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jeriendhalAs I've been working my way through the 365 Days of Prompts, which has proven an interesting way to come up with short world building bits for the FYS universe, I've had an idea niggling at the back of my brain to create a FYS roleplaying supplement. This is a bad idea for all the reasons listed in the title, not to mention it would distract me from writing fiction. Never mind the fact that the bottom has pretty much dropped out of the pen and paper RPG industry and is never going to rise again, thanks to video gaming.
Nevertheless, it's horribly tempting. I've got a little experience in writing for games, thanks to several articles I had published in Pyramid's previous online incarnation. And if I could pay for production expenses through Kickstarter, that would go a long way towards making it possible. Several problems would need to conquered first.
1. Getting a Powered by GURPS license.
This would likely be my biggest up front expense. GURPS is my go-to default for RPG's, and has the detail and flexibility needed to create a FYS campaign book. But it's also Steve Jackson Games' intellectual property, and they're going to expect to be paid for letting my have the privilege of using it for my needs. I need to talk to their licensing department to see what legal hoops I'd have to go through to secure
2. Editing and Layout
My next likely biggest expense. I don't dare try to catch all the inevitable typos on my own, and my abilities at laying out text are... basic, to put it politely. So I need a pro, or at least semi-pro, to help me make sure my product looks professional.
3. Artwork
Another expense, but finding artists would likely be relatively easy. I've already got both a friendship and business relationship with Meg Sveryud, Naziha Zahed and Peta Hewitt, their artwork is similar enough that I could use all three of them and maintain a consistent visual style, and they would likely be interested. The problem though is making sure they've got time for such a project. They've each got day jobs, and their own comics to write and draw.
With a Kickstater campaign, one of the goals I'd have would be to make the artwork full color. Depending on how much money is donated that might even result in a full color print version.
4. Marketing
Cue manic laughter. I have absolutely no experience in this area. My best bet would be to buy M.C.A. Hogarth's book on marketing and start there. God only knows I'll be providing a niche product. If I go for a dead tree edition I'd rather not have a crate of unsold books sitting in my (non-existent) garage.
5. Profit!
Nevertheless, it's horribly tempting. I've got a little experience in writing for games, thanks to several articles I had published in Pyramid's previous online incarnation. And if I could pay for production expenses through Kickstarter, that would go a long way towards making it possible. Several problems would need to conquered first.
1. Getting a Powered by GURPS license.
This would likely be my biggest up front expense. GURPS is my go-to default for RPG's, and has the detail and flexibility needed to create a FYS campaign book. But it's also Steve Jackson Games' intellectual property, and they're going to expect to be paid for letting my have the privilege of using it for my needs. I need to talk to their licensing department to see what legal hoops I'd have to go through to secure
2. Editing and Layout
My next likely biggest expense. I don't dare try to catch all the inevitable typos on my own, and my abilities at laying out text are... basic, to put it politely. So I need a pro, or at least semi-pro, to help me make sure my product looks professional.
3. Artwork
Another expense, but finding artists would likely be relatively easy. I've already got both a friendship and business relationship with Meg Sveryud, Naziha Zahed and Peta Hewitt, their artwork is similar enough that I could use all three of them and maintain a consistent visual style, and they would likely be interested. The problem though is making sure they've got time for such a project. They've each got day jobs, and their own comics to write and draw.
With a Kickstater campaign, one of the goals I'd have would be to make the artwork full color. Depending on how much money is donated that might even result in a full color print version.
4. Marketing
Cue manic laughter. I have absolutely no experience in this area. My best bet would be to buy M.C.A. Hogarth's book on marketing and start there. God only knows I'll be providing a niche product. If I go for a dead tree edition I'd rather not have a crate of unsold books sitting in my (non-existent) garage.
5. Profit!
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no subject
Date: 2013-04-03 04:24 pm (UTC)You own domain, where you can present a list of your ebooks.
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Date: 2013-04-03 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-03 05:06 pm (UTC)