[HOE] New Idea (was: Re: [DL] Combined format?$$$$$$$$$$ (GOFF & Shane))]

[Dirk <darklord@dark-sky.net>]

Thought I'd forward this onto the HOE list so they can get in on the discussion
too.

> My guess is he's commenting on Shane's comment of Sales of source books being
> down.  I think we went over this once before about the profitability of books,
> and I seem to recall that after you take into account writing costs, art costs,
> distributors slice of the pie, printing costs... and anything else I missed, a
> 20 dollar book only brings in a buck or two in profit.  If you think I'm
> exaggerating, check the list archives for the full explanation.
>
> As for the combined format here are my thoughts
> I have mixed feelings on the combined books.  First, most of my thoughts have
> already been stated (back pack space, being able to find what you are looking
> for).  But also think about what the combined books will be able to give us
> that it really isn't feasible to do in a source book.  Europe comes to mind.  A
> different European country every month would eventually get that region
> covered.  Dime novels, I for one miss those little suckers.  The Combined books
> might just provide a way for these to come back.  8 pages of fiction and 8
> pages of adventure wouldn't take all that much space outta the book.  I always
> liked the way that the fiction part was fun to read, plus it gave the marshal a
> better insight to some of the NPCs in the adventure, mannerisms, attitudes, and
> the ways of speaking and such, as well as an overall better feel to the
> adventure.  All sorts of other "small stuff" that otherwise wouldn't have a
> published home.  Also, has anyone thought that maybe PEG was running out of
> stuff to do full source books on... or at least full source books that would
> sell enough copies for them to be able to do the source book in the first
> place.  Again, Europe comes to mind, I know a bunch of people would like to see
> it covered, but would enough people buy it to make it worth it?  The combined
> books can be a place for all of this.
>
> Woah, I just thought of something as I was writing this message.  The combined
> books, the Combine.  Anyone see a similarity here?  Are we seeing PEG through
> the eyes of Throckmorton here?
>
> Ok, now I'm not going to rant and rave all message, so now I am going to try
> and do something constructive and offer a suggestion to PEG.  96 page setting
> specific books, similar to what the epitaph was, but keeping them specific to
> Weird West, Wasted West, and eventually, the Way Out West.  I think there would
> be more then enough content to fill 96 pages for each setting, and each setting
> could be released every three months for around 15 bucks.  Weird West, in
> January, April, July, and October, Wasted west in February, May, August, and
> November, and Way out West in March, June, September, and December.  And still
> toss in the full source books as necessary.
>
> Here's what I would like to see them contain.
> 1.  Dime Novel (8 pages fiction, 8 pages Adventure, about the same size as they
> would be if they were half sized pages instead of full ones.)
> 2.  Reader submitted stuff: Fiction, Adventures, Tables, artwork (this would
> cut down on your art costs), articles, critters, powers, so on and so forth
> (around 32 pages)
> 3.  What's happening in our world (4-8 pages) short summaries of what different
> posses around the world have been doing, maybe containing links to peg's site
> that would contain the full stories.
> 4.  PEG's Topic of the Month, one or two features (36-40 pages total) on
> different locations, AB's, and other stuff that people would love to see in a
> book, but isn't enough to get a full source book.
> 5.  Articles (4-8 pages)  Tips for running better games, how to work different
> stuff into your games, general advice for marshals, maybe even an "Ask the
> marshal" section (kind of like dear abby, but cool).
>
> Well, would a book like this be better received by everyone?  Do we need to add
> anything else to it?  Lets here your thoughts on this, cause PEG is the type of
> company that if a product is going to upset a large portion of their fan base
> and a better idea comes along, that the fan base likes and would have material
> for both marshal's and players, I think they would listen.  We have already
> seen 12+ messages indicating that the combined books are a not so hot idea and
> a good chunk of them stated that they (or people they know) would not buy the
> new combined books.  So lets let em know what we think and if anyone has a
> better suggestion, post em, I'm sure they'd love to hear em.
>
> Well, sorry for taking so long to get to my point, but thanks for listening.
>
> --Dirk
> -I'd buy the combined books, but I'd be much happier buying a book more along
> the lines of what I suggested, and I think others would too.
>
> John Goff wrote:
>
> > > I am a bit confused as to how a 128 page $20 book could not be profitable
> > I've been trying to follow the comments--but this one lost me just a bit.
> > (Not all that hard to do, really...) ;-)
> >
> > If you could explain which comment it's in reference to, I'll do my best to
> > fill in the blanks. :-)
> >
> > John Goff
>
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