Pathfinder Tales: Dark Tapestry ePub

I am kind of curious about why this one, as well as Hell's Pawns and The Compass Stone: The Collected Journals of Eando Kline, all cost more than the other ePub books, at $.99 per book?

I am figuring that it could be because they are much bigger than the other ones but just wanted to check before I purchase them in case it is an accident and they are not supposed that much.

I am kind of curious about why this one, as well as Hell's Pawns and The Compass Stone: The Collected Journals of Eando Kline, all cost more than the other ePub books, at $.99 per book?

I am figuring that it could be because they are much bigger than the other ones but just wanted to check before I purchase them in case it is an accident and they are not supposed that much.

They are indeed much larger than the other short fiction, novella or even short novel length.

For comparison, the journal compilations are more than three times longer than the web fiction stories, and have more than four times as many illustrations. The Compass Stone is a special case--since that one spanned three adventure paths, it's novel-length and has approximately a bajillion illustrations (okay, more like 50+).

Hope that helps!

OK, thanks. Was just curious as to why the higher cost. It is as I figured, it contains much more material, which is always good.

OK, thanks. Was just curious as to why the higher cost. It is as I figured, it contains much more material, which is always good.

Normally, we'd put a page count on something like this, but since ePubs don't have preformatted pages (pages vary depending on the ePub reader as well as the user's specifed font preferences), there's no really useful data to provide here.

Normally, we'd put a page count on something like this, but since ePubs don't have preformatted pages (pages vary depending on the ePub reader as well as the user's specifed font preferences), there's no really useful data to provide here.

Word count, perhaps?

Vic Wertz wrote:

Normally, we'd put a page count on something like this, but since ePubs don't have preformatted pages (pages vary depending on the ePub reader as well as the user's specifed font preferences), there's no really useful data to provide here.

Word count, perhaps?

That may be the best answer, but I don't think enough folks would find that meaningful.

I'd be very interested in hearing reader reactions to Channa Ti's story, and your opinions, pro or con, as to whether you'd like to read further adventures.

Kthulhu wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

Normally, we'd put a page count on something like this, but since ePubs don't have preformatted pages (pages vary depending on the ePub reader as well as the user's specifed font preferences), there's no really useful data to provide here.

Word count, perhaps?

That may be the best answer, but I don't think enough folks would find that meaningful.

In case you are collecting data on the issue, I'd like to see word count as well.

In case you are collecting data on the issue, I'd like to see word count as well.

"Dark Tapestry" totalled a little over 25,700 words.

E-book pricing is an inexact and evolving science. Several independent writers who've been experimenting with e-books found that $2.99-3.99 seems to be the sweet spot. $2.99 is an impulse buy. People are willing to take a chance on a new writer or series for less than three bucks. Much more than that, and people stop to think about the purchase. Much less, and many people assume the book is priced low because it isn't worth reading.

For independent writers, I'm a big fan of "less than a latte" pricing. My first "e-riginal" novel, HONOR AMONG THIEVES, will be published in late May and priced at $2.99. Since this is very short, only about 35,000 words, I suppose it's technically a novella. The second story will be a little longer, about 50,000 words, but the price will remain the same. This makes sense for a number of reasons.

For publishers, however, different price structures apply.

I'd be very interested in hearing reader reactions to Channa Ti's story, and your opinions, pro or con, as to whether you'd like to read further adventures.

As soon as next payday rolls around and I can get it (and read it), I will let you know! I really enjoyed Winter Witch, so my expectations are high.

Let us know when your further e-books come out and where to get them, I would certainly be willing to pick up a book for 2.99 especially when it doesn't take up room on my (overstuffed) bookshelf!

I agree with Victor that word count might not prove meaningful to many readers. Also, word count is only part of the equation.

Take "Dark Tapestry," for example. At 25K words, it's about 1/4 the length of most mass market paperback novels. If a mmpb sells for $9.99 and the PDF download for $6.99, does it follow that a novella-length story should be $1.75? Should readers pay by the word?

Ultimately, I think it comes down to whether or not a reader believes a STORY is worth the price. I downloaded Patrick Rothfuss's "A Wise Man's Fear" to my Nook for $12.99 and considered it a bargain. Yes, it's a long novel, but I didn't buy it after doing a per-word cost analysis. I bought the novel because I wanted to read it.

Also, don't forget the illustrations! Art generally costs more than words, and the journal compilations are full of pictures.

Also, don't forget the illustrations! Art generally costs more than words, and the journal compilations are full of pictures.

As an off topic thing, does this mean we are potentially closer to the Adventure Paths and similar products in ePub format. Just wondering since these short stories / journals did have a lot of illustrations wasn't sure if other products could be in that format as well.

Don't get me wrong the PDF don't seem to be a problem on my iPad but think it would be easier overall. Yes not in color but still easier.

Sean

Also, don't forget the illustrations! Art generally costs more than words, and the journal compilations are full of pictures.

This is true. And it may be that the illustrations will influence some people's decision to buy the journal compilations.

As an off topic thing, does this mean we are potentially closer to the Adventure Paths and similar products in ePub format. Just wondering since these short stories / journals did have a lot of illustrations wasn't sure if other products could be in that format as well.

Nope. The ePub format is designed around presenting plain text with the occasional illustration, with the expectation that any illustrations are totally secondary, and it assumes that it doesn't really matter if the size and placement of any given image vary from device to device. So not only would a lot of stuff just plain not look good, but things like maps could actually be virtually unusable on some devices. Finally, images aside, the ePub format doesn't offer us much control of text formatting, so even things like stat blocks don't translate very well.

thenorthman wrote:

As an off topic thing, does this mean we are potentially closer to the Adventure Paths and similar products in ePub format. Just wondering since these short stories / journals did have a lot of illustrations wasn't sure if other products could be in that format as well.

Nope. The ePub format is designed around presenting plain text with the occasional illustration, with the expectation that any illustrations are totally secondary, and it assumes that it doesn't really matter if the size and placement of any given image vary from device to device. So not only would a lot of stuff just plain not look good, but things like maps could actually be virtually unusable on some devices. Finally, images aside, the ePub format doesn't offer us much control of text formatting, so even things like stat blocks don't translate very well.

Cool!

I love what Elaine Cunningham did with The Radiant Dragon (for Spelljammer) and I love the SJ elements she included in Evermeet: Islands of Elves (for Forgotten Realms), so I'd love to see Dark Tapestry get turned into a trilogy that explores Golarion's solar system.

But will Paizo please please please please please publish this as a proper book.

Publish this as a proper book (or a Print on Demand book) and you have a customer here, for this and any sequel that Elaine Cunningham writes.