What do you think, scam?

[Vaxalon]

I got this email tonight:

Seasons Greetings Noble Adventurer!

I was exploring cyberspace and came across your ad at one website for
gamers. (That is where I got  your email address.)  I am big  AD&D,
Role-playing fan myself.  I have been playing Dungeons and Dragons, GURPS
and RoleMaster for nearly 25 years now.

Anyway, I realized I might have something of interest to you.

Got Magic?

I have got Tomes of Forgotten Magical Items (Weapons & Armor) Both Plain and
Author signed. Each contains over 1000 magical items. (Rare, Different and
Original) Castles & Keeps, Fortresses & Strongholds, Labyrinths & Lairs,
Mazes & Catacombs, Caves & Caverns and Temple & Tombs Map Sets. I also have
the BEST Character Sheets, and the Ultimate DM/GM  DungeonLords Logbook.
(Complete with Silver embossed card and full color certificate.)

If you think  you might be interested in this stuff, for yourself or others
this holiday season, please visit my web page at www.DunJon.Com

This stuff is rare, I am the only person who can offer it. (So your friends
who have everything may not have this stuff.)  I have got lots of free
samples/examples of items for you to look at, and all this stuff has
received very good feedback from those who have tried it. Take a look, I
think you might like what you see. If you link to me, I will repay the favor
by linking to you, and by giving you  a 20% rebate on anything you might get
from me.

Regardless of what you do, thanks for reading this message. This is a one
time email, it was individually sent to you, so you won't be getting
another. (Unless I run across another site from another directory, I can't
help that, I don't want to be a bother, but I do want to get the word out.)
I am not some big company, corporation or scammer. I am just a disable
veteran, doing the best I can, with what I got, to raise a little extra
money for my family for Christmas. (It is too cold, and I am to old to sell
stamps or  pencils on street corners.)

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Best Regards,
Jon Volden
AKA PaladinJon

[TonyLB]

Scam?  To me it just sounds like someone self-publishing.  He's the only one who can offer it... because he wrote it.  "Author-signed" in that circumstance is also an easy thing to offer.

Sounds like a decent enough fellow trying to break into the industry.  My sympathies go out to him as a fellow dreamer, even setting aside his personal hardship.

[jc_madden]

Hmm no probably not a "scam" per se other than being very poor quality  and badly written.

[MisterPoppet]

Hmm... seems doubtful that he's a scam dude. However, whether he made it or not, it seems like pretty good stuff. I like those maps, and might get me some. Heh heh heh... maps.

-Poppet-

[smokewolf]

Yeah, self promotion. The Tome of Forgotten Magical Items was written by Jon Volden, the guy from the email.

Check out the cover of the book
http://www.dunjon.com/samp110.htm

[twiztidsoul0512]

That's kinda wierd. I checked out the sample and I have a copy of volume 1 of these books sitting on my shelf next to me. I picked it up at a yard sale, god about six years ago. I can tell you the books are not great but they are not awful either. There are a lot of good weapons and armor in there, however most of the items have a very munchkin feel to them. So I would have to say that it is not a scam since I have a hard copy of the book.