Fantasy settings

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

I'm not sure I like the sound of that. That's Mongoose size.

I want Dorastor, Pavis & Big Rubble, Borderlands - that kind of stuff.

A 64 page setting book? What can you fit into that? A setting book should be bigger, then it can later be followed by smaller supplements.

SGL.

Based on what Dustin and I talked about a while ago, their goal is to break a setting into manageable pieces to start with - smaller sourcebooks with followup publications if the setting was popular.

I think they're trying to steer clear of monolithic settings that take forever to detail and even longer to write.

Remember that all of the works you mention began initially as smaller pieces, articles in fanzines, etc.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by badcat

It sounds like the monograph format, to test the market I suppose.

Nope.

The excerpt I quoted was #1 of three plans Dustin was eager to pursue. #2 was BRP monographs. #3 was something else that I can't talk about.

[badcat]

Any of the above would be likely to help with my BRP homebrew, so that's fine.

[Trifletraxor]

I do not like the monograph format at all. They're like doomed to stay underground forever. They will not be taken into RPG stores, and few would order them, since the shipment often surpases the cost of the book. If Cthulhu Rising hadn't been available for free from the CR website, I would not have gotten a look at it. Ordering from Chaosium is just to expensive, at least if you live in Europe.

SGL.

[Jason Durall]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

I do not like the monograph format at all. They're like doomed to stay underground forever. They will not be taken into RPG stores, and few would order them, since the shipment often surpases the cost of the book.

If I recall correctly, one of the main goals of the monographs was specifically to create a reason fans would periodically check out the website. A second goal was to offer something like those old mimeographed booklets that were available only at conventions, directly from Chaosium.

I'm not saying those are great reasons, but the monograph program does fill both of those requirements solidly.

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

Ordering from Chaosium is just to expensive, at least if you live in Europe.

That's a valid concern. You should email them directly and let them know you've got a problem with that.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by badcat

It sounds like the monograph format, to test the market I suppose.

I wish they could find another way to do that, I hate buying things twice. But if it's the only way...

I dont like monographs. I am working in the print business and it hurts my eyes if I see one of these booklets. 25years ago I made fanzines which looked better.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

Based on what Dustin and I talked about a while ago, their goal is to break a setting into manageable pieces to start with - smaller sourcebooks with followup publications if the setting was popular.

I think they're trying to steer clear of monolithic settings that take forever to detail and even longer to write.

Remember that all of the works you mention began initially as smaller pieces, articles in fanzines, etc.

Aha. Just producing some nice teasers and then looking what the customers are interested in. And those settings will be supported with additional material. Looks like a good idea. Maybe they made a successful economics check and added 6% to their original skill of 20%.

The only difficulty could be to find good writers for this. How about you Jason? Ahem...what are you planning in the next 10 years?

(OMG I hope these teasers will not be monographs, )

[Rurik]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

I do not like the monograph format at all. They're like doomed to stay underground forever. They will not be taken into RPG stores, and few would order them, since the shipment often surpases the cost of the book. If Cthulhu Rising hadn't been available for free from the CR website, I would not have gotten a look at it. Ordering from Chaosium is just to expensive, at least if you live in Europe.

SGL.

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

That's a valid concern. You should email them directly and let them know you've got a problem with that.

Wow. I would say overall Chaosium/BRP has at least as strong support overseas (Europe) than in the US, if not even stronger support. I agree the Monographs are overpriced for what you get (but so are most 'niche' products compared to more mainstream products) - but making them prohibitively expensive overseas is a big mistake, as well as a disservice to their loyal European fanbase. I'd never thought about that before (but then I'm not really affected by it).

[Trifletraxor]

Originally Posted by Jason Durall

That's a valid concern. You should email them directly and let them know you've got a problem with that.

That's a good idea. I will do that.

Originally Posted by Enpeze

I dont like monographs. I am working in the print business and it hurts my eyes if I see one of these booklets. 25years ago I made fanzines which looked better.

They could at least throw on a colour cover! A own Chaosium store on Lulu would be better, as they print on demand both in the U.S. and in Europe, and the covers always colour even if the book is black and white.

SGL.

[Enpeze]

Originally Posted by Trifletraxor

That's a good idea. I will do that.



They could at least throw on a colour cover! A own Chaosium store on Lulu would be better, as they print on demand both in the U.S. and in Europe, and the covers always colour even if the book is black and white.

SGL.

Yep. This would be a modern solution.