Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Starting a Pathfinder Flame War in three, two, one...

Can a Third Party Publisher (3PP) make a better product "core product" than Paizo? This really focuses around the messageboard thread from Paizo.com, that ask the questions, "Will Paizo ever make a Psionics book?" Thes quest I have to ask is does Paizo even need to, if Dreamscarred Press has done a excellent job with its Psionic line. Better yet, with more and more of the freelancers who work for Paizo working for more and more 3PP, is the quality of certain 3PP to a level where it rivals and in some cases is better than Paizo? Simply put, are the 3PP improving in quality and giving you what you want out of a "good" RPG company?  Please DISCUSS this with civil tones, PLEASE! Talk to you later...

Coming Soon - Ultimate Traps Cards

Just a little something I have been working on with the guys who do Mentats of Gaming presents: Trap-a-Day.  This product was made for those GMs who need a trap on the fly when they are running their game. Stop fumbling around with the same old trap give then something deadly and new and return the fear of Total Party Kill back into their hearts.  Talk to you later...

Friday, August 26, 2011

Coming Soon - Ultimate Spell Decks: Ultimate Combat Spell Cards


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: Ultimate Combat Spell Cards. For use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game players and GMs!  Ultimate Spell Decks: Ultimate Combat 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 using the Ultimate Combat sourcebook, then you have to have this product.  Created by LPJ Design.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Working hard with JP on NeoExodus...


Over a week ago, JP Chapleau handed of the first draft of the NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign Book to me.  I have been reading it over making changes and explaining things in more detail of what I wanted to see it in and what I didn’t want to see.  The only thing that I had huge issue with above all others was the use of the monster from Monsters of NeoExodus: Caliban and making them a PC race. This was one of those things that I was not too sure about, but I trusted JP so I said OK and we went with it.  But now after reading them in the book, it didn’t make sense to me why we would use them in this way. Today, I spoke to JP about this issue in great length and detail. JP and I went back in forth on this each of us discussing why we thought they were needed the Nomadic Caliban as PCs and why not. Eventually all this discussion gave us an answer HOW we could add them to the setting and WHY it ties in to the setting so well.  So we are changing the concept of Nomadic Caliban into the Kalisans. There of course will be some changes with their background and game mechanics from this draft but this only helps make the NeoExodus setting better.  Teamwork, talking it out and smart thinking are the best ways to handle and problems and issues.  This book is going to be amazing.  Talk to you later…

Monday, August 22, 2011

POD Books Come In plus Lucas

[LPJ Design] Trade Routes: Expanded Caravan Rules Sourcebook (PFRPG) Now available


Louis Porter Jr. Design has released its all new sourcebook for use with The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game called Trade Routes: Expanded Caravan Rules Sourcebook. Here is information on this product:

A train of camels, carrying a thousand vials of puum dust - the wealth of nations - strides slowly across the desert, its lookouts alert for the shadow of a dragon, passing high overhead. On a king's road crossing the old growth forests of the North, just ten miles from the sanctuary city of Hillsboro Downs, bandits waylay a twenty-horse team carrying casks of fine Halfling cheese and Dwarven brandy. Fleeing a loveless marriage, a young Half Elven princess signs on to work a traveling circus as an acrobat, hiding her true identity behind a velvet mask. Caravans are more than just a part of the mundane economy of the world. They are a springboard to future adventures. The following new rules build upon the innovative caravan simulation rules found in the Jade Regent Adventure Path Player Guide, published by Paizo Publishing. These new rules offer new possibilities to players and game masters alike engaged in nomadic adventures. This sourcebook contains:

  • 13 New Wagon types including including Bordello Wagon, Penitentiary Wagon, Skeletal Horse Team and Steam Engine 
  • 13 New caravan equipment including Cargo Balloon, Letter of Passage, Proud Colors and Sin Caravan 
  • Nearly 20 new caravan feats including Banker's Caravan, Fighting Beasts, Phantom Drivers and Reputable Mark 
  • Real-World Logistics of Caravans 
  • Nearly 10 Caravan plot hooks 
  • Over 20 Threats To The Caravan from Avalanche to Drow Marauders to Necromantic Horde.
  • Plus 5 Sample caravans to use in your games.

Available at RPGNow!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

[LPJ Design] Trade Routes: Expanded Caravan Rules Sourcebook (PFRPG) Coming Soon!


Louis Porter Jr. Design has released its all new sourcebook for use with The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game called Trade Routes: Expanded Caravan Rules Sourcebook. Here is information on this product:

A train of camels, carrying a thousand vials of puum dust - the wealth of nations - strides slowly across the desert, its lookouts alert for the shadow of a dragon, passing high overhead. On a king’s road crossing the old growth forests of the North, just ten miles from the sanctuary city of Hillsboro Downs, bandits waylay a twenty-horse team carrying casks of fine Halfling cheese and Dwarven brandy. Fleeing a loveless marriage, a young Half Elven princess signs on to work a traveling circus as an acrobat, hiding her true identity behind a velvet mask. Caravans are more than just a part of the mundane economy of the world. They are a springboard to future adventures. The following new rules build upon the innovative caravan simulation rules found in the Jade Regent Adventure Path Player Guide, published by Paizo Publishing. These new rules offer new possibilities to players and game masters alike engaged in nomadic adventures. This sourcebook contains:

·         13 New Wagon types including including Bordello Wagon, Penitentiary Wagon, Skeletal Horse Team and Steam Engine
·         13 New caravan equipment including Cargo Balloon, Letter of Passage, Proud Colors and Sin Caravan
·         Nearly 20 new caravan feats including Banker’s Caravan, Fighting Beasts, Phantom Drivers and Reputable Mark
·         Real-World Logistics of Caravans
·         Nearly 10 Caravan plot hooks
·         Over 20 Threats To The Caravan from Avalanche to Drow Marauders to Necromantic Horde.
·         Plus 5 Sample caravans to use in your games.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

[LPJ Design] Free Buff Sheet for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game


[LPJ Design] Free Buff Sheet for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

Wish you didn’t have to flip through books or searching PDFs every time you want to know what special ability or spell buff one of your stats? You can’t remember the range, duration or save after your buff has been applied? Help is coming for you in the form of the LPJ Design Buff Sheet. For use with OGL 3.5 and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game players and GMs! The Buff Sheet is a printable forms for players and GMs alike which makes managing your buffs simple and easy.  Keep up with your stats with out all the head ache you have been used to.  Best of all the Buff Sheet is completely free, a gift from LPJ Design and your support of the Pathfinder Role Playing Game.   Available Here at RPGNow: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=94114

Friday, August 19, 2011

It's official, Lightning Source color books and I not built to work together...

I don’t understand why, but for some reason Lightning Source color print on demand (POD) books and LPJ Design are not meant to work together. I have NEVER had so many issues and problems working with a printer to get something printed. It is like they are doing this on purpose just to drive me crazy. I don’t understand this. I don’t have these issues with any other printers I have EVER used, but Lightning Sources seem to just want to be very special with their issues. I did have a lot of issues with the B&W books they eventually go everything worked out and copies of Obsidian Twilight and A Place Beyond Hell are racing to my doorstep so I can evaluated them and start selling them to customers. Soon. Very soon.  Talk to you later...

Thursday, August 11, 2011

I am paying 4 cents a word for writers and $250 per page for artist. Who want to work for LPJ Design?


The rate of pay and prices has one the greatest effects on who will work for what and why. In the table top RPG industry, 4 cents a word for writers and $250 a page is a “good” pay rate.  But what do you get for those rates, I mean from the business perspective?  If you get paid those amounts and your product does sell, whose fault would that be?  Even better, does the writer or artist talk any blame for the product not selling?  Where does the responsibility of poor sales fall?  Better yet as a writer or artist SHOULD you take responsibility for poor sales on a product?  Paying higher rates does give you one advantage over paying lower rates, you receive more response for work and you can pick and choose who you would like to work with. So once again I am thinking about raising our pay rate at LPJ Design.  The better question is why do you think I should pay you 4 cents a word for writers and $250 per page for artist to work for LPJ Design? Talk t you later…

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Image Portfolio Platinum Edition 5: Storn Cook Now available


Louis Porter Jr. Design, has released it all new line for Image Portfolio, Image Portfolio Platinum Edition 5: Storn Cook at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com.  Here is information on this product:

Image Portfolio Platinum Edition is the premier line of online PDF art resource that gaming companies can use. All the art pieces in this art resource can be used in any of their upcoming RPG ideas or projects. When a person acquires Image 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 Image Portfolio. This specific Image Portfolio contains 6 full color images of super hero / modern character design images. Available at RPGNow: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=93855

Monday, August 8, 2011

Congrats to all the Ennie nominees and award winners!


LPJ Design just wanted to say Congratulations to all the products were nominated and to those that won the ENnie for 2011.  These are people in our industry doing some of the best RPG products now in the market.  RPGNow has listed the nominees and award winners currently on their site. Take a second and go check them out and help support RPGs and gaming in general. 

Sunday, August 7, 2011

[LPJ Design] Dangers & Discoveries: The Hazards and Revelations Sourcebook for The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Released


Louis Porter Jr. Design has released its all new sourcebook for use with The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game called Dangers & Discoveries: The Hazards and Revelations Sourcebook. Here is information on this product:

There are amazing dangers and remarkable discoveries all around us each and every day and in gaming that is no exception.  For the first time ever Dangers & Discoveries: The Hazards and Revelations Sourcebook for The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game collect the best selling PDF line, Two Dozen Danders and Two Dozen Discoveries into one PDF.  This sourcebook contains:

·         24 new haunts, building on the new type of hazard introduced in the Pathfinder Game Mastery Guide including Arcane Rift, Butcher’s Hill, Purple Pig Tavern and Thirsting Gorge.
·         24 new poisons, including new magical toxins and deadly natural venoms for fantasy campaigns building on the new type of poisons introduced in the Pathfinder Core Rulebook including Anthrax, Curare, Maggot Wine and Sin Eater.
·         24 new death-dealing traps for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, all intended to kill adventurers in the most interesting and spectacular ways possible.
·         24 new disease including Black Lung, Ebola, Ill-Thought and Stumble Fever
·         24 all new curses including Candle maker ’s Curse, Fleshslide Curse, Unforked Tongue Curse and Wendigo ’s Hunger
·         24 new plants including Alsone Milk, Feywort, Lysean and Sea Moss
·         24 new scars including Amazonian Sacrifice, Chaos’ Mile, The Monkey’s Fist and Sun Brand.
·         24new drugs including Berserker’ Blood, Elf-Fire, Ghost Water and Spellsoak Powder.
·         24 new insanities including Death Friend, Fey Worry, Night Haunt and Refusal of Mortality
·         24 new spells including Barbering, Clear Camp, Polymorphic Playmate and Timesense.

Written by Chris A. Field & Michael Kimmel. Available at RPGNow.com: http://lpjdesign.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=93764

Thursday, August 4, 2011

What do you think is the best way to release the NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign Book...

With JP and I working on the NeoExodus: A House Divided Campaign Book I keep thinking about different ways to sell it to the customer base.  For example: What is we only sell the Print-On-Demand book at our Big Cartel webstore and sell the PDF only at RPGNow.com or Paizo.com? What if we only offer the PDF with a POD book that you can't split-up them up?  What if we offer the POD only at Paizo and the PDF at RPGNow and both PDF and POD book at Big Cartel?  What if we offer a "no frills" version for $4 which has a coupon in it for $4 off the final price of the PDF or POD book?  There are so many different types of variation of what we can do. The hardest part is picking the right one for us and getting the best deal for our fan base.  Tell us what you would like us to offer.  And also take a second and to read more about LPJ Design and what we have going on by "Liking Us" on Facebook.  Talk to you later...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Making a caravan products for Paizo newest Adventure Path

When I heard about the newest adventure path from Paizo, Jade Regent, I wasn't that excited. But then when I picked up the Jade Regent Player's Guide, I became very excited with the rules inside of it.  The reason for that: the caravan rules.  I LOVE THESE RULES!!!  They were made for me.  I loved them so much I started working on all kinds of add-on rules for an all new product I am creating.  This gives you all kinds of new add-ons including new types of wagons including Alchemist’s Wagon, Beasts of Burden Train and Gypsy Train; New caravan feats including Enchanted Wagon, Storm-Tested and Vigilant Lookouts; and all new plot hooks to get your caravan adventures going.  So if you have any ideas that you want to see in this product, including a good title for it, make a comment here and let me know.  Talk to you later...

Monday, August 1, 2011

Complying to the will of Lightning Source with a product redesign

This weekend I spent a fair amount of time relaying out Obsidian Twilight to get it ready for print on demand usingthe  RPGNow.com POD system, which is really Lightning Source. I've been doing layout for nearly 20 years and I have built a system of layout that works so well that I normally cam submit work to any printer and there is usually NOT a problem from print on demand or traditional printers. But Lightning Source has what I call a "CRAZY ASS" set up for printing.  When I submit things to them, there is ALWAYS some kind of issue.  I have never sent so many things to one printer and had so many issues.  No one else I print with do I have this issue. Only Lightning Source. Normally I would say "forget you" to Lightning Source and just use someone else like Lulu.com but the real issue comes down to printing cost.  Lightning Source's price cost for making their book is VERY low when compared to all the others. like half the cost.  So with numbers like that it is hard for me NOT to work with them. So I do what I have to do.  I resubmitted the new Obsidian Twilight files to RPGNow and hope to hear something back from them by the end of the week about my files. From there, if everything is OK, I will get a POD test version and if all is great it will be on sale online a few days later.  If not, back to square one. Wish me luck, we might need it on this one.  Talk to you later...