Saturday, July 25, 2009

Release Schedule

I am working on a tentative release schedule right now. I am trying to decide how best to space releases while giving myself time to actually finish some of the various projects on my plate.
I did not release Agouri's Scriptorium this weekend. I felt it would get lost in the Christmas in July promotion. I am trying to decide if I will release it this coming Friday or the following Friday. I believe I will list it for August 7th. I'll post here when I finally get the website updated with more information.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Summer Tavern Special I

Well, the cover is posted below so I don't see a reason to repost it, but the Christmas in July-2009 Summer Tavern Special I compilation is out and available at RPGNow and other OBS stores. I tried to send comp copies to those loyal customers that have already purchased a number of the taverns in the compilation but the software seemed to stop at 10 customers and I know this means I missed some people.

If you are a customer that has purchased these taverns already (check the list) go ahead and email me. I will "set you up."

All of GU's other products are 20% off for the duration of the sale as well so don't forget to pick up anything you happen to be missing.

Soon I will post information on some upcoming releases. I am feeling "ahead of the game" at the moment, but this usually means I get slammed with something else. Let's hope that doesn't happen.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Scary ...


Two posts in one day?

The "Christmas in July" promotion special is going to be a compilation of the taverns published so far, and an added bonus hole-in-the-wall and possibly something to promote the Tavern Denizens product line. This is going to be one .pdf so it is a slightly updated layout for a few of these and I did something different to make the cover stand out a bit.

Now that I have posted twice in one day I suppose you shouldn't look forward to more news until at least Thursday or so ;).

Curious

Well, I was just looking at sales numbers for the weekend so far and came across something I noticed with past releases. A new release DEFINITELY drives some sales of older releases ("backstock" doesn't seem like the correct term for .pdfs).

Not counting unpaid sales that went to reviewers, The Mug and Bottle has sold 6 copies since it's release. In the same period of time I have sold 11 copies of previous releases. The majority of those went to one buyer that basically bought the City Streets line (they bought some earlier in the week and finished off buying everything this weekend).

This suggests my original plan of trying to have a CS release every 2 weeks is still a very good idea. It has been difficult to hit that during the summer though. This coming week I should have another release ready before the "Christmas in July" promotion as well as a special compilation. I am a little worried that the new release will get lost in the flood so I am considering what to do. It might be better sales-wise to have the compilation ready for this week's promotion and then use the new release next week in an effort to drive some further sales.

I'll be thinking about these things as the week progresses and let you know my decision.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

On the way...

Okay, Agouri's Scriptorium is on the way. I got permission to use a clip art piece by V Shane that happens to match my mental picture of Agouri so this one will actually have a decent piece of artwork in it. He released some illustrations in his blog at various times and I happened to catch this one a while back. It fits so I emailed him about using it and got the "go ahead." In response, of course, I plan to purchase some of his clipart packages so that he has some compensation (and I have more art to use).

Still not sure if I made the "official" list participating in the "Christmas in July" promotion at RPGNow/DTRPG. I kept forgetting to email about it, Sean said he would try to get me in. If not, well, I will discount everything anyway and hope for the best. The GM's day promotion had so many participants that it really didn't help me all that much, though I do think the reduced prices and bundle I released for it helped.

I hope to have a special tavern compilation available for this promotion as well. This one will go through layout as one book and remain for sale after the promotion. It will be a struggle to get it ready though. We'll see how it all goes.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

The Mug and Bottle

Yes, The Mug and Bottle is done, uploaded, and, well, not for sale until just after Midnight tonight. I am hoping to stay on the front page of RPGNow and DTRPG through the weekend, but past experience has shown this is difficult to do. If you don't time things correctly and end up on the front page, and/or end up in one of the newsletters, sales truly do suffer.

The only hesitation I had about this release is the fact that it is another dock-area type bar. I wasn't going to release it next (Brandy's by the Bay is our most recent release, but that was, well a LONG time ago now) but it is done and I guess this means I am a bit closer to creating a dockside/dock area compilation in the future.

Here is the blurb:
The Mug and Bottle
Whatever vice your PCs, or the criminals they seek, might have, The Mug and Bottle is happy to serve their dark desires.

Zeon the Bold serves drugs, booze and women in the run down warehouse he converted into a tavern and brothel designed specifically to serve the basest vices of the sailors, dockworkers, and anyone else willing to enter The Mug and Bottle. Home to addicts and drunks, Zeon makes no secret that he will help satisfy any vice, if he doesn’t have what you need, he certainly knows someone that does, for a price.

GM Note: This product describes several new drugs in generic terms for your game use. It does contain themes of drug use, addiction, and prostitution that might not be appropriate for your game, but these themes can easily be altered.
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We'll see if I can get this in the news listings on some of the other websites this weekend.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Mug and Bottle



Well, just a quick update to let the few of you that read this know that the Mug and Bottle is indeed going to be ready this week. The cover is on the front page of the website and I decided to post the maps here.

I am not thrilled with the way the maps came out, I used a heavier weight paper than I usually use and the paper seemed to catch quite a bit of pencil and ink that I wasn't expecting. Basically, it is a rougher textured paper that I have used for some other things with great success but for maps you want to have much crisper lines.

I plan to release this on Friday, probably just after midnight Thursday to see if I can stay on the front page listing of new releases at RPGNow and DTRPG for a few days over the weekend. Lately that hasn't worked out well.

The Mug and Bottle itself is a combination dive/drug den/brothel aimed at serving the vices of sailors and workers throughout the dock district (or any district you put it in). It has listings (sans stats) of a few drugs that are offered as well as some of the ladies willing to provide their special services. I'll post more about it when I have the advertising blurbs written up.

Friday, July 10, 2009

I was Wrong

Okay, my procedure did slow me down enough that I am not able to get a release out before leaving for the weekend. I will do my best to make up for it with more information on the website this Sunday and a better release plan for the rest of July (and, if I am lucky, early August).

Monday, July 6, 2009

Back from Vacation

I am back and working away on several different projects. There should be a release this week. I have a small outpatient procedure on Thursday afternoon but this shouldn't prevent an early Friday release.

I will answer emails later tonight.