Catalog

[philreed]

I just brought something like this up on the DPG mailing list. The idea was pretty much rejected by most who responded.

I would be willing to volunteer to help with this. I've already done research on this and have some ideas to go about doing it.

[philreed]

In my ~24 hour GenCon trip last year (I don't recommend anyone else fly in late Friday night and leave very early Sunday morning) I made a point of swinging by the booth and congratulating you on your award. I thought you guys were doing a great job with the booth.

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Phil,

Um, yeah. I remember that. (Or I will when I get the foot out of my mouth ...)

Anyway, your offer to participate is greatly appreciated. Let me know what you'd like to help with.

Best,
Ron

[philreed]

I'm most interested in working on a catalog of products. I think this would benefit many of us. While I'm not exactly doing independent RPG work (but I have released a PDF card game and have plans for more of them) I can say that I'm publishing PDFs and enjoying it.

I'd like to do a full-color catalog but understand that may not be possible due to cost. What is more likely is to do a B&W through small press co-op. I would do all layout and coordination on a catalog. But how many people would be interested?

I'm not sure if I'll be at GenCon this year (San Diego Comic Con is about the same time and I have to be at that) but I am more than willing to help in any way that I can.

[Jason L Blair]

All I really want to say is that Phil Reed is very close to being "Da Bomb" and if this could get pulled together, I think Phil Reed would make one helluva great looking piece.

Shame ya won't be at GenCon, Phil, but alas neither shall I.

[philreed]

I'd love to make something super slick and attractive to draw in people. What I'd like, more than anything, is a catalog that's just a little bit more than a catalog. One that includes a page or two of information on each game, maybe even going so far as to have the basic rules for each game printed so that potential customers get more than just an image and marketing blurb.

A step beyond this would be for the catalog to also include some original supplementary material for different games. This would help ensure that people keep and use the catalog on a regular basis.

But is there anyone out there would would like to be part of such a catalog?

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Phil,

I think it's a gimme-question that any of us would like to be part of such a catalogue. The issue is whether enough people get enough stuff to you in time for it to happen. The problem with the issue is that half-a-catalogue is no good; for it to achieve the goal that makes it worthwhile, it needs to represent quite a few people, at the very least everyone at the booth.

Organizing that will have to be up to you, although I'll be the first to say that I'll send ya what ya need for my three games.

Best,
Ron

[Ron Edwards]

Hi there,

I just split the above posts from the GenCon 2003 thread. One bit that's lacking, because it was integrated into a post that had parent-thread stuff in it, is my response to Phil that assumed he didn't know what the booth was about.

Let's talk catalogue, though!

Best,
Ron

[philreed]

Material for the catalog is not my concern. My concern is funding.

If we can determine how many would be involved, and how much money we could get, we could figure out all of our options and discuss them. Amount of space in the catalog would, of course, be determined by the amount each individual invests.

To get things going, I could contribute $400 or so to a catalog fund.

[Ron Edwards]

Looking back over the parent thread, I see that Jared and Matt Snyder originally proposed the catalogue. I should have been more careful with my splitting.

Anyway, whoever wants to do the catalogue thing, work out how you might do it on this thread. No one has been "chosen" by me as "the guy," nor do I plan on doing so.

Best,
Ron

[philreed]

And I'm more than willing to assist or do. Whatever. I just think this is a tool that would benefit several of us and something that can't be done by one person.

[Michael Hopcroft]

How far in advance would you need to know a product will actually be at the show before you can put it in the catalog? I have several products int he works that have uncertain release dates (they have to be written and printed).

[philreed]

First decision after "Should a catalog be made?" is "Who is project lead?"

All other questions cannot be properly addressed until decisions have been made.

[Matt Snyder]

First decision after "Should a catalog be made?" is "Who is project lead?"

All other questions cannot be properly addressed until decisions have been made.

I think there's little, if any, dissent on whether we should do a catalog.

But, that still leaves wholes scads of questions:

* What format is it?
* How many?
* Where available?
* How much will it cost?

* Who gets to be in it? (For example, is it Forge Moderators? Forge booth attendees who chip in $100 or more? Any and all Indie RPG creators?)
* Is a fee required?
* What space limitation must be required (i.e. how much stuff can one guy have in the thing?)

* Who, as Phil has pointed out, leads the project? Who else takes part? How (tecnically speaking -- OS, software, etc) is it actually done?

Ron, I realize you're juggling battleships at this point in time, but I think someone, somehow needs to designate authority to volunteers, and at least set up one or a few people to decide these issues (though some might be best left to Forge discusssion, like who get's to be in the thing).

Say the word, Ron. Consider my services still volunteered for this, cool? Whatever you decide, however, is cool w/  me.

[philreed]

* What format is it?

I would recommend the Small Press Co-Op Standard. This would make it a B&W catalog but gets you some of the best rates I've been able to find.

* How many?

10,000 minimum.

* Where available?

At The Forge booth at GenCon. But also be sure to ship enough copies to all of the contributors so that they can have some for local cons, stores, game clubs, etc.

* How much will it cost?

I would expect $1,500 to $2,000 should do things. Exact costs, numbers, and size could be decided after we get some idea of how much money everyone can devote to the project.

* Who gets to be in it? (For example, is it Forge Moderators? Forge booth attendees who chip in $100 or more? Any and all Indie RPG creators?)

I would say small press and PDF publishers. I expect others will say "Indie" only.

* Is a fee required?

Yes.

* What space limitation must be required (i.e. how much stuff can one guy have in the thing?)

Should be based on pay. So many dollars per page.