He Did It: Unknown Armies

[princeofcairo]

Accidentally, UA may turn out to be a harbinger of the viable RPG publishing model in the new century. Somewhat idealized as follows:

Old: An existing publisher develops a concept in-house, expands it as need be with generic freelancers, and publishes it identically to other projects, into an existing line or schedule, with conventional (or no)

Comments

[a_machine]

That sounds suspiciously like taking pride in your craft. I don't think gaming warrants that much investiture of self. It's just a game.

*flees*

So if you're not John Tynes...

[bluegargantua]

What's the path to move from "no name" to "big name" designer? Lots of freelance work? Independent publishing? A bit of both?

"I'm a First Level Designer, I've got the Houserules Feat"
Tom

Re: So if you're not John Tynes...

[jholloway]

Hmmm. I think "a decade or more of bitter struggle" is the traditional answer.

[chadu]

Yup, that's sort of my plan with Dead Inside, though with more input from the similar Nobilis publishing model (publish indie game, build marketing base, examine the mindshare, look for a publisher to put out a new higher quality edition of game through the distribution channel).

I wonder if Hogshead forced or suggested a separate line developer in BB to RSB. Any insights?

CU

[multiplexer]

I absolutely agree, although you have to build the indie game and publish it before you become the big name designer that independantly produces the game and gets noticed by a publisher to distribute it. It's a chicken and the egg problem.

I spent many hours in zen contemplating pondering it.

If you're me, and too goddamn lame to write your own game (although rumour has it I'm waiting for Fudgeless FATE, but with me, I'm probably waiting for Godot at this rate) you get stuck in the freelancer doldrums of the old model. As of April, I will have worked on 14 books, 5 written by myself, and no one knows who the hell I am -- or still! Because freelancers are a dime a dozen, and you can scatter some rice on the floor of a con and pick up yourself 2 or 3 who will work in the old model for nothing.

[bryant]

When I make my millions from dot-coms (shut up, I don't want to hear it), I intend to build a small press RPG publisher on the SF model -- I want to be Old Earth Press, or Night Shade Books.

[multiplexer]

When that happens and hell freezes over, can I be your small press's official hussy, Bryant? I promise to drape appealingly while talking about probability curves, design decisions, grammatical technique and the Templars. :P

[bryant]

Yeah, that was pretty much why I used 'em as an example. ;) Well, plus the Karl Edward Wagner.