Friday, July 30, 2010

The Crossover - Moving from RPGs to Comics…


Anyone who reads this blog knows I am a HUGE fan of comics and the comic industry. I think the comic industry is the “other side” of the coin when you think of niche products or services. While it is a niche industry, comics have evolved to tap into the animation, video games and Hollywood movie industry. RPGs should and could do this same thing, on average don’t. The really sad part is that RPG publishers are built perfect for the video game industry (RPG publishers build game setting and build encounters/adventures as the status quo to make a successful line) to come to us and license our ideas. If people could play Tomb of Horrors as a video game how many people would become fans of it? My guess, A LOT!!!! While getting to the video game market is the successful end goal, the first easy step to move in that direction is comic books or even a better choice, webcomics.
After reading How to make Webcomics, I made an initial attempt to do a webcomic based on my fantasy setting, NeoExodus: A House Divided with Grand Theft Exodus. While Grand Theft Exodus didn’t do as I expected, I did see how it could be used to help grow my RPG business and create a whole new business where I could use the webcomic artwork in my RPG products. A webcomic can save you money over the long run, but it does have high start up cost. And that is the thing that will kill most RPG publishers, due to money being always tight as a RPG publisher. A full comic page will on average cost you about $100 buck a page (Look at the Atland or The Guns of Shadow Valley webcomic from an example of what I mean). So you release one page a week it will cost you $5,200 a year. You just need to generate $15 a day to pay for this artwork over a year. When you place your site up for the webcomic you will use Project Wonderful to help generate money for you to offset the cost. Now you have access to new customers is a different business medium (Transmedia anyone?) while at the same time introducing those people to your other related products, like a RPG.

Find a way to develop and create a crossover and you find a way to make more money for you, Green Ronin’s DC Adventures is a great example of a crossover product for DC Comics. Best of all someone had to pay DC Comics for the license. I am going back to doing Grand Theft Exodus sometime in the future. I just have to make sure it works well to grow my business. Just something to think about. Talk to you later…

Paizo releases Bestiary 2 cover

This cover shows you what Paizo does best, showing you what quality artwork and a quality cover should look like.  Talk to you later...

Thursday, July 29, 2010

18 months ago Malhavoc Press released last PDF product, Dark Tidings. Is Malhavoc Press out of business?

I just have to wonder. I was looking at products at RPGNow.com and I noticed that it had been 18 months since anything had been put out by them.  While I do know about DungeonADay.com (hell I am a member), I just am wondering is Malhavoc Press as company dead? Has Monte just moved on from the concept of doing a RPG business and now is an occasional freelance for Kobold Quarterly and Paizo? What do you think?  More importantly, would you want to see Malhavoc Press return to making RPG material?  Talk to you later…

Psst.. Want to see the trailer for Thor? Look here...


Enjoy.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

How to you support RPG retailers? The better question is do RPG retailers even want your third party product?

I was having a discussion with Black Diamond Games on Facebook and I asked the question: Many retailers complained about third Party Publishers and the Glut of 3.5 product. How will you avoid this from happening with Pathfinder and 3.75? Here is the conversation on this subject:

Black Diamond Games: I can tell you third party 4E products tanked hard, so now that we're commited to Pathfinder, I'm extremely wary of third paty products, especially since they resemble the 3.5 glut so much. I suppose one solution is for publishers to put out... uniquely Pathfinder products (such as spells or combat maneuver poducts - I would buy your cards as a product, character sheets, etc.), products that are not rules specific (for example, the new GF9 mats usable by 3.x/4E/PF), or some type of "helper" accessory (like HeroLab, a huge seller with Pathfinder). Putting out rules for PF is playing against the systems strength.


Michael Azzolino (A Fan of Black Diamond Games): I think game consumers looks at third party products in a completely different way as a result of the 3.5 splat madness! I for one, never use any 3rd PP that change or introduces new rules. I only use them for flavor, and even then it's rare. Part of what I find attractive about PFRPG is that they are setting heavy and rules light (up to the point of the APG release). I predict a fair amount of power creep as a result...


LPJD: OK now here is a more specific question: What qualifies as 3PP to you? Monte Cook has done work for WOTC, Paizo and his own Malhavoc line. Do you consider him 3PP? Wolfgang Baur with Kobold Quarterly?


Michael Azzolino: I consider anything that isn't written specifically for Paizo to be 3PP. Without a doubt, Monte and Wolfgang have serious pedigree, but unless they are doing freelance work for Paizo, it's 3PP.


Black Diamond Games: If it's not Paizo, it's a 3PP and customers will flee. Put Monte Cook's name on a Paizo product and some people will flock to it just for that (a few, like myself and Michael). I would personally carry Malhavoc as a PF line and I carry Kobold Quarterly when I can get it.


LPJD: Then the question I have as a 3PP, how could we or even why would we support retail locations if their customer base doesn't want our products?


Black Diamond Games: I don't know. What kinds of products sell now?


LPJD: For me in the PDF arena, we released a new setting for Pathfinder inspired by Dark Sun & Ravenloft called Obsidian Twilight that has done well. I also have a line of Feat PDF that have done very well. Product that do well are thing that can be used in anyone home game with ease and little changes. Paizo's Adventurer's Armory is a great example of this.


Black Diamond Games: Adventurer's Armory is player candy. I would like to see a world building book, ala Gary Gygax (currently going for $75 on eBay). I would like to see a creative location book.

So the question is if retailer can’t sell my products, why would I care if they go out of business and just sell directly to customers who want to purchase? Retailers complain they are not getting sales and are losing them to online sales. Third Party Publishers are complaining they are not selling enough products in the retail locations or in some cases they can’t get their product into retail locations. We both have the same problem, but neither of us work together to solve the problem. And that is what is wrong with the RPG industry. No one wants to take a chance on anything due to the fact they might lose sales and that is what is killing both of us. Talk to you later…

LPJ Design will release 11 print products over 3 game lines from August 2010 – July 2011 for the Pathfinder Role Playing Game system

Since Gen Con is upon us, I guess it is time for me to release my plans for my print products from my NeoExodus a House Divided, Obsidian Twilight and Pirates of the Bronze Sky gaming lines, which of course, support the Pathfinder Role Playing Game system. Many of these products are already in development, with some already completed awaiting to be released:

 
NEOEXODUS: A HOUSE DIVIDED PRODUCT LINE
  • Hostile Environment
  • Enemies of NeoExodus: The Folding Circle
  • Enemies of NeoExodus: The Crimson Hand
  • NeoExodus Campaign Setting
  • Magic of NeoExodus
  • Secrets of NeoExodus
  • Bitter Fruit from the True of Woe
  • Dragons of NeoExodus 
OBSIDIAN TWILIGHT PRODUCT LINE
  • A Place Beyond Hell Sourcebook
  • Untitled Adventure
PIRATES OF THE BRONZE SKY PRODUCT LINE

  • Races of Bronze
  • Pirates of Bronze Sky Campaign Setting
This list does not include our large list of short PDF we will be releasing through RPGNow.com and Paizo.com, but expect the next 12 months to be a HUGE release period for LPJ Design. Once again, thanks for your support of LPJ Design and our continued success in the future.

[LPJ Design] Blood and Sand: The Gladiator Sourcebook (PRPG) Cover

Coming soon to a PDF store near you.  Talk to you later...

RUMOR: WotC to stop reprinting 4E Core Books in favor of Essentials line

While these is not official proof to this rumor, this has been running wild on the internet. This will be the focus for a little while until WOTC proves it or disproves it to be true.  Keep watching the boards.  Talk to you later...

Monday, July 26, 2010

Are you an artist and wish you could work at Privateer Press, now is your chance...

Matt Wilson of Privateer Press placed this on his Facebook account and I thought many of you artist who read this blog might find this of great interest.

To all my artist colleagues: Privateer Press is hiring a new full time concept artist. Please feel free to pass on the contact info of myself and our art director to anyone you think would be interested in whiling away their days dreaming up robots, monsters, and beautiful women with swords and guns.

email: mw@privateerpress.com or Privateer Press art director Kris Aubin: Aubin@privateerpress.com

Good luck!  Talk to you later…

Did you know about Goodman Games Private $5 RPG Sale for Limited Time Only! So how about those 4E sales?

I got this in my email and I thought some of you would find this interesting:


Hello gamers!

Shhh! We're running a private sale! As a special offer not publicized on our main web site, we are running a private $5 sale! Many of our titles from 2008 and 2009 are priced at only $5, including systems-neutral titles, 4E character guides, 4E adventure modules, and stand-alone games. This is a great chance to stock up on anything you missed in the last few years - and because you're on our mailing list, you're lucky enough to find out. The sale runs through August 31, so act now! You can find the sale by clicking here - but keep this email, as there aren't any front-page links to this special offer!

Thanks,

Goodman Games

First I thought it was a nice thing to do.  Then, I thought looks like he is trying to sell off the last of his 4E printed material for some quick cash.  I mean some of those discounts are at a 75% off the normal retail price.  If 4e is selling that well, why would you need to take that deep of a discount to move product? That would not make sense, unless you just had to get rid of the product.  So if you are a fan of Goodman Games, now is the time to help him make sale to keep him afloat, until he start releasing his Pathfinder product.  I wonder what DCC is he going to release first?  We will see.  Talk to you later...

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Avengers cartoon coming to Disney XD!

New RPG product supporting Paizo & Pathfinder - Rhune: Dawn of Twilight

While looking through my many blogs this morning I came across this little interesting piece Rhune: Dawn of Twilight. This is the first time I have heard about them and I really don't know that much about them, but I do know I like what I see so far. They are supporting Paizo and Pathfinder, so in my books that make them friends.  The description what they are doing is incredible:


Rhune: Dawn of Twilight is a unique campaign setting designed for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game™ that combines elements from traditional steampunk, planar travel, and Norse mythology. We call it “Stormpunk.”


Right to the point and I can see what they are trying to create.  I call that a win - win in my book.  The artwork looks solid, and the logo is Perfect!  If you have a second, go and check them out. It looks like they are off to a good start.  Talk to you later...

Friday, July 23, 2010

Say what ever happened with Goodman Games and their support of Paizo and Pathfinder after their 4E fiasco…

I was look through some of my stats in Google Analytics and I notice an old thread, Sounds like the 4E gravy train has slowed: Goodman Games may support The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game? that still get a lot of hits. And it got me thinking, whatever happened with Goodman Games and doing products for the Pathfinder line? Does anyone know anything? Just wondering people. Talk to you later…

34 days left for Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell...

I am just going to be blunt with this one, with 34 days left (just under 5 weeks people) for Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell, we at LPJ Design need to raise $85 a day for the remaining days to get this project off the ground. So if you can help out, then PLEASE DO!!!!  I am not above begging here. We want to make this so if you liked Obsidian Twilight, Think about supporting this.  Talk to you later...

DC Universe Online Teases Something Legendary

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Sex and gimmicks doesn't sell products, quality does...

See this great ad for the upcoming Nikita series. It does everything right, to not make this a successful series.  Way too much sex appeal on the ad just is doing its best to cover up the flaws of the show.  Yes she is sexy and the image is exotic and erotic, but it does not sell what the show is.  In all my years of watching 24, I never saw Jack Bauer in a leather tight Speedo.  Gimmicks are not need to sell quality.  Just look at the HBO series The Wire to see that. This this the same lesson you should learn and follow when making your products.  Get back to work.  Talk to you later.

Tron Legacy 2nd Movie Trailer

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

[LPJ Design] Blood and Sand: The Gladiator Sourcebook (PRPG) Coming Soon

Louis Porter Jr. Design, in association with Devil’s Workshop, will be releasing two all new sourcebook, Blood and Sand: The Gladiator Sourcebook (PRPG) for use with The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game at RPGNow.com, DriveThruRPG.com and Paizo.com.  Here is information on this product:

The fans cheer when you score a hit, and lay open a man’s breast with the well honed edge of your sword. The mob roars with laughter as a condemned heretic armed only with a child’s wooden sword dies beneath the fangs of a lion. The arena itself seems to tremble with excited shouts when you put your sandaled foot onto the neck of a defeated fellow gladiator, and lift your eyes and blade to the skyboxes, to learn whether you will spare or execute your defeated rival. Step onto the arena’s sand, still stinking of blood and spilt shit from the last match. Raise your sword high in salute to your master and the Emperor who commissioned these games. Size up your opponent, gauge the strength in his muscles, the flexibility in his limbs, his familiarity with the net and trident. Fight well, die with courage, and be remembered forever… or at least until a new champion wins the fickle hearts of the mob.

This sourcebook contains everything you need to create your own variations on your favorite gladiator adventures and characters. This sourcebook includes:

·         History of Gladiators
·         Specific Types of Gladiator matches including those with Bards, Clerics, Druids, Sorcerers, and Wizards
·         Races of the Arena
·         New Race: Nephilim
·         Nearly 20 all new Gladiator feats including Acrobatic Gladiator, Footwork, and Slayer of Multitudes
·         Ten Gladiator Magic Items including Actor’s Oil, Freeman’s Rudis, and Spellbinding Manacles
·         Four new spells including Gladiator’s Virility and Will of the Crowd
·         Adventure Site: The Coliseum Maximus

Written by Written by Chris Field with Louis Porter Jr.

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.

StarCraft II: Ghosts Of The Past

Doctor Doom and Super Skrull in Marvel Vs Capcom 3

Sunday, July 18, 2010

What your future Big Bad Evil Gal for your Pathfinder game looks like...

You have never seen a Big Bad Evil Gal like Nysska. And you have never played in a setting like NeoExodus: A House Divided. Coming soon to Pathfinder so get you weapons ready, you are going to need them. Talk to you later...

Saturday, July 17, 2010

I voted in the 2010 Ennie Awards...but...

...does it really matter, since I think all contests are basically rigged?  Talk to you later...

Friday, July 16, 2010

TheGameCrafter.com is great at POD cards, but their shipping needs a little help…

OK first and foremost I must say I was very, VERY impress with the quality of the Print-On-Demand (POD) cards I got from http://www.thegamecrafter.com/. If they can keep this level of quality all the time I would be very interested in using their service more often in the near future to sell to customers. I think this could be a great source of additional income from another print source. I am in love with everything about these cards…

…EXCEPT the shipping and costs of shipping. My god, they SUCK on this part. It took weeks to get my cards via USPS and the cost of shipping a deck of cards cost only $1 less than the actual cost to create the cards. So if the cards cost me $5 to make, shipping was $4. WTF!?!?!?!?! $9 production cost for a pack of 48 cards??!?!?!?!? That makes NO SENSE. I don’t understand why this is but this is a HUGE drawback to me. How am I going to sell POD cards to people with such a high price point? Like I said this, this is the only drawback, but it is a HUGE drawback. I hope they get this fixed because I would to make some money with them. Here is a great review about TheGameCrafter.com you can read. Talk to you later…

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Thank you Paizo for showing what good graphic design looks like...

Paizo understands the need for having good looking products.  The graphic design of an item is skill that needs to be developed by pushing one's self into better and more unique graphic design. Now, I am just talking about the graphic design and NOT the artwork.  They are different, even though Paizo does both very well.  Just look at this two page spread for Pathfinder Advanced Player's Guide. The design makes the page come alive. Everything is important with graphic design from the type of font used to the color of the page.  Everything is important.  But best of all if you do it really well, most people will not even notice your work.  People will say it "looks nice" but they can describe why it looks nice. The other problem with good design is everyone thinks they know what do design is with the use of drop shadows, blurs, bevel and other little effects and trick they think help their design.  Good design is about the design, not how many effects you can put on an item.  The really sad part is that good graphic design is the first time people want but the last this they take the time to do right. Just look at the last product you bought.  Did it do the job you wanted AND look nice.  Form plus function equals success.  Just ask Apple how well that has worked for them. Talk to you later...

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Star Wars: The Old Republic Video Game Hope Cinematic Trailer

If you give a reviewer a free copy of your product, are they obligated to give you a good review?

I think reviews are important, but in the same breath, I really hat giving out free copies of product to review. It is an uneven relationship. If you get something for free are they or should there be strings attached? As a reviewer what is your responsibility to be fair and even in a review, even though you got a free copy of the product? Will you get more free copies in the future if you do a bad review? Better yet, is your review a little tweaked because you have taken free product to review? So are you pimping yourself out to get free products or are you keeping it real no matter what happens? What kind of person are you really when nobody is watching you or better yet when everyone IS watching you? Talk to you later…

Monday, July 12, 2010

[LPJ Design] The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook patron project

The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook patron project has the goal of designing a sourcebook supplement add-on for the highly successful RPG campaign setting, Obsidian Twilight; for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game system from Paizo Publishing. The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook is adding the genre inspired and influenced work of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos to this post-apocalypse survival horror fantasy setting.

The project's main designer, Louis Porter Jr., has been involved in the RPG industry for the last decade starting with the creation and development of Haven: City of Violence campaign setting, which is the only RPG to receive a movie option by Radical Comics owner, Barry Levine, before the setting was released. Louis Porter Jr over the last decade has release over 500 RPG related products in both the traditional brick and mortar retail store and the online PDF market. In addition, James “Grim” Desborough of Postmortem Studios; who also wrote on the Obsidian Twilight campaign setting will be the head writer on this project. Porter and Desborough hope the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook can emulate the excitement and interest in this product as they did with the first campaign setting book.

Concept
At its most basic level, this project is about adding another level of fear to the playability of Obsidian Twilight. Unlike most game design projects, the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook project will have the direct input of fans from the very beginning. If you choose to back this project, you will have not only behind-the-scenes looks at the development process but also the opportunity to shape the final product through playtesting rules to provide direct feedback, and even contributing content for the game.

Why is it necessary to involve fans into the creation and development at such an early stage? This will only help strengthen the quality of the final delivery of this project. With the involvement of the internet, it makes it possible to move development and design from a central location with a small group to an “open arena” where may different voice and opinions can be voiced and commented on. Best of all the monsters and rules for the setting can be playtested in various styles and conditions, which only helps make the project better and better.

Objective
The goal of the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook project is to create new group of monsters and villains that supports the Obsidian Twilight setting with a horror and psionics base to them. The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook will be able to easily be inserted into your local Obsidian Twilight home game, or place in to whatever setting you might want to use it in. The Choice is yours.

The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook will be a large softcover book (at least 48 pages) with a full color cover and interior artwork (for the PDF version) and illustrated black-and-white interior art work (for the Print-On-Demand version), and a target retail price of $14.95. In addition, the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook will be available for download, most likely as a PDF for $9.95. (Additional formats, such as that used by Amazon's Kindle, are also being considered.) The target date for publication is late October or early November of 2010, allowing the game to be available for purchase in time for the holiday season.

Patronage and Funding
I like many who have used kickstarter.com, have decided to follow the example of Wolfgang Baur and use a "patronage model" for this project. Basically put, those who are interested in the project can "buy in" at the beginning, giving them admittance to (and influence on) the design process at all stages and once an adequate number of patrons have pledged their support, the project moves forward. The funding goal is to raise $3,000 in roughly 8 weeks.

The fundraising goal $3,000 is the bare minimum that I believe can move the project forward; ultimately, I hope the project will raise several times this amount, primarily through book sales after publication. The amount by which I exceed the $3,000 goal will help to determine how large a print run I can afford as well as how much work I can afford to farm out to freelancers who want to contribute to the project’s design.

If you are interested in joining the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook patron project, Go to out Kickstarter page and sign up or learn more about this patron project. Thank you for your support.

Just got approved by Kickstarter for Obsidian Twilight - A Place Beyond Hell

Just got the good news from Kickstarter.com! So expect to see the actual add for the patron fund raising by tomorrow most likely.  I have to film some video to help get patrons on this project. So expect to see me push this prettey hard for the nexy 2 months to make sure I can get this funded.  Talk to you later.... 

When I need to get motivated about working...


A. B. C. and A. I. D. A. That gets me motivated.  Talk to you later...

Sunday, July 11, 2010

One great idea from One True Media and Rite Publishing


Our friends at Rite Publishing put this video together using One True Media, and I thought the process was so cool that I had to share it with you so you might use it in one of your upcoming product releases.  Talk to you later...

Thursday, July 8, 2010

New Online TV series - PIONEER ONE Video Blogs


Just in cause you missed this one you want to check out http://www.pioneerone.tv/, take a look at their pilot for Pioneer One and what they are trying to do.  You never know, these guys could be into RPGs and gaming. It might be a way to pitch what you create and transform it into transmedia products.  Just a thought.  Talk to you later...

Redesign of a character - Nysska for the Folding Circle

Years ago when I originally created the character of Nysska for Enemies of NeoExodus: Folding Circle, I was low on cashflow for the company and we could only do a headshot of her and three other members of the organization. But now that LPJD cashflow is a lot better in the cashflow department, we are redesigning Nysska for Pathfinder, I decided on doing all of the Folding Circle members with full body images starting with her.  So I what you are looking at is the rough, rough drawings of Nysska.  I best described her as a mix of Dart Maul plus a Dark Elf plus a S&M Bondage girl.  What the final image will look like, who know.  But it will be fun to see.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

5 YouTube Channels for Small Biz Advice...

5 YouTube Channels for Small Biz Advice is something I found on Mashable.com that I though many of you woulf find interesting.  Talk to you later...

A real FAN of LPJD and Obsidian Twilight...

I few days ago I wrote about  The Difference Between Sales and Fans in my post and this morning I got this email: 

Dear Mr. Porter,

Thank you for your kind gift of the Obsidian Twilight Campaign Setting.  (Part of the Red Cross blood donation offer.)  I should have responded earlier, but I neglected my e-mail over the holiday. I have not had time to fully absorb the PDF, but what little I have glanced at is impressive - particularly the artwork and layout which is immediately noticeable. I also have the pleasure of reading your blog.  In an effort to show my support as a "fan" rather than a mere "reader," I will be making additional inspired purchases from your catalog at RPGNOW shortly.

Your loyal customer,
Clarence Harrison

P.S.  I was very impressed with the dedication.

All I can really say to that is thank you for your support.  And writing the dedication in Obsidian Twilight was the most fun I had with that project.  Thanks again!  Talk to you later...

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Obsidian Twilight Campaign Setting - Now available at Paizo!!!

Get you copy here from Paizo!

The Basic Rules for success ARE eternal...

Rules For Revolutionaries: The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and ServicesThe website New Rules for the New Economy put up the  The basic Rules for success are eternal, and if you follow them, you will be successful.  Simple and to the point.

Not really that groundbreaking or surprising, but I will say that they are effecive and directly to the point what many of those in the RPG business field are missing.  With so many books out on how to be successful, the question I have to ask is how many RPG publishers have actually read AND learned from them.  The sad part is, I think the number is very small. What are you doing to push your business to be successful? What are you doing to make you business more responsive to your customer base? If you could work on your business for 4 hours a week how would that change what you do? A good book for you to read on being successful is Rules For Revolutionaries: The Capitalist Manifesto for Creating and Marketing New Products and Services by Guy Kawasaki. If you haven't read this book you are missing a great opportunity to make your average business into a successful business. And yes there is a difference.  Talk to you later...

[LPJ Design] FREE Races of Pirates of the Bronze Sky: Tocarra (PRPG) Preview released


Louis Porter Jr. Design, has released a preview for the upcoming gunpowder steampulp fantasy setting, Pirates of the Bronze Sky for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.  Here is information on the Races of Pirates of the Bronze Sky: Tocarra (PRPG) Preview:

The Tocarra are a winged race similar in appearance to gargoyles, though they are not as fearsome, monstrous or primitive as gargoyles proper. The Tocarra have a great degree of sexual dimorphism with the males trading the power of flight for greater strength and tenacity as warriors and protectors and the females trading combat prowess for greater flight and the ability to explore deeper into the mysterious undersides of the floating landscape. The Tocarra are formed into large tribes and live a nomadic existence, following the seasons, plants and animals from one rocky island or landmass to the next in a great and constant migration, clashing with other tribes and – increasingly – with the colonists and explorers of the great powers as they move across the world.

Written by Written by James Desborough with Louis Porter Jr. Available Here:  http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=82189&filters=0_0_0_44235_0&free=1

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.

Monday, July 5, 2010

The Difference Between Sales and Fans by A Newbie's Guide to Publishing

I saw this post The Difference Between Sales and Fans at the incredibly interesting website of A Newbie's Guide to Publishing. I have been a follower of the mantra keep PDF pricing low, but this article got me thinking about a lot of things I do in business with LPJ Design.  Most importantly this article (and Tony Hsieh of Zappos.com new book Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose) got me thinking of opening my mind up in other types of strategies in business.  and this was the section that really did it for me when reading:


There's a difference between making sales and gaining fans. It's tough to differentiate between the two, and there is some overlap, but I'd break it down like this: People who buy your work may become readers. Readers who like your work will probably become fans. Of the two (buyers and fans) you want to have fans. Fans are willing to pay more. Fans buy everything you write. Fans write reviews. Fans talk about you. Fans get really excited when you have a new release.


That is the central focus that we as RPG companies and developers are working from.  We are doing everything to make fans in this business. Fred Hicks has this down perfect and I will admit I am a little jealous of him. But if I always remember to service my fans needs and wants, I will do OK.  Talk to you later...

Sunday, July 4, 2010

[LPJ Design] Obsidian Twilight Campaign Setting for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Available

Louis Porter Jr. Design has released it all post-apocalyptic survival horror campaign setting for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Obsidian Twilight Campaign Setting.  Obsidian Twilight Campaign Setting is available at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com.  Here is information on this product:

A dark star fell from the sky bringing with it the end of all things! The sanctity of the world known as Abaddon was shattered when a global apocalyptic event of a meteor impacting the planet causing a destructive ecological and eldritch change. Now there is no day or night, just never ending twilight. An undead world ruled by fear and horror. Undead nightmares prowl the darkest forest with malevolent ghouls, grim demonic fiends and horrific vampires prey on a fearful populace. The world is dominated by the monstrously powerful immortal vampiric lich lord known as Calix Sabinus reigns supreme over this world. And with all this the mysterious force known as Nightwall. Evil dominates the world to be challenged by noble heroes fighting to take back a world that should belong to them. Are you willing to take up the fight?

Inside this book you will find you’ll need to embark on adventures in the exciting setting of Obsidian Twilight:

       8 new races usable as player characters or NPCs.
       Over 100 new feats, over 140 new spells and 6 new prestige classes.
       New equipment, weapons and magic items.
       New monsters and monster template.
       Highly detailed regions and history, new organizations to launch your campaign

Players assume the roles of brave adventures facing ultimate evil in the hopes of saving the world, all in a postapocalyptic setting of survival horror and adventure. Obsidian Twilight created by Louis Porter Jr. Written by James ‘Grim’ Desborough and Louis Porter, Jr.  Available Here:  http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=82158

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.

[LPJ Design] Ultimate Spell Decks: Obsidian Twilight Spell Cards for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game


Louis Porter Jr. Design, in association with Devil’s Workshop, has released Ultimate Spell Decks: Obsidian Twilight Spell Cards for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com.  Here is information on this product:


Wish you didn't have to flip through books or searching PDFs every time you want to cast a spell?  You can't see to remember the range, duration or Save of a spell off the top of your head?  Wish you could introduce unique and new spells to your campaigns in an easy format.  Help is coming for you in the form of Ultimate Spell Decks: Obsidian Twilight Spell Cards. For use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game players and GMs!  Ultimate Spell Decks: Obsidian Twilight Spell Cards are printable forms for players and GMs alike which makes managing a spellbook simple and easy.  Now your storehouse of magical power will fit right in the palm of your hand with these easy to use, convenient spell decks. Each card contains the significant and relevant rules and description of a different spellcaster's arsenal for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.  If you play in an Obsidian Twilight game setting, then you have to have this product.  Created by LPJ Design.


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.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Obsidian Twilight Campaign Setting - Completed!!!!!

Obsidian Twilight is finally completed.  The PDF and POD Book will be available later this weekend. Get your $14.99 (PDF) or 24.99 (POD Book) ready.  Thanks for all the support.  Talk to you later...

Obsidian Twilight-A Place Beyond Hell Patron Project Write-Up for Kickstarter.com


Since we are finishing up the last little bits before we send Obsidian Twilight to Lulu for POD, I thought I might inform you on the process with Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell Patron Project and give you a look at the write-up that is going up on Kickstarter.com when we officially start this off.  This is just the mock up cover, so no there will be no Khaynites in the setting. Enjoy. Talk to you later...

Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell Patron Project

About this project
The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook project has the goal of designing a sourcebook supplement add-on for the highly successful RPG campaign setting, Obsidian Twilight; for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game system from Paizo Publishing.  The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook is adding the genre inspired and influenced work of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos to this post-apocalypse survival horror fantasy setting.

The project's main designer, Louis Porter Jr., has been involved in the RPG industry for the last decade starting with the creation and development of Haven: City of Violence campaign setting, which is the only RPG to receive a movie option by Radical Comics owner, Barry Levine, before the setting was released.  Louis Porter Jr over the last decade has release over 500 RPG related products in both the traditional brick and mortar retail store and the online PDF market.   In addition, James “Grim” Desborough of Postmortem Studios; who also wrote on the Obsidian Twilight campaign setting will be the head writer on this project.  Porter and Desborough hope the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook can emulate the excitement and interest in this product as they did with the first campaign setting book. 

Concept
At its most basic level, this project is about adding another level of fear to the playability of Obsidian Twilight.  Unlike most game design projects, the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook project will have the direct input of fans from the very beginning. If you choose to back this project, you will have not only behind-the-scenes looks at the development process but also the opportunity to shape the final product through playtesting rules to provide direct feedback, and even contributing content for the game.
Why is it necessary to involve fans into the creation and development at such an early stage? This will only help strengthen the quality of the final delivery of this project. With the involvement of the internet, it makes it possible to move development and design from a central location with a small group to an “open  arena” where may different voice and opinions can be voiced and commented on. Best of all the monsters and rules for the setting can be playtested in various styles and conditions, which only helps make the project better and better.

Background
Since 2000, the d20 System gaming license and the Open Game License (OGL) have allowed publishers to share a common framework for creating roleplaying games using the System Reference Document (SRD), which contains the same core mechanics as those found in Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition. Under the OGL, third-party publishers use the SRD as the basis of many different games. Eventually, Wizards of the Coast abandons the OGL entirely with Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition, and the new game is even more focused on heroic fantasy at the expense of other genres. Paizo Publishing expanded the concept of the OGL with their creation and development of the Pathfinder Resource Document (PRD) and in turn made a successful open gaming system.  Paizo’s openness to third-party publishers has made it possible for us to develop other genres and setting related to the PRD, of which Louis Porter Jr. Design creation and development of Obsidian Twilight is one of these success stories.

Objective
The goal of the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook project is to create new group of monsters and villains that supports the Obsidian Twilight setting with a horror and psionics base to them.  The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook will be able to easily be inserted into your local Obsidian Twilight home game, or place in to whatever setting you might want to use it in. The Choice is yours.
The Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook will be a large softcover book (at least 48 pages) with a full color cover and interior artwork (for the PDF version) and illustrated black-and-white interior art work (for the Print-On-Demand version), and a target retail price of $14.95. In addition, the Obsidian Twilight: A Place Beyond Hell sourcebook will be available for download, most likely as a PDF for $9.95. (Additional formats, such as that used by Amazon's Kindle, are also being considered.) The target date for publication is late October  or early November of 2010, allowing the game to be available for purchase in time for the holiday season.

Patronage and Funding
I like many who have used kickstarter.com, have decided to follow the example of Wolfgang Baur and use a "patronage model" for this project. Basically put, those who are interested in the project can "buy in" at the beginning, giving them admittance to (and influence on) the design process at all stages and once an adequate number of patrons have pledged their support, the project moves forward. The funding goal is to raise $3,000 in 8 weeks.

The fundraising goal $3,000 is the bare minimum that I believe can move the project forward; ultimately, I hope the project will raise several times this amount, primarily through book sales after publication. The amount by which I exceed the $3,000 goal will help to determine how large a print run I can afford as well as how much work I can afford to farm out to freelancers who want to contribute to the project’s  design.

Process
To provide a starting framework of how this project will perform, I am drawing on my years of experience in the game design process, particularly the time spent developing, editing, and providing rules support for  the over 500 RPG products I have done over the last decade.  We will provide the patrons with a basic outline we are looking to create from. From there, the patrons provide input and guidance on what changes work, what changes don't, and (most importantly) what changes I haven't yet thought of. Senior patrons will have particularly substantial influence, and we will experiment with different collaboration tools to find what works best for this project. Becoming a patron on this project is a great way to gain a design credit on the book, which in turn is a great way to gain experience and build a resume for those interested in pursuing a career in game publishing!

Project location: Cooper City, FL

Friday, July 2, 2010

Quartermaster Item Cards are now actually cards by way of Game Crafter!

A while back I discovered Game Crafter, who had the basic concept of Print-On-Demand (POD) for playing card games. I though this would be an excellent idea to use when creation my education card game, GRAMMAR: The Sentence Creation Card Game.  But after looking at all the interesting card games Paizo was coming out with for their GameMastery Card line I figured I might try Game Crafter for my Quartemaster line.  So I did and now I have my first POD card set, Quartermaster which consists of all the card in the Quartermaster: Campaign Items Cards and the Quartermaster: Riddle of Steel Item Cards for only 9.99 plus shipping and handling. So if you ever wished for an actual deck of cards from the Quartemaster line well now you have them.  Enjoy! Talk to you later...