Plans for the Future?

[kafka47]

Well, for one, I think it has to do with current distribution model that RPGs are founded upon. There is still a belief that designated stores will offer a place for gamers to gather and when they see abundance that they might buy something else. All the gaming stores I know also rely heavily upon the separation between retail and wholeseller distributor model (for if there is something wrong they schlep the whole order back--POD does not offer such guarantees).

It is a dated business model but until we can eliminate postage fees or at least build them in to the pricing (or at least find cheaper alternatives than Kinkos--which is the very high end of print shops in Canada).

T5, I have a feeling will go the POD route after the inital release of the rules, as FFE is too small of a player in a world dominated by Wizards (read: Hasbro) & White Wolf (read: EVE Online) unless he finds a major corporate backer that will allow him freedom yet control. As he does not want to make the same mistakes that he did by trusting Sweet Pea Enterprises.

 

[Malenfant]

The gaming stores that have survived best are most often the ones that don't deal in RPGs alone - they do board games, card games, DVDs, comics, books, the whole shebang. I don't know what you mean by saying that they rely on the separation between retail and wholeseller - the classic model for rpg stores is publisher-distributor-retailer, which generally works out worst for small publishers since they're making the least possible profit that way (whereas they'd make the most possible profit by getting people to buy direct from them).

IIRC Marc does own or run his own print business though? There seems to be one associated with FFE anyway. Maybe he can print more cheaply with that, but I suspect POD or PDF is still going to be the most cost-effective solution for him. And Wizards and WW aren't the only big players (though they are the biggest) - there's Mongoose, SJG, Hero, etc too.

 

[Rhialto the Marvelous]

Just stumbled upon this--a couple of small press people are having a discussion about various POD companies on rpg.net right now:

http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=309495

 

[kafka47]

Actually, the classic distribution model for RPGs is: Freelancer->Publisher->Wholeseller->Distributor->Retailer->Consumer

I completely agree with you Mal. small publishers are severely disadvantaged by this system. WW & Wizards are the biggest and have the biggest backers. Mongoose will sink or swim by their gamble with Runequest OGL in the next few but at best predictions probably tread water. SJG, Evil Stevie has already said he is going scale back GURPS. Hero is small potatoes compared to the previous companies mentioned. There will always be new entries but if there is not the money then expect more and more people wanting the safety of the large corporate sponsor. And, those companies ultimately may not care about a product line that seems heading nowhere fast. But, then the "next big thing" might happen and any property with firmly established IP and a fanbase can stand to profit by the wave.

The print business that Marc does run seems just for local needs more akin to your local Mailboxes Etc. shop nothing on a big scale (if you look at FFE reprints, they are not printed by his shop suggesting something small).

POD & PDF are a quick way to get simple products out and raise capital. Books are going to be with us for some time yet. What each RPG publisher has to learn is the correct mix or balance of product options.

R. the Marvelous, thx for the link. Good to know about such things.