store was the place they could “test out the book” and they would have computer terminals where they could order online and have the book delivered to them at home like Amazon.com?

I know this sounds crazy, but just think about this for a minute. People are already doing this. I know that most RPG retailers have heard about someone coming to the store, looking at the product, and then purchasing the same product online. Why do people do this? Better yet, what can retail stores do to get back this sale? I think it would be best for retail stores to think like online stores and use the retail location as a “test drive” location but you get them to buy the product from your online store.

For example, a book store that might normally carry 200 copies of a number one seller, this retail store now might only carry 3 copies in the store. People come to the store; look at the product aka the “test drive”; then the retailer either sells them one of the copies they have or (what they really want to do) they send you to their website to purchase the product. Retail store could cut down on the amount of stock they are carrying which in turn reduces their overhead. This also will give them the ability to carry more diverse stock due to not have to carry large amounts of one specific title. While this may not work for everyone this is something you might want to think about. Talk to you later…

Webcomics Weekly LIVE! at Emerald City Comic Con 2010


Webcomics Weekly LIVE! at Emerald City Comic Con 2010 from Brad Guigar on Vimeo.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Coming Soon - Quartermaster: Riddle of Steel

Conan understood the Riddle of Steel.  Do you? Coming soon to your favorite local ONLINE gaming store! Check out other quality Quartermaster products here.  Talk to you later...

Suits - The Webcomic Coming Soon! Maybe...

It look very close to actuallu hiring an artist to work on on my webcomic, Suits.  I know what you are thinking, and YES we have had a "few" false starts, but I think this one might be real. No really!  So before I announce the name of the artist, I just wanted to show you a sample of the artwork he sent me.  If everything works out we "should" have an announcement by next Friday.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Talk to you later...

Friday, March 26, 2010

I am Killing RPG Stores…

After everything that Marcus King has said, I was inspired by Scott Kurtz, to respond in this manner:
Talk to you later...

Thursday, March 25, 2010

I Hit It With My Axe - Episode Two - F*ck. A Medusa.


It only gets crazier in this session. A smart retail location needs to hire them to play a weekend in their store. NOW that would be a store event! Hell let's get them to go to Gen Con! Give a whole new meaning to live action!  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Sounds like Marcus King is trying to make excuses for RPG retailers' lack of sales

Here I go again attacking RPG retailers.  The said part is that they are so easy as targets.  This time it is Marcus King who is making it easy for me.  Recently in ICv2, Marcus made some comment about Industry Relationships. This was also picked up by ENWorld, who also gave the comments by Greg Leeds of Wizards of the Coast on Marcus King's Industry Relationships. To me is was time for Greg to shill the "Glory of WOTC" to the retail stores, while at the same time in the shadows developing their own PDF devilery system to get some of that PDF money they are missing out on from companies like RPGNow and Paizo

Marcus, I hate to break it to you, but the good old days of sitting on your ass and just collecting money from customers are OVER.  You need to up "your game" in the area of delivering service to your customers.  I would suggest you pick up and read The Speciality Shop, Rules for Revolutionaries, Tilting at Windmills and True Facts.  These books should provide you with a solid basis to deliever exceptional customer service to you customers like my buddy Tate does at his 2009 Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award winning retail store. And just in case you need to see it with your own eyes, check this out...

That is what a retail store should be like. Oh by the way, here is Tate's Gaming Satellite. This is Tate's 2,000 sq. ft. store that is a few doors down from the main store.  I hope you find this useful to help motivate you to be a better retailer.  Good luck, looks like you need it. 

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

What true writing genius sound like...

While checking my normal websites, I found this litte gem talking about writing by my idol, David Mamet.  Every person who considers themself a writer MUST read this.  Talk to you later

Monday, March 22, 2010

Fantasy Monster Patronage Project from Empty Room Studios

Here is something that I thought anyone interested in the RPG publishing business shown know about AND become a patron to.  Empty Room Studios has created the Fantasy Monster Patronage Project and since they are doing some work for me on the new Quartermaster series that I started this would be helpful.  Talk to you later...

Why do RPG Publishers expect they will make no money with their RPG products?

“The RPG industry is the only place where people spend thousands of dollars to make hundreds.”

I heard this comment a few years back from a writer friend when he was describing the business mind set of RPG publishers. For many of us, we think it is OK to break Rule #1. I have broken Rule #1 in the past, but it is a rule that I make sure I don’t break now. It seems that RPG publishers have gotten into “business” without realizing what “business” is. Many of us work very hard to lose money. The sad part is that we could work just as hard to make money if we changed some small parts of our mind set. Too many small press start ups just want to see their name in print or others seem to have to write and EPIC settings to prove they are great writers. I wish these same people would spend as much time researching and formulating their business model and future business plans as they do developing their own games and setting. Always follow Rule #1. If you follow Rule #1, then you will be successful in the RPG Business. If you don’t you will be like the hundreds and hundreds of other companies that are here today and gone tomorrow. Why don’t you do something different with your business then everyone else is doing? Follow Rule #1. Talk to you later…

Sunday, March 21, 2010

[LPJ Design] Coming Soon - Quartermaster: Campaign Items Cards



Sometimes it is hard to remember what type of mundane and magical items you might be using or carrying.  More often, you want to show players what mundane and magical items you are carrying look like.  Now that problem is solved with the new line of products from Louis Porter Jr. Design: Quartermaster: Campaign Items Cards

Quartermaster: Campaign Items Cards is a deck of 21 non-random item cards in PDF format which you can use for mundane and magical items.  Best of all you can customize the item card so you can do mundane and magical versions of the same item if needed. Print them out, cut them out and use them in not only your weekly Pathfinder games but in any and every fantasy roleplaying game you can think of.  This product is customized BY YOU, not for you.  Quartermaster: Campaign Items Cards is usable by everyone from the most novice player to the most experienced and detailed game master on the planet.  This is the product you need to add to your local gaming session.  Available soon at Paizo.com and RPGNow.com.

Pathfinder and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and are used under license. See paizo.com/pathfinderRPG for more information on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Pitch to the Pros (Part 1) - GamesU 2009

Do RPG retail stores even matter anymore?

For me, absolutely no!

I think it is a waste of time as a RPG publisher to go after store and begging them if they will sell my product (at a MASSIVE discount). I think my time would be better served actually selling direct to my customers. I see RPG retail stores like the newspaper industy and PDF RPG Industry as Webcomics. Most gaming stores are like dungeon pits, dark, dank and let’s not even talk about the smell. There are some that are not this, but I can remember a lot more that were like this then not. “Satisfy my customer” is my mantra. I don’t care what retail stores do. They don’t sell my product, so why should I care?

I sell direct to the customer so I can cut out the “middle man”. If you had 1,000 hard core fans that purchased once a month from you, you could do OK. Maybe not quit your job OK, but this could pay for your car note (mine did), by new computer software and hardware (mine did). So when a retail store tell you that PDF publishers are not real business, ask them why every RPG companies have seem to jump to them? With Amazon.com, Lulu.com, esty.com and many others you really don’t need retailers. You need loyal customers you can service. Talk to you later…

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Porn Stars and Dungeons and Dragons - I wish I was making this up...

 and
The Escapist has a new webseries online called "I Hit It with my Axe". Normally I go into a lot of Detail what the clip is about.  But this time all I am going to say is: Porn Stars playing D&D.  No, really I am not kinding you.  That is what is going on.  Just watch the clip.  Talk to you later...

Catalyst Games Labs: Going Down in Flames!!!

This doesn't look good: Catalyst Game Labs Press Release! And there is more here, here and here. This reminds me of the whole Osseum Entertainment implosion.  You sure you want to start a RPG company?  Talk to you later... 

The Future of Publishing - created by DK (UK)

Webcomics.com: Worth its weight in gold...

After much going back and forth in my head, I finally signed up for Webcomics.com which cost me $30 for the year. This site is run by the four guys who wrote, How to make Webcomics.  I have talked of this book in the past, and talked about their podcast, Webcomics Weekly, and I am always impressed with these guys and what they do business-wise.  Many of their ideas and concepts can cross over to PDF RPG Publishing and make you money.  Having been only on the site for less than 5 minutes, I have already come up with an idea that easily pays back the $30 I spent for the membership and a new T-Shirt vendor where I can get shirt done in runs as small as one piece for as little as $4.82 for a double sided one color T-Shirt.  I like when I make a good investment.  So just in case you don't know, you might want to check out Webcomics.com and pick up How to make Webcomics.  Worth their weight in gold...

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Sneak Peek: The first look at the aliens of Predators!

FANTASY ITEMS & GEAR ARTIST NEEDED

I am looking for artist that can draw full color quarter page (4.25w x 5.5h inches) designs of items and gear like swords, spears, armor, wands, and items like that for a fantasy based setting (with no backgrounds) that would fit in a D&D setting for example. Artist styles we are looking for should be solid clean and professional. Very much influenced by comic book artist like Jim Lee, Alan Davis, Paul Pelletier, Jim Cheung, Luke Ross, Jim Cassiday, Brian Hitch, Greg Land, Tom Grummett, Mark Bagley, Barry Kitson. Here are some samples of our work to give you an idea what we are looking for visually and style-wise: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/images/85/51559.jpg, http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/images/85/51240.jpg, http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/images/85/25770.jpg

Since we are a small company, I have to tell you right up front our pay rate is not as high as major companies. The payrate for a job like this is between $5 - $20 per each piece and we need over 100 pieces done. If you are interested please let me know by contacting me via e-mail at LMPjr007 (at) aol (dot) com. Serious replies only and must have gallery / portfolio available. If you don’t have the skill set we are looking for, we will not respond to your e-mail.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Matrix agent to be Captain America's Red Skull?

The title character in The First Avenger: Captain America remains to be cast, but at least the villain seems a lock: Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings, The Matrix) is the choice of Marvel Studios to play the Red Skull. Read more here...

Saturday, March 6, 2010

[LPJ Design] Page Portfolio 1.4 Tribal Fantasy Backgrounds Available


Louis Porter Jr. Design has released their next product for their all new line of stock artwork specially for page background. Page Portfolio 1.4 Tribal Fantasy Backgrounds is available at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com. Here is information on this product:
Page Portfolio is online PDF art resource that gaming companies can use. All the art pieces in this background art resource can be used in any of their upcoming RPG ideas or projects. When a person acquires Page Portfolio, any of the art in the PDF can be used in any of their own products as if they owned it them. This is due to the limited licensing agreement of Page Portfolio. This specific Page Portfolio 1.4 Tribal Fantasy Backgrounds contains 8 full color images of all US Letter sized in PDF and jpeg 300 DPI format ready for your use as needed for any tribal and fantasy setting. Available at RPGNow.

Pick up Page Portfolio 1.1 Classic Fantasy Backgrounds here!

Pick up Page Portfolio 1.2 Classic Fantasy Backgrounds here!

Pick up Page Portfolio 1.3 Black & White Fantasy Backgrounds here!

The Warlords - Exclusive Clip - Into


Something I saw that I though many of you would be interested in.  Enjoy.  Talk to you later...

Next week... MegaCon

MegaCon is next week and this is going to be another great year of meeting artists and talking about the entertainment business.  My goal this year is to meet Chris Stevens of White Wolf’s Exhalted fame and get him to do the artwork for my webcoming, Suits.  I also plan to talk to Laura DePuy Martin again about digital coloring and pitch here my Alpha Flight script to see if she might be interested in working on it to pitch to Marvel.  Cross your fingers.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Greatest quote of the day...

"The new TiVo Premiere is like dinosaurs who got upgraded with laser jetpacks: Fancier, but potentially outmoded in a world populated by tons of ninjas with nuclear shuriken."

Simple AND effective.