tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post4400329675572405181..comments2024-03-28T05:12:54.089-05:00Comments on Uncle Matt's Blog: Commercialization of the Old School: Part 4Matt Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07678557558458924177noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-7376199355150532232011-03-09T10:18:12.223-06:002011-03-09T10:18:12.223-06:00I'm new to Blogs and am really loving these po...I'm new to Blogs and am really loving these posts, Matt. I'm not sure where I come down on the issue. I think I need to let it all sink in and ferment.<br /><br />I've had a few offers to have my modules published for profit, including one proactive and enterprising lad who had already coverted Where the Fallen Jarls Sleep to 3ed and wanted my blessing (blargh! ~ although the request was certainly nice). I've declined them, but I haven't really put my finger on why I declined. <br /><br />Enjoying the discussion. Hope I have something to contribute.Gnarley Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942095647867654862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-27186609412368847182011-03-08T02:55:36.153-06:002011-03-08T02:55:36.153-06:00Intriguing post. Thank you.Intriguing post. Thank you.Melanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-21138799350474991002011-03-07T21:39:19.103-06:002011-03-07T21:39:19.103-06:00Guy, I agree with you.Guy, I agree with you.Matt Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678557558458924177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-30393376064029051822011-03-07T14:56:05.121-06:002011-03-07T14:56:05.121-06:00"I think people gauge “free” by modules. … An..."I think people gauge “free” by modules. … Any publisher who wants to get a good reputation quickly should probably jump on this idea."<br /><br />The rub is that modules* are the most useful things to produce, the hardest things to produce, and leave the author the most vulnerable (ego-wise). The bar for modules has been set pretty high, whether you're looking at stuff produced back-in-the-day or in just the last few years, and as you said before, the skills necessary to produce the module are in short supply: Strong initial design (including the map), *real* editing – not just proofreading – by someone who "gets" the point of the project, an author's willingness to accept/consider developmental editing, the software (!) and talent to generate a good layout, and the ability to work with illustrators, print houses, and distributors.<br /><br />No wonder the author wants that combination of beer money + the virtual measuring stick to see how well he did!<br /><br />There's something about the for-profit modules I just don't find as much of in the free modules. That's not to say all of the for-profit modules are good (because some are indeed mediocre or outright bad), but I look at pretty much every free module that gets released by the major vehicles (Dragonsfoot and elsewhere), and not one is earmarked for me to use in my home campaign or at a convention. By contrast, there are 10 for-profit modules that I can think of off the top of my head that I've either used in my campaign or at a convention, or is sitting literally in a stack in my backpack, ready to use in one of those situations. And I'm still not done reading through my backlog of Fight On! and Knockspell issues, so I expect to find more for-profit stuff that will see play. And as I finish this paragraph, I just thought of two more for-profit modules that fall into this category.<br /><br />* The most useful thing to produce by the typical community member, that is. Illustrations probably tie or trump modules in some of those categories, but for some reason … lack of training? … fewer people in the community try their hand at illustration. And the other smaller things (random lists of stuff, new NPCs, variant rules) are, compared to modules, mostly just tiny building blocks that require less time, skill, risk, and effort to produce. (Though there are exceptions. Also, I consider campaign settings to be modules, btw. They just describe things at a macro level, instead of the micro level described by a dungeon-type module.)Guy Fullertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12034114718540912559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-732639869258827642011-03-07T13:48:11.048-06:002011-03-07T13:48:11.048-06:00@Telecanter - yeah, on DF there certainly is an an...@Telecanter - yeah, on DF there certainly is an anti-profit contingent. There isn't much of it on the blogs though.<br /><br />Back to Mythmere's post - Personally I definitely have a bias that free=crap, which I know intellectually isn't always true, but there you have it.Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11381628150285913370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-84132055578907402742011-03-07T12:51:35.836-06:002011-03-07T12:51:35.836-06:00Lots of spot on observations here, Matt.Lots of spot on observations here, Matt.jgbrowninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16274622778419965618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-44147783353036494882011-03-07T12:34:06.540-06:002011-03-07T12:34:06.540-06:00This is one of the best blog posts I've seen i...This is one of the best blog posts I've seen in the OSR since I got involved a couple years ago. It really captures a lot of feelings I've had about the status. <br /><br />I am very happy that we have people making money producing games. I do think that some products that would have been free in 2008 are now charged for, which kinda sucks for the consumer. Maybe some people who are reading this may get the bug to produce a free product, though, especially after reading your pros and cons. <br /><br />Regarding Goodman Games, I don't think their game will have the huge splash that some expect and fear. Mainly due to requiring weird dice. If it used the standard D&D dice, it would have a huge impact. I think we can all expect for there to be at least six adventures in print within a year of the games publication, which will help it gain market share. Goodman is smart about support.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04732052814850525574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-39916346217549165462011-03-07T12:14:36.289-06:002011-03-07T12:14:36.289-06:00Geoffrey,
I think more DFers play C&C than pla...Geoffrey,<br />I think more DFers play C&C than play OSRIC (unless you equate OSRIC with 1e). What I really meant was that I think - at this time - OSRIC is more widely known and more widely used as a vehicle for publication, neither of which is exactly on point with what I actually said. As a played game, C&C has always been bigger ... I think. I don't follow the C&C community closely enough to have a strong feeling about how it's doing in terms of numbers.Matt Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07678557558458924177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-20703345158033235622011-03-07T12:08:17.177-06:002011-03-07T12:08:17.177-06:00"Dragonsfoot has a dedicated forum for Castle..."Dragonsfoot has a dedicated forum for Castles & Crusades, while OSRIC, which is probably a much more played system (and perfectly on point with the site) is relegated to a forum with all other retro-clones."<br /><br />Matt, are you saying that more total people play OSRIC than play C&C? I personally suspect that more people play C&C than play OSRIC.<br /><br />Or are you saying that more dragonsfooters play OSRIC than play C&C? I personally suspect that more dragonsfooters play C&C than play OSRIC.<br /><br />I suspect that more dragonsfooters play AD&D than play C&C.<br /><br />I have no opinion on whether more people in general play AD&D than play C&C.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-35640643013580642882011-03-07T12:07:11.793-06:002011-03-07T12:07:11.793-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-84246237134782555882011-03-07T12:03:24.306-06:002011-03-07T12:03:24.306-06:00This seems odd to me. Is there really a vocal con...This seems odd to me. Is there <i>really</i> a vocal contingent arguing against publishing things?<br /><br />I don't visit the message boards any more, but I read lots of blogs and I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain about for profit stuff in the OSR. Ever.<br /><br />The closest was actually probably a post by myself, but that was more about wishing people would feel empowered to DIY and not feel like publishing was the only way to validate their work.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll take this opportunity to thank you for that first edition of Swords & Wizardry and some of the design decisions you made with it. The simplified saving throws and ascending AC got me excited about gaming again. And gaming again has made the quality of my life better. So thanks, man.Telecanterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238356788092725244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296104283452210018.post-13602350507415571612011-03-07T11:43:01.065-06:002011-03-07T11:43:01.065-06:00@Matt Thanks for the shout out but...
@Omlet I ne...@Matt Thanks for the shout out but...<br /><br />@Omlet I need an email or a user name to PM you so I can actually can give out a free copy. I been checking here and obviously my mail but I realize that comments to blogs have a quick way of being buried.Robert Conleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863009007381185340noreply@blogger.com