Coming from one 3PP to another, I think what you tried was a good idea. It was different, interesting and got people to check you out what you were doing. While it might not have worked as you would have liked, I still applaud the attempt. Publishing RPGs are hard work, so don't feel bad for making the attempt.
I enjoyed what you did and I am for one happily waiting to see the finished product. This is going to be what gets me to buy more product from you so I will wait until you have finished before getting my download.
Also for some of the angry people posting, it was said on Facebook that the money for the "donations" would go to pizza while they were working the rest would go to charity. Fat Goblin Games did not make any money on this and will not until they release the PDF for sale.
They did not have enough people to work on the product so they overstepped what they were capable of doing... I dare any other two people to try and write a 96 page world setting in 24 hours and see if they can do better. What they showed was absolutely incredible and I would rather them take the time to make it even better now that the challenge failed.
@Fat Goblin Games Thank you for including us in your challenge, thank you for taking your time to finish this Setting right. I can't wait to see the finished product and download, if you do this again I will gladly donate to this type of thing again. I would still love to see you do a Gothic Steampunk setting.
Scott "Realmwalker" Holmes
I dare any other two people to try and write a 96 page world setting in 24 hours and see if they can do better.Let me address this. I never said I could do better. I never said I could do it at all. But the fact that I can't do this doesn't change the fact that they said they could and that they would deliver at the end of 24 hours and so that is what they should have done, and that is what I protested. Now that they've released the product, I'm mollified.
As to the product, its what I would expect from 2 people working 24 hours, some of it seems like the writers were stuck in a rut (every created race has a wisdom modifier, not a single one has an intelligence modifier) and some of it is very imaginative (I love the prayers of the apostle, I very well might take that idea and re-work the apostle around it).
Uhhh no they said they would TRY to do this, ie 24 Hour Challenge! In no post that they made did they make the statement that it would be an automatic success. You misread that part of the "Challenge".
They tried and failed but kept all the promises that those that donated would get PDF's and they chose to take a little more time to make the setting even better by taking enough time to go back and do it right.
As far as I'm concerned Fat Goblin Games were up front, let people know what was going on, and let people know that it was not going to happen. At the same time they told everyone that they would still honor the agreement to everyone that donated and that they would still get the finished PDF. They did not rip anyone off and I would like to see them make further attempts at this type of challenge. I felt I was part of the event and that is good customer service.
Also for some of the angry people posting...
I'm personally not angry, just disappointed. A large part of my interest was to see what could be produced in 24 hours, one which would have been unfulfilled even if I had donated. Also I had never heard of Fat Goblin Games before this, and thought that making a book in 24 hours was a very cool promotion, which is what I'm assuming their endeavor was meant as; again, disappointed that the promotion was not as I expected. I understand that my expectations were apparently not in line with their intent, but that doesn't mean I don't feel a little let down.
I also don't actually believe that an operating game company would hatch a scheme to scam donations, I was just summarizing the sort of thoughts that are bound to run through a cynical head (such as mine) if one had donated and not received anything. Maybe they sent emails out to donaters or some such regarding when the book would be done or the option of getting it as-is, but the updates on Facebook after the day was up quickly petered out.
I apologize if my post was construed as inflammatory - I'm not trying to blast the company, and I do think that allowing people to make small donations during the production process in exchange for a free pdf version of a finished product is neat. It's just not what I understood the promotion to be about. My intent was to support that it's not outside the realm of reason to be disappointed that nothing was put out on Friday morning. Especially for someone who had donated under expectation of receiving an intensive day's worth of work on a 96 page setting book to be upset that they didn't get anything until this week - I know I would have felt that way.
My donation was for a finished PDF, which is what they agreed to give out. I feel bad that they were not able to complete it on time but will that affect my overall opinion of them? No, the fact that they took a risk, set a high goal, and tried makes all the difference to me. Fat Goblin Games did something many of their competitors would never try, and I'll happily give them props for that.
I'd love to see more third party people do interactive things at that scale with the public.
Owen K.C. Stephens from Super Genius Games does this very well, with Micro Feats on Facebook, Pathfinder+ on Google +, and Spell Tweets on Twitter. All of which are free to those that follow him. One of the many reasons I like the Geniuses.
I think LPJ Designs, Purple Duck Games, Rite Publishing etc. could learn or have learned a lot from this endeavor. Get out and interact with your fan/customer base make them feel more part of what you are doing. You just might see an increase in sales over it.
I would have overlooked Fat Goblin Games before they did the 24 hour challenge now I want their Carfolk and Ratfolk books. Why? I got to see a bit of how they work and got a good preview of the quality of their work. I also got to see a company that even though they could not finish a 96 page book in 24 hours, they kept their promise on the PDF for those that donated that means a lot to me.
I love third party products for Pathfinder, and I love companies that make me feel included in what they are doing.
I'd love to see more third party people do interactive things at that scale with the public.
Owen K.C. Stephens from Super Genius Games does this very well, with Micro Feats on Facebook, Pathfinder+ on Google +, and Spell Tweets on Twitter. All of which are free to those that follow him. One of the many reasons I like the Geniuses.
I think LPJ Designs, Purple Duck Games, Rite Publishing etc. could learn or have learned a lot from this endeavor. Get out and interact with your fan/customer base make them feel more part of what you are doing. You just might see an increase in sales over it.
This is something that took a while for me to REALLY understand what fans wanted. I always wanted to wait until we had a final product before releasing it. But I learning over time letting the fan base see what you might be working on is just smart. It is a great way to learn what your fans really want, better yet they give you solution to issue you might have and might never thought of. It sounds simple enough, but everyone feels they have to "protect" what they are doing, often with the silly fear that someone might take your idea. Getting the fans base more involved in what you do can only help in the long term.
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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.
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.
From what I've seen so far Rick the art and layout are awesome, love both the Romni and the Cambion. I have an idea for a rogue that uses Romni Needles as weapons.
Can't wait to see what this looks like complete.
Hello Everyone! Not sure if you know - but we have the new edition of Shadows over Vathak available here and at RPGnow!! For any that donated during the 24 HOUR RPG CHALLENGE ( we sent out a special price coupon for download) - if we missed any of you just shoot us an email at: fatgoblingames@gmail.com and we will send you a link.
For anyone that received the last edition you'll notice a few different things. The first is the extra 160 pages of content. Included are 23 new archetypes, new class, a host of new feats and spells - all geared to help fight against the horrors of the Old Ones and their retched spawn spilling from the bowls of the cursed land. Thanks!!!