#rpgaday2017

#rpgaday2017

24. Share a PWYW publisher who should be charging more.

Preface: I spend money on RPGs, and on content creators on patreon. I back kickstarters.

I don't really understand the RPG industry as an industry. There are a few megastars (D&D) that can generate an income for a few professionals and represent a rounding error of the company (Hasbro) it is owned by. But, the indie stuff --- the vast majority of what I play -- I do not understanding generating a sufficient per hourly revenue stream to justify itself.

I'm looking at Fiasco / AW / Fate / OSR stuff. The economics have never really made sense, and maybe someone can explain it. I reckon to do something for economic reasons, it needs to be what, $30 an hour pose expenses?

Maybe that sounds high, but I figure: taxes are higher, insecurity is pretty high, and the requisite skills are pretty high. By definition, we're talking about people who have office skills -- as in, can write, maybe draw, have a creative vision.

I've no idea how long it takes someone proficient to crank out a cool-ass game. I reckon creating the game is only the first step, as there's playtesting, con going, maybe social media, etc. Even if these are free, they are all time.

The upside is made even harder by the same problem any professionalization of a hobby as -- amateurs. Why spend hundreds of dollars for D&D (or even, Traveller Mongoose books) when I can spend $10 on an OSR hack? Why spend $10 on a fate hack (or a pbta hack) when the community is small enough that I have friends who will write them for me?

And, sure, sure, there's quality and time issues -- but I am exactly the target demographic to spend more money to better enjoy my game time. And while I'll support content being created by people who I dig, it's at least partially to magnify those voices.

tl;dr - I don't believe in the RPG "industry".

#rpgaday2017

#rpgaday2017

10. Where do you go for RPG reviews?

Combination of word of mouth (Misha B), games showing up in person (Charles King, George Austin, Rachael Storey), and five questions with Brie Sheldon.