Re: Give it time.

From: Tim Ellis <tim_at_...>
Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2005 16:46:12 -0000

Well, Issaries does produce the Unfinished Works, don't they?

However "Traditionally" such publications are not particularly profitable (look at the large numbers of RPG magazines that are currently produced professionally). There is also possible problems with physical quality/presentation (as opposed to the quality of the content). - The Unfinished Works are Esoteric enough to avoid this, but if Issaries were to produce a "fan works" book along the lines of Tradetalk/UW/YBOT* etc it either needs to produce them to the same quality as it's regular line, or risk it's image in the market place being seen as a "fan" rather than a "pro" publisher. Plus given that Issaries only has a limited amount of resources (both money and time) it is probably better that they concentrate on "real" books.

Maybe one model that might work is the one Chaosium use for their Monographs, which AIUI is that the authors provide "camera ready" proofs to Chaosium who sell them (as "Print on Demand"?) mail order only on an "As is " basis. I assume the authors make something on each copy sold, as presumably, do Chaosium. By making them Mail Order only you are selling them to fans who will appreciate getting the material and accept the physical quality as opposed to having them next to full colour glossy books in the game store, but you do lose the advantage of having "new books" released more often to games stores and the consequent pushing of the brand profile.

*No slight intended to any of the fan publishers whose works I'd heartily recommend to anyone who doesn't yet have them...

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