This sounds INCREDIBLY exciting and fun and awesome! I've heard of IPG from other blog posts and their campaign setting Kingdoms of Legend and thought that these would be fun to read and maybe get into... but this latest product "Dragon Challenge" WOW... I just might need to give IPG some of my 3pp love and dollars.
Very, very cool.
~Dean
Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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This would be an awesome cap to Kingmaker, but I don't want to fight maps and setting pieces that are completely unworkable. Has anyone read it to see how adaptable it is?
[Edit] Also, from a retail point of view, what's the production like? It might be the kind of thing I carry in my store, but I have a little bias against 3PP (most of their stuff is low-grade, at best). The cover art on this one makes it very promising.
This would be an awesome cap to Kingmaker, but I don't want to fight maps and setting pieces that are completely unworkable. Has anyone read it to see how adaptable it is?
[Edit] Also, from a retail point of view, what's the production like? It might be the kind of thing I carry in my store, but I have a little bias against 3PP (most of their stuff is low-grade, at best). The cover art on this one makes it very promising.
I have no problems with the quality of binding or card and paper stock used on the copy of All Hands on Deck from their first printing that Liz and the company so courteously provided me. It seemed to be well bound, perfectly legible, good color on the cover and crisp clean lines throughout. If the second printing is anything like the first, I would be happy with its quality.
This would be an awesome cap to Kingmaker, but I don't want to fight maps and setting pieces that are completely unworkable. Has anyone read it to see how adaptable it is?
[Edit] Also, from a retail point of view, what's the production like? It might be the kind of thing I carry in my store, but I have a little bias against 3PP (most of their stuff is low-grade, at best). The cover art on this one makes it very promising.
I'm a bit intrigued by this - what do you consider "low grade"?
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Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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I'm a bit intrigued by this - what do you consider "low grade"?This would be an awesome cap to Kingmaker, but I don't want to fight maps and setting pieces that are completely unworkable. Has anyone read it to see how adaptable it is?
[Edit] Also, from a retail point of view, what's the production like? It might be the kind of thing I carry in my store, but I have a little bias against 3PP (most of their stuff is low-grade, at best). The cover art on this one makes it very promising.
Poor art, poor editing, poor layout, bad concepts, etc. Some may have awesome art, editing and layout, but the concept will be so poor that the appeal for a purchaser is gone. Likewise with art: if the cover art is godawful it'll just sit on a shelf and collect dust, no matter how intriguing the concept.
For a third party publisher to get me to sell their stuff they have to meet the (admittedly arbitrary) standards that I set for my store. I have to be justified in spending the money on the shelf space. These days, that's hard to do. Even the Freeport Companion sat on my shelves for a while before selling, and that guy came in to special order it. Yes, he was excited that he got to walk out with it, but he would have been completely content waiting the five days it would have taken me to get it for him.
The statement isn't meant to be anything against 3PPs, necessarily. I realize that art, layout, graphics, etc. cost money, and there's only so much you can spend if you plan on making any in return. It's just that, frankly, when customers are hunting down 3PP stuff, they're willing to find it through Paizo or some other online store, or get the PDF and not bother with a physical book. They're trying to fill a niche they have in mind for their game. There is very little reason for me to spend money on these things, because potential customers for them aren't coming to me to find them.
So, something like this - which looks like it will have add-on appeal to existing sales that I know I will make regularly (Kingmaker AP stuff) - has a pretty good shot. But if the interior layout is awful or the editing bad, or the balance lopsided, then I'm not going to do it.
Long-winded, but you deserve the answer, being a 3rd party publisher. Hope you don't hold my opinions against me. (:
Poor art, poor editing, poor layout, bad concepts, etc. Some may have awesome art, editing and layout, but the concept will be so poor that the appeal for a purchaser is gone. Likewise with art: if the cover art is godawful it'll just sit on a shelf and collect dust, no matter how intriguing the concept.The statement isn't meant to be anything against 3PPs, necessarily. I realize that art, layout, graphics, etc. cost money, and there's only so much you can spend if you plan on making any in return. It's just that, frankly, when customers are hunting down 3PP stuff, they're willing to find it through Paizo or some other online store, or get the PDF and not bother with a physical book. They're trying to fill a niche they have in mind for their game. There is very little reason for me to spend money on these things, because potential customers for them aren't coming to me to find them.
That's fair enough, and I'm just a freelancer for a 3PP, but if you haven't, I'd suggest taking a look at 4WFG's products, especially since there's currently running a sale. I would say 4WFG's production values are right up there with a lot of splatbooks I myself bought at gaming stores, usually for Shadowrun 2E.
Hello all! I am the author of Dragon Challenge
At our local game-con, Con of the North, I played a part (after a player had to leave) of this scenario, GM'd by Allen. While I mostly read only my pre-gen character, one of the ones that comes as part of the overall package, I was very impressed by the level of detail included. Thinking of it as a possible (replayable) one-shot adventure, the stat block included lines for many different possible options such as yes/no to deadly aim or sharing the paladin's smite. Really enjoyed the product and the quality of the materials seemed just fine.
Also played three other scenarios set in their campaign world and enjoyed those very much. Thanks, again, to the IPG guys who GM'd those for the fun I had. {Rubs lamp, expectantly. :) }