An afternoon of T-storms and early dismissal from school for DD and DS#2 helped prevent any effective work this afternoon. Soccer practices are cancelled tonight so there is a chance I might get things finished off for the Lantern Inn but, frankly, I doubt it. I will be struggling with it so we'll see what happens.
Blogger is supposed to have an outage later this afternoon/evening so I thought I'd post the update now.
Let's hope for another stealth product this weekend.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Argh!
Well, as I feared, the computer updates and some other last minute activities with the kids put me far enough behind that the next CS location isn't ready yet.
I still MIGHT get a chance to finish it today, but it doesn't look promising.
If I can't get it out by late tonight I will probably delay it for next week. The computer system and hardware updates sucked up a lot of time but they needed to be done.
I'll post another update tonight.
I still MIGHT get a chance to finish it today, but it doesn't look promising.
If I can't get it out by late tonight I will probably delay it for next week. The computer system and hardware updates sucked up a lot of time but they needed to be done.
I'll post another update tonight.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Huh?
Well, I just noticed that Tavern Denizens, Book I: The Dives is #10 on the "Hottest Items" list at RPGNow. I know that this is based on items sold per some sort of unit of time, but, well, let's just say it hasn't sold THAT many copies. Okay, full disclosure, it has sold 23 copies since release (paid copies). If that can get you to #10 on the "Hottest Items" list right now, well, let's just say sales can't be very good for others either.
In different news, my day has been an almost total waste in terms of any writing or product work. I spent a lot of time upgrading software (and some hardware) on the computers. I have the new MacOS installed and some other things done to make life easier for my wife. It was horrendously time consuming and right now the main desktop is still going through its thing.
Yes, I did backup everything first.
What I haven't been able to accomplish is any work. I am hoping to get writing here in just a few minutes. We'll see how that goes, pretty brain dead at the moment.
In different news, my day has been an almost total waste in terms of any writing or product work. I spent a lot of time upgrading software (and some hardware) on the computers. I have the new MacOS installed and some other things done to make life easier for my wife. It was horrendously time consuming and right now the main desktop is still going through its thing.
Yes, I did backup everything first.
What I haven't been able to accomplish is any work. I am hoping to get writing here in just a few minutes. We'll see how that goes, pretty brain dead at the moment.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Late is Good ?!
Well, the busy week made Tavern Denizens, Book I: The Dives a "stealth release" from my point of view. Yet, I did get time to send an email off and get it mentioned in the ENWorld news section AND I guess I "timed" the release so that it made its way into the RPGNow newsletter. In other words, I was so rushed that I got the book uploaded later than normal and it actually seems to have benefitted me.
My previous releases tended to get knocked out of the front page and didn't make into the newsletter due to the VAST amount of 3d poser art of "hawt elf babes" and such. I am thinking that if nudity and "babes" sell maybe I should do more drawing. Yes, I have been getting pretty annoyed by getting knocked off the front page of RPGNow by the rendered "clip" art. I am actually considering trying to do a decent drawing of some hot chick with a sword and pop that up as clip art and see how well it sells. The problem is, if it sold more than my other releases I would probably get depressed.
My previous releases tended to get knocked out of the front page and didn't make into the newsletter due to the VAST amount of 3d poser art of "hawt elf babes" and such. I am thinking that if nudity and "babes" sell maybe I should do more drawing. Yes, I have been getting pretty annoyed by getting knocked off the front page of RPGNow by the rendered "clip" art. I am actually considering trying to do a decent drawing of some hot chick with a sword and pop that up as clip art and see how well it sells. The problem is, if it sold more than my other releases I would probably get depressed.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Stealth Release
Well, things got very busy this week so I didn't really get a chance to post, and releasing Tavern Denizens, Book I: The Dives pretty much became a "stealth release." I STILL haven't updated the website but I did get some posts up on message boards and I got an email off to Russ Morrisey (Morrus at ENWorld) so I did get a mention on the ENWorld newspage which certainly seemed to help.
I was hoping to have another CS release ready at the same time but that simply did not work out. I guess that one will be released next Thursday.
The TD layout was a bit difficult due to the table arrangement I used. Basically, I had to choose between leaving lots of white space on some pages or running NPC descriptions over from one page to another (making reading, and copy/pasting more difficult). It is an electronic product so I went for ease of use. Now, if I do eventually do a print compilation of the Tavern Denizens line I will probably have to do the layout all over again. That would definitely been far into the future though so I am not going to worry about that now.
I hope to have a website up later today, but, well, today is going to be busy too.
I was hoping to have another CS release ready at the same time but that simply did not work out. I guess that one will be released next Thursday.
The TD layout was a bit difficult due to the table arrangement I used. Basically, I had to choose between leaving lots of white space on some pages or running NPC descriptions over from one page to another (making reading, and copy/pasting more difficult). It is an electronic product so I went for ease of use. Now, if I do eventually do a print compilation of the Tavern Denizens line I will probably have to do the layout all over again. That would definitely been far into the future though so I am not going to worry about that now.
I hope to have a website up later today, but, well, today is going to be busy too.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Back Home
Well, I am back from vacation. I forgot to set the auto-responder but it looks like I got mostly junk mail when I was gone. I have already taken care of the few messages I received.
Over the next several days I'll be plugging through the Tavern Denizens layout and working on the writing and editing for several City Streets locations. I will also be outlining my plans for any 4e products and (probably) putting up some sort of open call or call for writers, not sure yet exactly how much I'll be able to pay.
Over the next several days I'll be plugging through the Tavern Denizens layout and working on the writing and editing for several City Streets locations. I will also be outlining my plans for any 4e products and (probably) putting up some sort of open call or call for writers, not sure yet exactly how much I'll be able to pay.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Vacation again
Well, I leave for Spring Break with the family on March 7 and return March 14. I will have the laptop with me and will be working on several different projects but I probably won't be on the internet.
I decided that preparations for the trip would get insanely stressful if I force myself to finish up a few of the books before leaving. In addition, a "scheduled release" without advertising doesn't do very well. A few message board posts do seem to help sales. I should be able to finish several books up during my vacation and have some releases out on March 19.
In other news, I will be signing onto the 4e GSL and begin preparation on the "4gotten" product line. This line will include "4gotten options" and "4gotten trails." The options books will present rules options for game use, including things like items and spells, and the trails portion of the line will consist of adventures and possibly generic setting information. Now, everything here is in the planning stage and I know that there is no way I can write all of these myself. This means that I am going to want to find a rules person and some writers. The question becomes, what can I pay them? Some of the options books might not technically be under the GSL, we'll have to wait and see. The preliminary logo work didn't convert well but here is a small sample. This logo isn't set in stone yet, I actually have various versions right now, but I think this is the one I like the best. If you have an opinion, let me know.
Edit: with the black background the drop shadow effects simply don't show up at all do they? When I get the initial options cover done I will post a copy of that instead.
I decided that preparations for the trip would get insanely stressful if I force myself to finish up a few of the books before leaving. In addition, a "scheduled release" without advertising doesn't do very well. A few message board posts do seem to help sales. I should be able to finish several books up during my vacation and have some releases out on March 19.
In other news, I will be signing onto the 4e GSL and begin preparation on the "4gotten" product line. This line will include "4gotten options" and "4gotten trails." The options books will present rules options for game use, including things like items and spells, and the trails portion of the line will consist of adventures and possibly generic setting information. Now, everything here is in the planning stage and I know that there is no way I can write all of these myself. This means that I am going to want to find a rules person and some writers. The question becomes, what can I pay them? Some of the options books might not technically be under the GSL, we'll have to wait and see. The preliminary logo work didn't convert well but here is a small sample. This logo isn't set in stone yet, I actually have various versions right now, but I think this is the one I like the best. If you have an opinion, let me know.
Edit: with the black background the drop shadow effects simply don't show up at all do they? When I get the initial options cover done I will post a copy of that instead.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
GM's Day 2009 Tavern Special [Bundle]
Well, the original plan was to finish up an additional tavern and do a special layout of 4 taverns/inns for GM's Day. The various things going on slowed me down so much that this turned into a "Bundle" of products using the OneBookShelf/RPGNow software.
Basically, I have something out for GM's Day, it just isn't want I had hoped for.
Next week I will be on vacation. I have found that scheduling a release during vacation and being unable to post anything about it is fairly ineffective. If I get certain products ready by Friday I will release them and post about them at ENWorld, RPGnet, etc. If not, I will wait until the Thursday after my return (March 19). If this happens, I will probably have 2 releases that day.
Tavern Denizens turned into a layout nightmare. If you see the final product you'll probably understand why. Basically, the table entries get pretty large and, unless you let a description run over a page (looks terrible), you end up with lots of white space on some pages. I am going to be VERY busy the next few days so it is unlikely that I can get it all cleaned up before I leave. I will, of course, try.
During Spring Break I will be "internet free" but I WILL have my laptop with me so I am actually likely to get some work done. We'll just have to wait and see what the next few days bring.
Basically, I have something out for GM's Day, it just isn't want I had hoped for.
Next week I will be on vacation. I have found that scheduling a release during vacation and being unable to post anything about it is fairly ineffective. If I get certain products ready by Friday I will release them and post about them at ENWorld, RPGnet, etc. If not, I will wait until the Thursday after my return (March 19). If this happens, I will probably have 2 releases that day.
Tavern Denizens turned into a layout nightmare. If you see the final product you'll probably understand why. Basically, the table entries get pretty large and, unless you let a description run over a page (looks terrible), you end up with lots of white space on some pages. I am going to be VERY busy the next few days so it is unlikely that I can get it all cleaned up before I leave. I will, of course, try.
During Spring Break I will be "internet free" but I WILL have my laptop with me so I am actually likely to get some work done. We'll just have to wait and see what the next few days bring.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
4e and other things
Well, the revised GSL is acceptable and I will probably be signing on and doing a few 4e compatible products. I am going to have someone go over it first, just to make certain, but it looks like I can even do some 4e compatible products that aren't GSL and some that are. This probably isn't really even an issue. I do have ideas for some 4e products that fit into the guidelines of the GSL so I will probably go ahead and write those up.
Tavern Denizens hit a snag. When I changed a couple of things I wanted to do with it, I created a very difficult layout problem. I don't think I will be able to overcome that easily right now, particularly with some of the other things I need to get done today. I will update again when I know more.
I will be leaving for another vacation (Spring Break) this Saturday. I return the following Saturday. On my return I will probably post some more "open calls" or at least "calls" for some writing. I still won't be able to pay very much, but I clearly can't write everything I want to do myself.
Tavern Denizens hit a snag. When I changed a couple of things I wanted to do with it, I created a very difficult layout problem. I don't think I will be able to overcome that easily right now, particularly with some of the other things I need to get done today. I will update again when I know more.
I will be leaving for another vacation (Spring Break) this Saturday. I return the following Saturday. On my return I will probably post some more "open calls" or at least "calls" for some writing. I still won't be able to pay very much, but I clearly can't write everything I want to do myself.
Monday, March 2, 2009
4e GSL revised
Well, I am going to be "wasting" time looking at the revised 4e GSL and SRD over the next day and a half (or more) so this is probably going to cause some significant delays in a few products (particularly with my upcoming, internet-free (mostly) vacation with the family.
At first glance it looks like I might be doing some 4e products after all.
The question is, will these "glances" cause a delay to the first Tavern Denizens release?
At first glance it looks like I might be doing some 4e products after all.
The question is, will these "glances" cause a delay to the first Tavern Denizens release?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tavern Denizens
Well, the cover is done, but I decided to add something to Tavern Denizens so I am not sure that I'll have it out this week. Getting ready for vacation is going to take some time. I am going to do my best to get this one out, but I can't say for certain what will happen.
My plans include posting an update to the website tomorrow, but we'll see how that goes. My wife is on-call tomorrow night and one of the boys has soccer practice (huge surprise, I know). I plan to do more writing tonight so the website is going to have to be tomorrow.
My plans include posting an update to the website tomorrow, but we'll see how that goes. My wife is on-call tomorrow night and one of the boys has soccer practice (huge surprise, I know). I plan to do more writing tonight so the website is going to have to be tomorrow.
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