jreyst - Sorry for coming at you earlier and making a big deal about all this. It's just been very frustrating and costly on our end trying to fix the site. I wasn't trying to leave anyone in the cold about the site, just waiting for more details. Again, sorry for being aggressive in my responses.
ShadowcatX - truce. I agree with you, under the circumstances, I wanted a hard decision to offer the members, not speculation. In an industry where I see years go by before some companies offer explanations, refunds, updates. I didn't think 2 weeks to have solid info was pushing it.
ChristinaStiles - thanks, and we do. Hopefully we can get some other projects finished up and out while we figure out what, if anything, we can do about the site.
silverhair2008 - thanks, that's how we felt about it. I didn't want to say for sure what was going to happen until I had concrete info. I really didn't want to lead people on if we were going to have to close anyways.
We are going to continue to look for ways to make the site run on a different host, be maintained more efficiently, and reach a larger membership base, but it's most likely going to take time.
well, they know now, thanks for the lesson. We will strive to work harder on dealing with issues involving our customers in the future and try not epically fail again.
I do love the fact, instead of emailing us, sending a message on here, FB or any other means you could to contact us and just ask - making a public post about the issue and then questioning what we are doing and the reason for delays was the best option for you.
IMO if you can't fulfill your part of the bargain, for any reason, you should contact your customers. Not expect them to contact you. And certainly not publicly complain that they chose to contact you in a way that you do not approve of. Customer service epic fail.
Customers knew we were having difficulties with the site, it was posted on our private forums and discussed in a newsletter that was sent out.
No further updates were given because we didn't have concrete information on what we could do or was being done with our host.
Honestly, because we can't resolve the issues with the host, and they have not been stellar on getting back with us to fix anything. I would rather close the site down then continue to drag on with delays. It's not fair to our members, and I honestly can't report if/when the site will be fixed.
The issues with the membership renewal at the start of this month (caused by the host company) cost us a large faction of our members not signing back up. Since then, membership sign-up has been low. We figured we could continue building up membership, but with all the additional problems the site is having, we can't even confidently advertise the site for new membership.
Additionally, both our pdf and paper mini sales have surpassed membership sales by double. Meaning, it's more profitable at this time to sell those items, then to offer membership to the site (even if the site membership is a lot cheaper)
Right now, the majority of our members consist of other 3rd party publishers, not gamers.
Bottom line, as much as we had high hopes for the site, we can't weather the time needed to build a strong membership with continuous difficulties with the site (which we pay for monthly ourselves) and we are offering a diservice to our members by not being able to deliver the content we promised, content that is more profitable for us to release at the moment in other forms.
You don't have to do anything a particular way, it bothers me that posting publicly and hinting at various reasons you "think" might be the problem was easier then just asking us. And I'm sorry if emailing us to ask is bending over backwards for you - compared to making forum posts.
We haven't announced anything or sent messages to anyone about the site because we are still trying to work something out with the host company. We didn't want to discuss it until we hard firm responses from the host. Which would determine our next step, which would be to continue with the site (if the host manages to repair the site issues) or cancel the site if they cannot.
I'm sorry for being abrasive, the situation has been frustrating and we've been working hard to fix it (which is not really your problem). I just find this to be an odd approach to get answers for your question, and find it bothersome that assumptions are made on our ability to deliver content wise when dealing with technical problems beyond our control.
I do love the fact, instead of emailing us, sending a message on here, FB or any other means you could to contact us and just ask - making a public post about the issue and then questioning what we are doing and the reason for delays was the best option for you.
I handle all the art and the website, and I wouldn't of had any problem telling you the issues and what the delays have been caused by, and the headache of fixing them has been.
I had hoped to hear news from the host company today so I could send out a newsletter and inform everyone.
And we are not behind on creating a monster or art- we are always a month a head of schedule. . . because we are not stupid.
I just wanted to thank everyone who has backed the Steampunk Musha project on kickstarter. I'm overwhelmed by the positive response it's received and look forward to being able to present the game I've wanted to for a long time. Having control of the art, design, and working with great writing partners I hope to excite you about the setting as much as I've been the last 8 years. We are real close to unlocking the adventure milestone, so if you read this, go check out our kickstarter and look over those updates we've posted and get a feel for the setting, if you like it support the project (promise you won't be disappointed) and tell your friends.
We did when we first started developing the setting, naming conventions were chosen for reasons, and we borrow heavily from a lot of eastern languages for various flavor reasons. In the end, some decisions were made for flavor.
I will say that I only seem to see these types of discussions come up when dealing with Asian inspired settings. . . never with European settings, that always take liberties with naming conventions. In the end, SM is a fantasy setting, and I'm not willing to change names we used for years to appease a few that don't particularly like it.
Hey Benly, "Rosuto" is an Anglicisation of a Japanese term borrowed from English, "Lost". "Shima" is one Japanese word (of several) for "island". We chose the word 8 years ago due to it's popularity in modern Japanese entertainment, such as movies, anime, manga, etc.
i do want to say, if you are looking for something historical or accurate, even in naming conventions, this isn't the book for you, as we take a lot of liberties to capture the feel we want for the setting.
The 3.5 book suffered from too many cooks in the kitchen. I have that manuscript unedited (over 250 pages) and there was a lot of god content that will be converted over, but certain areas sacrificed the setting content in order to fit 3.5 rules.
Pathfinder offers a lot more versatility, and I know Jason understands what I want done, not to mention I myself having a better grasp on designing for Pathfinder.
We are also still have the other system we designed, and hope to eventually release games using it as well.
Anyways, we hope everyone checks it out and backs the project. The books are going to be awesome, the content and art top notch.
I'm Rick Hershey, I handle art and design for Fat Goblin, and also do some of the writing.
I'm sorry to shadowcatX if you feel we miss led you in any way. If you donated to the project, let me know and I'll refund your money and still give you a free copy of the product.
It was mainly my decision to increase the production value of the project. I believe we could of easily completed the project in 24 hours, as there is plenty of ogc that can be stitched together. But we decided to do more then just that as the project advanced.
I've worked in the industry for well over 10 years now. And I'm confident to say there isn't a 3pp making products for pathfinder that hasn't either used my stock art or hired me directly. In fact, I've worked for just about every publisher in this business, including wotc and regular contributions to open design, dreamscarred press, and running Empty Room Studios.
i mention all this because I don't want my integrity challenged. Making rpg's is how I make a living and support my family. So, if anyone feels slighted by our fun event, I will gladly make amends.
Just about have the whole weekend booked, if you are an interested publisher, you are running out of time to take advantage of this offer. Contact me and lets talk about your art needs, today!
We know how much it sucks not going to Gencon, we're not going either and we feel lame. So, while most of our clients are out mucking around and getting drunk . . . er, selling their books I mean, we'll be doing a special Gencon art sale!
But please, keep it to yourselves.
Publishers, contact me at rick@emptyroomstudios.com and let's discuss your project! Sale is only going on this weekend, and prices are rock bottom. You won't get these rates any other time a year!
Color, B&W, interiors, covers, maps, everything at lower rates!
Howdy Folks, just a quick update on the Dread Codex: Goblins book. It is now completely finished and going through one last pass to make sure everything is finalized.
96 pages, full colored art (and we mean tons of it).
Jason Stoffa clocked in at a final 65,868 words in this book.
It will be sent over to Gareth end of this week and we'll start previewing the tons of content created for the awesome guide.
Anyways, hope you are excited about this as we are.
1 of 10 new types of goblin weed in the book. (We've been up all night working, so excuse any typos :)
Giggle Smoke: This common herb grows wild in the desert sands. Small and shrub like, it's thorny thistles protect it from being eaten by may wildlife. When ground into paste the plants roots can be smoked to produce a strange effect. The herb's users become prone to suffer from bouts of uncontrollable laughter as everything becomes oddly humorous. The root can also be brewed into a rich ale that has found fame inside the desert kingdoms. It is prized for its healing effects, and if imbibed can help cure long lasting wounds.
Giggle Smoke
Type inhaled; Addiction moderate, Fortitude DC 16
Price 30 gp
Effect (inhaled) make a Fortitude DC 14 save or fall under the effects of Hideous Laughter for 1d6 rounds as per the spell
Effect (ingested) regain twice as many hit points when taking a full nights rest
Damage 1d2 Wis damage
@Dark_Mistress, thanks I do also and hopefully we can do more.
@Stereofm, I should have layout and art wrapped up tonight and then off to Gareth, where he'll put the release date :)
@Alzrius, Thanks for buying the 3.5 version! It actually sold pretty well. This version features a lot better layout, conversions, new artwork through out, new creatures, etc.
And if it does well, we actually have 2 other books not released for the set. A book on funeral rites and death practices, and another on medicine and health care. Both are written and just need converted.
Hey Everyone, Rick Hershey here. . . owner of Empty Room Studios and AD for Adamant Entertainment.
Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm wrapping up layout and art on the updated Pathfinder edition of Cooking with Class. I guess you might be wondering what this book is about?
Here's the intro::
"Food occupies a strange place in RPGs. On the one hand, it’s universal: everyone has to eat. (Except undead. And constructs. And elementals. And . . . okay, maybe not so universal.) On the other, almost no one actually pays attention to it.
Think about it. How much time does your average adventuring party spend on food? Ten seconds to roll survival to scrounge up something? (Emphasis on thing, by the way.) A minute to browse a bazaar? Three seconds to stop by a tavern for dinner? I’ve played entire campaigns where the characters apparently went months without even a bite of bread. Inns seemingly exist to provide plot hooks and farmers plant fields to give local Nasty Things a place to hide. As for the Pathfinder system, all known food items consist of bread, cheese, meat, ale, and unidentified “banquets” and “meals” whose contents are probably best left undescribed. Flour, chickens, cattle, salt, and spices are simply “trade goods,” to be bartered around when gold and silver are just too small and convenient.
There’s a good reason for this, of course: roleplaying isn’t about food. Food is garnish, a bit of color thrown out to make things look pretty. And like that little sprig of parsley on the side of your plate, most people think that if it’s not part of the meal, why bother putting it there at all?
Simple: flavor. Just like minuscule portions of seasonings can change the flavor of an entire dish, creatively using food in your campaign can bring a whole new feel. Food shouldn’t be the focus any more than you should make a dish mostly out of cinnamon, but a pinch of culinary flavor here and there can make the entire world come alive. Think about the different impressions you get if the farmers raise amaranth and quinoa instead of wheat and barley, or if most food is flavored with turmeric and cloves instead of pepper. Neither of these change the direction or even the content of the campaign, yet they each add their own distinct flavor, a feel to the world that’s difficult to get otherwise.
That’s what this book is for. In here you’ll find dozens of such seasonings you can throw in to your campaigns, from typical grains and vegetables to alcoholic drinks to how to eat things like purple worm and dragon (and the proper etiquette for doing so). While some could be the focus for an entire campaign—such as a magic blight destroying the kingdom’s staple food supply—most will simply add flavor and variety to your game. So take a pinch from here and a dash from there, sprinkle liberally with adventure, and see where they take you."
This book is fun. Not only does it give you loads of information about food, spices, and alcohol, it also provides tons of food related adventure hooks, cooking methods and exotic ingredients, etiquette, new poisons, 3 prestige classes (Adamantine Chef, Synergistic Chef, and Toxicant), new feats, new magic items, magic drinks, new spells, sample menus for eating establishments (done in the style of our Tavern Menus product line), sample locations with backgrounds and npc's, and some new food themed monsters. . . huff!
From writer Jason Wallace, with art by Rick Hershey. The first in our relaunched Knowledge Check product line.
Go to Empty Room Studios on Facebook to see some previews of the art.
I am, and it's fine, I obviously missed the mark on what people expect the setting to be. It's all in good fun, and if I had more then just the one night I did to make this cover, some things would of been different.
Either way, I'm glad people are talking about the book and I know they will enjoy.
Yes, if you follow us on Facebook you'll get some updates. And if you follow either one of us personally, you'll of course get all kinds of random info during our all night weekend work-a-thons.
Just to let everyone know, any and all delays are on the art end. I'm getting them finalized and finished up as soon as possible - along with a new cover.
The book will include variants on the standard species, altered by social beliefs, environments, etc. It will also include a bunch of sub-species of goblin, altered by evolution and external influences.
Should have more "game" news to share on the book soon, but we will keep releasing all the visual goodies as I make them.
You can now download a Goblin Wallpaper for your desktop at the Empty Room Studios website.
It's been awhile since I updated or talked about this project, but a lot has gone on (including an increase of our planned Pathfinder support products). . . but the point is I wanted to show some more art! So, take a look of a few of the many goblin varieties you'll see in the book.
Empty Room Studios Publishing showing off the cover to our upcoming product line Bestiarum Vocabulum. A monster supplement exploring every aspect of a particular creature. Offering racial variants, cultural and social behavior, alternative climate variants, beliefs, customs, equipment and pretty much anything you ever wanted to know.
First up is Goblins! You can check out the cover on our FACEBOOK PAGE!
Well, I like to believe the ideas are fresh and unique, but I'm bias. My philosophy with the production of the setting and translating it to the rpg has been to make the rules fit the world. I also wanted it be asian inspired, meaning that it's not japanese fantasy, or chinese fantasy, but encompasses those regions, plus a lot more. Also, the storyline and overall theme of the story is much about foreigners entering the island, and could be well used as an edition to a western fantasy setting.
Most people familiar with me know me from providing artwork and running Empty Room Studios. In that capacity I've probably have provided art assets to just about every rpg company. I've done work for WotC, Green Ronin, Mongoose, and dozens of smaller companies. My studio has also done work for film (upcoming Cowboys and Aliens) Television (Fox Sports) and comics (Image, Arcana, etc.)
As an rpg writer, my credits only really include the original Steampunk Musha and the products we publish ourselves as Empty Room Studios Publishing.
However, I'm not alone, and rely on a team of professionals. The new system for SM was co-designed by Colin Chapman of Radioactive Ape Designs His credits include: All Flesh Must Be Eaten, A|State, Atlantis: The Second Age, Castles & Crusades, Faery's Tale Deluxe, Godlike, Hellas, Hollow Earth Expedition, Iron Kingdoms d20, No Quarter, Omni System, Talislanta, Unhallowed Metropolis, Waste World, Wild Talents, etc.
My lead writer on the Steampunk Musha setting is Alana Abbott, she's written adventures for Serenity Adventures from Margaret Weis Productions, She wrote Cowboys and Aliens II, and the author of two novels, Into the Reach and Departure.
We also have a team of a dozen writers that have contributed over the years.
The 3.5/ogl version of the game was designed by Charles Rice. Chuck has done tons of work at Rpgobjects and heads his own company, Vigilance Press.
I hope that helps a bit on who we have working on this.
If I make a pledge to the project, and it fails to reach the $5K goal by the stated date, will the pledged amount be returned?
Actually, the money won't be charged to your account unless it reaches the goal. So, it's a true "pledge" in the sense that you are promising the money if we can reach our goal, and no money is transferred/charged until then.
I lurk here more then I post, but hope to change that. We are currently working on funding and creating a new Steampunk Musha rpg using our own system designed for the setting. However, we had previously worked on a 3.5/ogl version of the game that never saw print. A lot of my team wants to also put out a version for Pathfinder.
I really want to do this also, as we have the 3.5 version mostly complete and it would only involve some conversions and what not to complete it. My question is, would a victorian/asian - steampunk setting be an interest to the Pathfinder fans?
You can visit our Kickstarter page here: http://kck.st/cU3One and www.steampunkmusha.com for more info.
We'll also be looking for an experienced writer/designer familiar with Pathfinder to work on the conversions, so feel free to contact me through the contact page at www.emptyroomstudios.com
My crew and I are working on production for submission to Zuda. Our comic "Unearthed" has started production and you can follow along with us as we discuss the story, influences, post art and concepts, and build the comic for submission. Please check it out.
Wow. That is some pretty interesting stuff you got there. I must admit that it's not in the market of what i'm looking for at the moment, but some of it (like the leechbook, currencies and wolrd map) are definately catching my eye a bit.
Congratulations on getting your foot in the door, so to speak.
One question: does the world map come with a "big" version in case I have access to a company plotter or something, or is it just the 15 small pieces I have to fit together?
Thanks! We also have several other products that should be up this week, like our Quick Play Adventure products, that might be more to your interest.
As for the LandEscapes, it does come with a 20x16 150dpi tiff file included.
Damn fine to have you aboard, Rick! And this is so the place to do this. Here you will find some of the best customers on the planet.
Again, welcome!
Hey Jacob, I missed your post first time around. Thanks for the welcome. I have to say, although I'm sure everyone here knows, every dealing I've ever had with Paizo staff, straight to the top, has always been great and professional. You folks really are a good team. So, it's real cool to be over here and mingle.
My name is Rick Hershey, I own and operate both Empty Room Studios Publishing and Empty Room Studios (www.emptyroomstudios.com).
Rick! Great to see you here. Any news on Steampunk Musha?
Hey! Yeah, we have the 3.5 OGL version done, I'm nitpicking the art still, but it should go to layout at the end of the week. It will be one book instead of the 2 we originally planned, so everything you need for the setting in one book.
We are also working on a deal involving a new website, which will have tons of content for the setting. Webcomics, short stories, game support, mobile content, tons of stuff.
And we are working on both a boardgame for SM and a print comic- wheh!
