The game is finished, now what?

[Allan]

Hello all,

I'm nearing completion of my Sweet Dreams RPG books, in preparation for my first GenCon in August.  The graphic designer is doing the layout and website, the other illustrators are working on the last of the pictures, and I'm trying to stay useful by spreading the word in forums.  I plan to make the PDF available to the Forge before printing, but what I'm really looking for is advice on printing, publishing and distribution.

Sweet Dreams is the storytelling game of Romance, Espionage and Horror in High School.  There are 2 books, a Players' Book (250 pages), and a Guidebook (about 100 pages).  Both are heavily illustrated in black and white by myself and 3 other artists.  I think the art is one of the main selling points of the game, and I'm planning on color covers.  

It's a crunchy, point-build system, fairly traditional compared to most of what I've seen around the Forge.  Gameplay is about developing soap-operatic relationships and romances, while investigating an ongoing Conspiracy in multiple realities.  Character creation takes 15 minutes using quick templates, or hours if you build a concept from scratch.  So it's much better suited to long campaign play than to one-shots (although people who play the convention one-shots really like it).

I've been seeing a few posts lately stating that these kinds of high-commitment games are not viable as indies (the argument being that the audience for these games aren't going to abandon WoD or whatever they've already got).  Quite possibly true.  But this is the game I've got, it works, it's fun, it's different, I believe in it, and I want to get it to as many people as I can.

So, what publishing/distribution model is the right one for a game like this?  How do I get reviews?  How do I get players to try it?

My current plan is to sign with a POD distributor, like Key20 or IPR (both of which have expressed interest).  I'll print a small run to take to conventions (GenCon and Dragonflight in August), and run games online through GhostOrb (https://www.ghostorb.com/).  What am I missing?

I'd prefer to have the books actually published, but how is that possible?

Please check out the website (http://sweetdreams.acwpd.com/), in progress.  I'll post the PDF soon.

Thanks a lot.  I learn so much from this forum, and am constantly humbled and inspired by the designers who post here.  I wish I'd known about the Forge 8 years ago when I started this game!

[Michael S. Miller]

How do I get reviews?  How do I get players to try it?

Read this thread and all internally linked threads: Getting material reviewed/ PR/ Advert


Although your book seems kinda thick for the exclusively PDF route, there's also: Do PDF sales undercut Print sales? If so, to what extent?

And don't forget Clinton's New version of "How to Publish Your RPG" essay

That'll keep you busy for a bit. 8^)

[Allan]

THanks Micheal, I'll check those out.  

How do I get the weblink in my signature to appear as just a word instead of the whole address?

[Allan]

Sweet, thanks Michael!  The Big Night link is working, not sure why the Sweet Dreams link isn't.  Anyway, the Big Night link can still get you to the Sweet Dreams page.

[Allan]

Thanks Yoki.  Both links are working now.

[Allan]

The first half of the Players' Book, covering Setting, Rules, and CharGen, is available for download for playtesters here.

There's also a rough character sheet.  I'd welcome any suggestions for the final design.

We're laying out the rest of the book (Abilities, Subplots, and Flaws) now.

[Allan]

Sweet Dreams banner up on RPGBlog.  This is my first advertisement, we'll see how well it works.  So far no one has heard of this game, so if anyone hears aout it through this blog, that's a plus!  

Any feedback on the banner itself would be appreciated.

[Jasper]

The ad would be improved by two things I think: (1) color, and (2) making the image itself a link. I was confused and didn't immediately see the text link above it. I don't know if that's in your control, but it's pretty normal for ad images to be links.

[Allan]

Banner is now color, thanks.