Kiss the Frog!

I have notified Bill about the extraordinary size of images.

Meanwhile, you may downsize the PDFs by using any of PDF printing applications (PDF Creator, for example). You will lose the bookmarks, though.

Regards,
Ruemere

I don't mind having large and pretty images that I can extract from the PDFs. However should the maps and images be available in high quality elsewhere (e.g. as an additional download with HQ images) then a smaller PDF size would be nice. If only to reduce the load time when scrolling.

frog wrote:

Any idea why the file size on this is so large? Sixty pages came in at 70+ mb. Comparing that to some of my other pdf adventures it seems a bit on the "big" side.

As Leonal said it is the image file sizes. They have the same problem on their web page. They have these huge fantastic images. Which is great but they only shrink them down instead of resize them.

I would love if they resized all the images but then added a full sized image gallery to their web page.

Growing pains methinks. The bookmarks were also missing, though Bill said they are looking into both issues.

The website could definitely use a bit of web design magic :)

They are doing such awesome work and the customer service has been great that I don't mind the growing issues.

Best.

I pitched this as a Golarion series to Paizo a few years back and suggested just off the map east of Taldor and south of Iobaria. I even worked up a map of western Casmaron to cover it. I'll have to dig it up sometime.

Ultimately it is not campaign specific, but you can certainly place it in Golarion. East of Taldor might still be a good bet if you work the Great Crusade in with Taldor's own history of crusades and Armies of Exploration.

It would be nice to see what you envisioned for placement of the Desolation, though I will of course change things a bit to suit my needs.

On images; I have new jpegs tAht are lower rez THAT WE WILL BE POSTING LATER THIS WEEK. oops caps

In other news; check out the products page---two new series are listed! Hex crawl Classics and the Northlands Saga. Pretty cool stuff. Covers for these and One Night Stands/Saturday Night Specials both coming soon! (as low rez jpegs I promise):)

I pitched this as a Golarion series to Paizo a few years back and suggested just off the map east of Taldor and south of Iobaria. I even worked up a map of western Casmaron to cover it. I'll have to dig it up sometime.

He doesn't sleep everyone!

On images; I have new jpegs tAht are lower rez THAT WE WILL BE POSTING LATER THIS WEEK. oops caps

Thank you for the update! I hope you can get the bookmarks in there as well.

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

I pitched this as a Golarion series to Paizo a few years back and suggested just off the map east of Taldor and south of Iobaria. I even worked up a map of western Casmaron to cover it. I'll have to dig it up sometime.

He doesn't sleep everyone!

HE NEVER SLEEPS!!!!!!
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS...

He's married with children?

Richard Pett wrote:

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

I pitched this as a Golarion series to Paizo a few years back and suggested just off the map east of Taldor and south of Iobaria. I even worked up a map of western Casmaron to cover it. I'll have to dig it up sometime.

He doesn't sleep everyone!

HE NEVER SLEEPS!!!!!!
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS...

He's married with children?

DING, DING We have a winnah!

I have the zombie father template. Requirements: buy a gallon of milk every day. Get struck in the groin once a week.
+2 to CR because you fear no death in any form.

November 16, 2010

Ok guys, the Complete Rulebook is of to the printer. I am only making 100 limited edition copies, so I cannot guarantee everyone will get one. I'll post a day or two before it goes on sale, but from the 60 or so emails I have gotten wanting it, it will likely be gone in a day or two. Order early, I will have to cut it off at 98 (two are spoken for), so I will issue refunds to anyone after that. I also am printing softcovers of the book, so you can get a cheaper copy for play and preserve your signed, numbered hardcover if you wish!

Shipping date for these will be early December.

In other news, Splinters 3-4 will go to press next week, as well as Strange Bedfellows shortly after. Next up are the first One Night Stands releases--The Jungle Ruins of Madaro Shanti by Matt Finch and Ursined, Sealed and Delivered by Dennis Sustare. I got the covers today for One Night Stands, Saturday Night Specials and The Northland Saga series, and approved the draft cover of our upcoming Hex Crawl Classics series. Covers should be posted after Thanksgiving.

Tsar 7 is being edited, and I will anounce that new book I have been teasering when it releases. Thank you all again for your patronage, we appreciate it.

You keep on putting out quality adventures and I, for one, will keep on buying them.

November 16, 2010

Ok guys, the Complete Rulebook is of to the printer. I am only making 100 limited edition copies, so I cannot guarantee everyone will get one. I'll post a day or two before it goes on sale, but from the 60 or so emails I have gotten wanting it, it will likely be gone in a day or two. Order early, I will have to cut it off at 98 (two are spoken for), so I will issue refunds to anyone after that. I also am printing softcovers of the book, so you can get a cheaper copy for play and preserve your signed, numbered hardcover if you wish!

Shipping date for these will be early December.

Tsathogga, what will be the difference(s) between the limited edition copies and (presumed) later copies? Anything more than signing and numbering?

tsathogga wrote:

November 16, 2010

Ok guys, the Complete Rulebook is of to the printer. I am only making 100 limited edition copies, so I cannot guarantee everyone will get one. I'll post a day or two before it goes on sale, but from the 60 or so emails I have gotten wanting it, it will likely be gone in a day or two. Order early, I will have to cut it off at 98 (two are spoken for), so I will issue refunds to anyone after that. I also am printing softcovers of the book, so you can get a cheaper copy for play and preserve your signed, numbered hardcover if you wish!

Shipping date for these will be early December.

Tsathogga, what will be the difference(s) between the limited edition copies and (presumed) later copies? Anything more than signing and numbering?

There is suppose to be a small bonus section of new material that won't be in the other editions. I am not sure what it will be or exactly how big it will be. Only that it is suppose to be there.

Not exactly--not-limited copies will be softcover.

Tsar has extra stuff.

We are looking for one more "Pathfinder Translator" to assist us with our books.

Skeeter is getting overwhelmed; pay sucks, but you get a small amount and free stuff.

One question, for those of us who emailed asking to get in on the limited edition hardcover...how will you ensure that we are the first 100 to press the order button on your website?

I'm not sure of the answer to that, but I'll make sure Bill sees this so he can address it.

I'm not sure of the answer to that, but I'll make sure Bill sees this so he can address it.

Thanks Greg, would greatly appreciate that.

Wait? What is the limited edition for?

I SPent a over $100 for the the whole thing in hardcover when they are all done, there was nothing in that about them being limited, only that the offer would be for a limited time only.

Is the limited edition something else?

Wait? What is the limited edition for?

I SPent a over $100 for the the whole thing in hardcover when they are all done, there was nothing in that about them being limited, only that the offer would be for a limited time only.

Is the limited edition something else?

I think you bought the hardcover Tsar series. He is talking about the Swords and Wizardry limited edition that is getting ready to come out.

Wait? What is the limited edition for?

I SPent a over $100 for the the whole thing in hardcover when they are all done, there was nothing in that about them being limited, only that the offer would be for a limited time only.

Is the limited edition something else?

That most recent post was for the limited edition hardcover print of the Swords and Wizardry Complete rulebook, I'm pretty sure those of us who have subscribed to the whole shebang for the Slumbering Tsar Saga are already getting the most deluxe version of that book.

That is correct. There are two hardcover limited edition books being talked about here:

1) Slumbering Tsar - going to the subscribers of the series who subscribed for the hardback book at the end (signed and with extra material included).

2)Sword & Wizardry Complete Rulebook - hardback 100 copies only (more in softcover). I think these are signed too, but I don't recall for sure.

Sorry for the confusion.

The way you know--regular customers got a first shot--is that you already have one assigned to you. When orders come in, if you were on the email list, you already have one reserved. Orders >100 (probably the first 35 or so that did not order from the email) will be taken in the order received.

That's why I said limit 2.

Yes--this is not Slumbering Tsar--its S&W Rulebook.

So I am not going to find out in the end that you can't make all the orders Hardcover and some will be getting a Softcover for Slumbering Tsar premium full subscribers?

So I am not going to find out in the end that you can't make all the orders Hardcover and some will be getting a Softcover for Slumbering Tsar premium full subscribers?

I'm not sure what you're asking here. There is no softcover of Slumbering Tsar unless you're talking about the individual chapter soft cover releases. Each compilation of Slumbering Tsar is a hardcover book. Those for subscribers are the signed limited edition with the extra material.

Slumbering Tsar is being sold through a totally different model than S&W Rulebook. With S&W, only 100 of the hardcovers are being printed and they will go to the first 100 orders.

With Slumbering Tsar, the subscriptions let us know how many of the limited addition hardcovers to print and pay for those hardcovers, so there's no chance of coming up short like I think you're describing. If you bought the premium subscription, you get the limited edition hardcover, because we're printing one specifically for your subscription and paying for the printing from that subscription's cost. We did it this way so we could start releasing Slumbering Tsar material right away (as we've been doing) without having to wait a year or so until the PF RPG conversion was completed, and we would know exactly how many to print so we wouldn't run into a problem of running out, which seems to be what you're describing.

I hope that is addressing yor concerns, if I read your question right.

Greg

I hope that is addressing yor concerns, if I read your question right.

Greg

Yes it does, thanks.

Okay, good deal. Thanks. And thanks for being a subscriber to Slumbering Tsar; I hope it is living up to expectations. :-)

Dragnmoon...yes, you will be getting a Tsar hardcover book as promised. This announcement had nothing to do with the Tsar subscription.

Tsar 7 is being edited, and I will anounce that new book I have been teasering when it releases. Thank you all again for your patronage, we appreciate it.

Thank you for the update.

Any word on bookmarks for ST 6?

Thanks!

There is some issue involving Macs when we bookmark; I'll ping Chuck again to see if I can get a better explanation.

There is some issue involving Macs when we bookmark; I'll ping Chuck again to see if I can get a better explanation.

Thank you for looking into it. I hope this doesn't mean that we won't see bookmarks in the PDFs. (eeek!) A PDF with no bookmarks is like a car with no wheels.

Best.

tsathogga wrote:

There is some issue involving Macs when we bookmark; I'll ping Chuck again to see if I can get a better explanation.

Thank you for looking into it. I hope this doesn't mean that we won't see bookmarks in the PDFs. (eeek!) A PDF with no bookmarks is like a car with no wheels.

Best.

Nah a PDF with no bookmarks works just fine, a car with no wheels is a car that can't move. It is more like a car with no AC on a hot summer day. Sure it gets you from point A to point B but not in comfort. :)

Hope to have an announcement in regards to the Richard Pett deal in the next week or so. We're getting close...so close...mwahahaha!

From Chuck RE PDF bookmarks

"All of those problems that we had with blacked-out or blank areas in the PDFs were basically caused by the bookmarks because they caused a change in the distilling process. So, unfortunately, no bookmarks unless we're doing all of the printing in-house and can standardize the version.. which we can't."

I am not sure why this is; but it has to do with the printer/macintosh software thing. Perhaps I could get a second version made...I'll ask, but I don't think it will happen immediately.

December 6, 2010

Sorry for the long delay in posting news, but the old frog had surgery on his not-20-year-old-anymore football injured shoulder, and I have ben a bit under the weather. I am recovering fine, and we are back in business.

Happy Pearl Harbor Day all! Please remember your veterans today, and remember to thank them all for their service.

In gaming news, the hardcover is done and being mailed to Matt. The softcover rulebook and Tsar 6 are printed, and Splinters 3-4 are at the printer. Final review copies of Bedfellows are awaiting my proofing on our FTP site, and should be off to the printer this week. I'll update the rest soon.

I just got done reading the second book in the Hex Crawl Classics series, and maps and art have been ordered. Great stuff coming, and I apologize for the delays, but us little guys get stalled out when one of us has a real life thing happen.

I will be posting for sale buttons for the Complete Rulebook within 48 hours. Keep your eyes peeled!

Elorebaen wrote:

tsathogga wrote:

There is some issue involving Macs when we bookmark; I'll ping Chuck again to see if I can get a better explanation.

Thank you for looking into it. I hope this doesn't mean that we won't see bookmarks in the PDFs. (eeek!) A PDF with no bookmarks is like a car with no wheels.

Best.

Nah a PDF with no bookmarks works just fine, a car with no wheels is a car that can't move. It is more like a car with no AC on a hot summer day. Sure it gets you from point A to point B but not in comfort. :)

It's rare that I disagree with you DM, but I have to this time. =) Without bookmarks, there is barely any reason to have a PDF other than perhaps the lower price, and maybe the search function.

During actual playtime, a non-bookmarked PDF is not really usable since it takes too long to navigate to where you want.

Perhaps my analogy was a little far, but not by much.

Best.

From Chuck RE PDF bookmarks

"All of those problems that we had with blacked-out or blank areas in the PDFs were basically caused by the bookmarks because they caused a change in the distilling process. So, unfortunately, no bookmarks unless we're doing all of the printing in-house and can standardize the version.. which we can't."

I am not sure why this is; but it has to do with the printer/macintosh software thing. Perhaps I could get a second version made...I'll ask, but I don't think it will happen immediately.

Thank you for the head's up.

I really hope the general problem can get worked out, even if it isn't for this product, because no bookmarks devalues a PDF quite a bit, imo. As long as the document isn't locked I can add them myself, but not everyone can do that.

Best.

December 6, 2010

Sorry for the long delay in posting news, but the old frog had surgery on his not-20-year-old-anymore football injured shoulder, and I have ben a bit under the weather. I am recovering fine, and we are back in business.

Happy Pearl Harbor Day all! Please remember your veterans today, and remember to thank them all for their service.

Glad to hear everything is alright, the silence was disconcerting given your frequent updates to this point.

December 7, 2010

Ok, a spot O' good news...the softcovers arrived today, along with Tsar 6, which means the hardcovers are en-route to Texas and Matt. I may be able to get the hardcovers out for Christmas. For sale buttons for Tsar 6 softcover and Swords and Wizardry hardcovers, along with cover previews for One Night Stands, Saturday Night Specials, Hex Crawl Classics (and a color map of the first area!), and The Northland Saga should appear tomorrow or Friday.

I can ship softcover rulebooks right away. Hardcovers require the "triple shipping" so may take a couple extra weeks. That being said, I anticipate them all selling in a day or so. Remember, ther are only 100 of them ever.

A poinmt on that. For our overseas customers, I apologize in advance, but shipping the hardcover is $46.00. I simply cannot ship them in an envelope--it has to be in a box. I could not replace a damaged copy if they are all gone. That being said, I will hold a sold copy for you until you can justify the international box (up to 11 additional books will fit). I am going to wrap these heavily in bubbles, to ensure quality delivery condition.

I am currently reviewing layout for Bedfellows, and Chuck is laying out Ursined, Sealed and Delivered this evening!

Well, I just got off the phone with Bill. The Sword & Wizardry hardcover and softcover went up for sale this morning at talesofthefrgogod.com along with a few of the other titles Bill has mentioned. And unfortunately the sudden influx of sales broke the website after about half an hour. From talking to Bill, it's not the website itself but rather the connection to Paypal so that new orders can't be processed. So we've contacted the web guy to fix it. Also unfortunately, it's Saturday morning so it may take us a bit to locate him and get it fixed. We're thinking we'll have it up and running again this weekend, though.

Obviously as problems go, this is one of the better ones to have (so many people want to buy that it's overloading the system!), but it's still not good because that means all of you good folks out there who are wanting to buy it are unable to do so at the moment and, conversely, we're unable to sell it to you, whihc is no good at all. We apologize for the inconvenience. Rest assured it is our top priority to get this fixed.

So keep checking in from time to time at the website, and as soon as I know something I'll post it here.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

Greg

Update: Bill says all but about 10 of the signed, limited edition hardcovers were sold in that initial glut before the server broke. E-mail him at bill@talesofthefroggod.com if you want him to reserve one for you.

P.S. The pdf is for sale here at Paizo as well. Don't know about the softcovers.

I have to say, I'm more than a little disapointed at how the Sword & Wizardry Complete Rulebook hardcover "pre-order" for Tsar subscribers worked out. A few months back I recieve an email stating that I have the chance to reserve a copy of the hardcover since I'm a Tsar subscriber. I send an email stating that I'd like to reserve one. No response. I send another email stating that I'd like to reserve one, and ask what the process would be. I get a reply saying that I have one reserved, and the process would be to simply order it off the website when it becomes availible. Right away I get the feeling that my "reservation" doesn't really mean a damn thing if I don't get to that button before 100 other people do. Yesterday the order becomes availible...while I'm stuck in a meeting for 17 hours straight. I try to order when I get home, but the button is broken, and I read here that all but about 10 have already been sold. I begin to give up hope getting one, but I still take a look when I wake up. Sold out.

I love your stuff, Frog God Games, but I really wish that you wouldn't have advertised that it was possible for Tsar subscribers to reserve a copy if it wasn't possible using your web-store's technology.

Not that it excusses FGG, but I think they wildly underestimated how popular the limited S&W book would be. I got the impression they was expecting it to take a month to sell out not hours.

But I agree if they promised it then they should have pulled X number of books for those that wanted one reserved and then gave them. Say 48 or 72 hours to confirm the order before selling them to the general populace.

I have to say, I'm more than a little disapointed at how the Sword & Wizardry Complete Rulebook hardcover "pre-order" for Tsar subscribers worked out. A few months back I recieve an email stating that I have the chance to reserve a copy of the hardcover since I'm a Tsar subscriber. I send an email stating that I'd like to reserve one. No response. I send another email stating that I'd like to reserve one, and ask what the process would be. I get a reply saying that I have one reserved, and the process would be to simply order it off the website when it becomes availible. Right away I get the feeling that my "reservation" doesn't really mean a damn thing if I don't get to that button before 100 other people do. Yesterday the order becomes availible...while I'm stuck in a meeting for 17 hours straight. I try to order when I get home, but the button is broken, and I read here that all but about 10 have already been sold. I begin to give up hope getting one, but I still take a look when I wake up. Sold out.

I love your stuff, Frog God Games, but I really wish that you wouldn't have advertised that it was possible for Tsar subscribers to reserve a copy if it wasn't possible using your web-store's technology.

I would definately check your emails and try to email Bill again. The Necromancer message board says this:

"December 11, 2010
The harcover rulebook is sold out--if you did not send me an email earlier, or did not get it this day, I think its gone. Because the server exploded from excessive downloading this morning (thank all of you...I love you guys for that:)) , I do not have an eact count. ts over 90 and less than 110 sold in rough numbers, so I may be issuing a few refunds, or I may have a few loose copies for sale tomorrow. Shipping will be billed via email to each of you that got one. Sorry for all the hassle, we have not had to deal with a 70 meg file being downloaded by 200 people all at once before!
I still have copies (few) of the first printing of the softcover, so get them while they are hot!"

This tells me you may still have a hardcover awaiting you. That being said, if you did get lost in the shuffle, they are considering sending a second printing of the hardcover. They seem stunned that it sold out so fast that it broke their PayPal site. This should tell them there is a large number of persons out there just like you that couldn't log on at the right moment to click on that now infamous button. But, (and now I am going to quote NSpicer, because I can) that is just my 2 cents.

Sounds like it might more sense to have sold them through Paizo.

Well, I feel like a big jerk now. It seems they did hold one back for me. So I apologize to Bill Webb, Greg Vaughan, and all my Tsathoggua-worshiping brethren.

You may all chastise me harshly now.

Well, I feel like a big jerk now. It seems they did hold one back for me. So I apologize to Bill Webb, Greg Vaughan, and all my Tsathoggua-worshiping brethren.

You may all chastise me harshly now.

I got a whip named sweet sting. :)

Kthulhu wrote:

You may all chastise me harshly now.

I got a whip named sweet sting. :)

*huge smile at the thought of succubus chastisement*

Kthulu--I saved you one...from your email as promised.

tsathogga wrote:

From Chuck RE PDF bookmarks

"All of those problems that we had with blacked-out or blank areas in the PDFs were basically caused by the bookmarks because they caused a change in the distilling process. So, unfortunately, no bookmarks unless we're doing all of the printing in-house and can standardize the version.. which we can't."

I am not sure why this is; but it has to do with the printer/macintosh software thing. Perhaps I could get a second version made...I'll ask, but I don't think it will happen immediately.

Thank you for the head's up.

I really hope the general problem can get worked out, even if it isn't for this product, because no bookmarks devalues a PDF quite a bit, imo. As long as the document isn't locked I can add them myself, but not everyone can do that.

Best.

Hey Elorebaen, I'm the Chuck referenced above. The basic problem with bookmarks is that they aren't incorporated into the code of the industry standard distillation process (PDF X1A) so when a PDF with bookmarks inserted in InDesign is incorporated into a PDF document, anyone not using the latest Adobe Acrobat reader (at least) will see a lot of the art as black blocks. That was a huge headache trying to figure out what was going on there and everyone in the industry is basically waiting for Adobe to fix it... and they probably don't care because it works with their readers. (Try reading a Paizo PDF with a non-Adobe PDF reader... ugh.)

I was hoping that a Table of Contents would help alleviate the pain of a lack of bookmarks.