RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Greetings, 3rd-party publishers! I'm an RPG design blogger and a newbie freelancer. In my blog, I discuss RPG design, freelancing, and the RPGSS contest + other similar contests, among other things. Judging by the number of clicks they get, interviews are some of the most popular articles I've posted so far, and I'd like to do a series of articles about 3rd-party publishers in a Q&A format.
The main reasons for starting this series of articles are:
- To help 3pps discover new freelancing talent
- To promote your 3pp, hopefully increasing your sales
- To help and encourage people to get started as freelancers
- To have this information in one place, in a standardized Q&A format for easier referencing
- (And for me, the benefit is getting a lot of interesting content for my blog!)
The following is a draft of the standardized list of questions. If you feel there is something important that ought to be asked, please feel free to suggest changes or additions:
- Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about the history of your 3pp company?
- What products or product lines is your 3pp best known for? [This is where you can also promote any upcoming products people should know about]
- How are your products different from Paizo's, or those of other 3rd-party publishers?
- How do generally find new freelancers to write for you? What is the application process like? [E.g. do you have an open-call contest or
- What are the main requirements for a freelancer to work for you? What skills and/or experience will also be useful?
- Can you describe a typical assignment you give to new(ish) freelancers? What steps does the process typically include from the freelancer's point of view?
Because the Q&As will be posted in the blog, hyperlinking is possible. So you can include links to your products, etc. if you wish.
I'll probably be posting the articles 1/week in the order I receive them.
Thoughts, ideas? Sound interesting? Fans/supporters of 3rd-party products, please feel free to also discuss!
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There's something I dont like about the third question that I can't quite put my finger on. It kind of feels a bit competitive or something - like it's implicitly asking "Why are you better than the others?" It also sounds like (when I read it anyway) there's some expectation 3PPs should be producing qualitatively 'different' products from everyone else and that's not the expectation I have - some publishers will try and fill unusual niches but others will be adding to the creative pool of product without deviating from "normal" products.
If you focus on producing high quality, interesting fantasy adventures - how do you answer the question as stated?
I'd prefer something along the lines of "What are your products' best features?" or similar. People can then outline why they're different if that's their schtick but they dont have to.
I think it's important 3PPs be given the opportunity to outline why they are different, but I dont think it should be the expectation.
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Nice idea. My only problem is that as a tiny 3PP I don't hire freelancers nor do I have a large product line, but I am interested in sharing my story, getting publicity for upcoming products and generally growing my customer base.
If these:
To help 3pps discover new freelancing talent [and] To help and encourage people to get started as freelancers
are some of your stated aims, then if the questions were slanted to provide room for freelancers (like me) and self publishers (like me) as well as those who are both (like me) you might have a larger pool of interviewees and a greater depth of information for readers of all kinds (general, freelancers and publishers) to learn from.
You could also take a look at Rite Publishing's Pathways free e-zine - each issue has an interview with an industry author - take a look at their questions for inspiration.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Steve, that's a very good point. Honestly, I didn't intend it sound like that, and I'll definitely change it. Thank for the input!
Oceanshieldwolf, that is also a very good point. My intention is not to leave out small publishers who don't hire freelancers. I suppose I could have a second set of questions for self-publishers because it's also something that I'm interested in knowing more about, and I'm sure other people are too. And thanks for the tip, I'll have a look at the e-zine!
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Andreas, tack för kommentaren. I definitely want the interview/article series about 3rd-party publishers to be as comprehensive as possible, so any and all 3pps no matter how big or small are invited. I guess the only requirement is that the 3pp has already published something.
Once I've finalized the list of questions (with alternative questions for self-publishers), I'll post it here. (I'll try to do that within 1-2 weeks.) The owner or representative of a 3pp may then copy-paste the list of questions, and send me the answers in a private message. I'll reply and give you an estimated publication date for the interview.
I'll also send an invitation/reminder to everyone who has expressed interest in this thread, so you don't have to worry about checking this thread every week.
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You've mentioned self-publishers but what about just plain freelancers? I only got into 3pp publishing recently, and thus far I've worked pretty exclusively for Dreamscarred Press (the bossman posted just above you, actually). The interview opportunity does sound fascinating but some of the questions just...don't apply to my experience.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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You've mentioned self-publishers but what about just plain freelancers? I only got into 3pp publishing recently, and thus far I've worked pretty exclusively for Dreamscarred Press (the bossman posted just above you, actually). The interview opportunity does sound fascinating but some of the questions just...don't apply to my experience.
It's a good question. I think that for this particular series of articles, I cannot include individual freelancers because - as you pointed out - the questions don't really apply.
I do have another series of articles, "Interview with a Designer", where I've so far only posted interviews with RPGSS finalists, but I also hope to interview some of the most prolific and successful freelancers in the field.
However, I'm not opposed to the idea of interviewing newer talents because "how did I become a freelancer" stories are particularly interesting for other aspiring freelancers, myself included. I'd probably change the format slightly (perhaps including several shorter interviews in one article?) because there aren't necessarily quite as many things to ask about yet if you've only just started. I'll certainly give it some thought and let you know if/when I'm doing this kind of an article. :)
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Sounds interesting. Count me in.
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My first product is just in its Kickstarter phase, but the project includes some pretty fantastic people (Larry Elmore, Michael Stackpole, Larry Correia, Mel Odom, etc) and even some Paizo folks (like Dave Gross and Amanda Hamon Kunz). And I'm definitely using freelancers.
As long as you don't mind talking to a "new guy" I'd love to chat!
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Christina, Jason and Wolfgang, excellent, thanks for the interest. :) I'll gladly interview you (or someone else representing your respective 3pps).
Marc, I'm glad you mentioned your Kickstarter project; that sounds really awesome and I'm really impressed that you have all these amazing people working on the project! I'd be honored to do an interview about it and hopefully in doing so help the project reach its goals. (Actually, if there's any available freelancing work related to the project, I might also be interested.)
Christina, Jason and Wolfgang, excellent, thanks for the interest. :) I'll gladly interview you (or someone else representing your respective 3pps).
Marc, I'm glad you mentioned your Kickstarter project; that sounds really awesome and I'm really impressed that you have all these amazing people working on the project! I'd be honored to do an interview about it and hopefully in doing so help the project reach its goals. (Actually, if there's any available freelancing work related to the project, I might also be interested.)
That's great, thanks! And if the project hits its goals, there will definitely be freelancing in the future and possibly even on this project depending on how well we do. Please drop me a line at contact (at) aetaltis.com.
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I am sure all the 3PP, including LPJ Design, will be interested and not want to turn you down. Plus as we all know finding a GOOD / GREAT freelancer is worth their weight in gold.
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When you decide to do the interviews for freelancers that are new I would love to join you.
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Sure, I've worked on quite a few Kobold projects, from playtest to design to development. I'd be happy to answer some questions.
-Ben.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Thanks for the replies, everyone! I'm very happy to see that so many freelancers and 3rd-party publishers are interested in this.
I'm working on the list of questions, and I'll actually make variant lists for Kickstarters and self-publishers so that I can include all interested parties.
As for the interviews about individual freelancers, I'll start working on it as soon as I've got the 3pp interviews rolling. I'll post more info about it later!
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I am up for an interview.
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Then you've got somebody like me. In most respects I am a freelancer, primarily as a cartographer, however, one of Rite Publishing's setting and product line is the Kaidan setting of Japanese horror - and that's my homebrew, published as an imprint under Rite Publishing. So in a back door sort of way, I am a pseudo-publisher and at least a concept creator/developer and one of the designers of RPG materials. At the same time, I stand in the shadows of other freelancers on this project, including Jonathan McAnulty and T.H. Gulliver. So I am many things rolled into one, I even do the page layouts for all Kaidan material and some of the illustrations.
I am also in the process of writing a series of map tutorials guides for creating RPG maps, and that I am publishing completely on my own, as Gamer Printshop, following a very successful Kickstarter to fund its creation, last year.
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I would also be down for an interview!
Bret Boyd
Tricky Owlbear Publishing
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As Andreas mentioned, I'd be happy to participate. :)
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Really looking forward to reading these Mikko. And I'll volunteer if you're interested.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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The list of questions for 3rd-party publishers/self-publisher/Kickstarters is mostly finished! One last thing before we can start the interviews - a round of review. This is to ensure the questions are fair in the sense that everyone can answer them reasonably well, and that all the questions that deserve to be asked are included! Please comment within 48 hours.
- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
- How did you get into RPG design and what kind of projects have you been working on? What have been your best experiences?
- In your opinion, what makes a good Pathfinder RPG compatible product?
- When and how did get started?
- How did you join and what is your role or position?
- What can you tell about ?
- Can you give us an exclusive teaser about ?
- What are the best things about and what type of players or GMs would you recommend it/them for?
- What are the current goals for ? What are the biggest challenges?
- Is there anything else people should know about ?
- How do generally find new freelancers to write for you? What is the application process like?
- What are the main requirements for a freelancer to work for you? What other skills and/or experience are useful?
- Can you describe a typical assignment you give to new freelancers? What steps does the process typically include from the freelancer's point of view?
- What advice would you give to aspiring freelancers?
- In your opinion, what are the most important things to consider when starting ?
- What skills, tools or other resources do you consider to be the most important in ?
- What do you find most rewarding about ? What about least rewarding?
- Is there any further advice you would give to someone interested in ?
A few notes to the interviewees
- Unless you are the owner of the company (or Kickstarter), please check with them that you are authorized to represent the company.
- Only one interview per company / Kickstarter. The main purpose of these interviews is to introduce the 3rd-party publishing companies. However...
- ...I'll interview individual freelancers later. The questions will be different. More about that later! :)
How do generally find new freelancers to write for you? What is the application process like?
I believe you may have meant, "How do you generally find [...]" here.
In your opinion, what are the most important things to consider when starting [self-publishing or a Kickstarter]?
What skills, tools or other resources do you consider to be the most important in [self-publishing or running a Kickstarter]?
These seem redundant with each other.
One consideration, not all freelancers are writer/designers. Some are writers only, though many are writer/designers, some are illustrators only and/or cartographers only. Also some are editors only, and page layout only. Some publishers do the editing and page layout themselves, many do not. The rare individual may do all these things, but the majority do not. Are you only interested in freelance writer/designers?
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Andreas: Please send the answers either in email - mikko(dot)m(dot)kallio(at)gmail(dot)com or in a pm here at paizo.com, whichever you prefer.
Prince of Knives: Thanks for catching that! I'll fix that! And yes, the two questions can probably be merged into "In your opinion, what skills, tools or other resources do you consider to be the most important in [...]? What other things are useful to consider when starting a [...]?"
gamer-printer: I certainly want to interview illustrators, cartographers, editors, etc. too. I'll have to think about that when I start planning the interviews with individual freelancers.
As for the questions intended for publishers and Kickstarters above, I think they're mostly generic enough for anyone to answer. The point is to introduce the publisher / project in question, after all.
However, the questions for publishers that hire freelancers are admittedly a bit writer/designer-centric. I'll definitely add a question about illustrators, cartographers, etc., or change the questions enough to cover all types of freelancing related to RPG publishing. Do you think that will suffice?
Thanks for the questions / comments!
A more generic inclusion of freelancers to include all possible freelancers - artists, cartographers, authors, designers, editors, etc, would probably clear up any issues I had with the direction of the related question...
Looks very comprehensive Serpent. When you say comment in 48 hours, do you mean comment on/review the questions, or respond to them as if they were the interview? Andreas' response above and your reply seem to infer the latter...
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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No, I meant please provide any review comments within 48 hours. And after the 48 hours, you can send me the answers because that's when you have the final version of the questions. There will be no deadline whatsoever for the actual interviews. I'll leave this thing open so that if a 3pp or Kickstarter organizer hears about it later, they can also get interviewed!
So in other words, please don't send the answers just yet - for now, just check if the questions look ok.
These seem redundant with each other.In your opinion, what are the most important things to consider when starting [self-publishing or a Kickstarter]?
What skills, tools or other resources do you consider to be the most important in [self-publishing or running a Kickstarter]?
I actually disagree with that. I think those two questions can be answered in two drastically different ways.
I'd suggest keeping both.
These seem redundant with each other.In your opinion, what are the most important things to consider when starting [self-publishing or a Kickstarter]?
What skills, tools or other resources do you consider to be the most important in [self-publishing or running a Kickstarter]?I actually disagree with that. I think those two questions can be answered in two drastically different ways.
I'd suggest keeping both.
I agree with Jeremy. Considerations on startup are different from what skills, tools and resources will help in self-publishing over the long term.
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One consideration, not all freelancers are writer/designers. Some are writers only, though many are writer/designers, some are illustrators only and/or cartographers only. Also some are editors only, and page layout only. Some do the editing and page layout themselves, many do not. The rare individual may do all these things, but the majority do not.
Hey cool! I'm rare! :)
Yup me too. Love that map credit I got for the maze in Journeys to the West...
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Here is the final list of questions! You may now send in the answers and I'll start publishing the interviews 1/week starting this coming Saturday!
A few notes to the interviewees, please read first!
- Unless you are the owner of the company (or Kickstarter), please check with them that you are authorized to represent the company (or Kickstarter).
- Only one interview per company / Kickstarter. The main purpose of these interviews is to introduce the 3rd-party publishing companies. Note: If your Kickstarter is affiliated with a 3rd-party publisher, you are allowed to do a separate interview for the Kickstarter even if your company is also getting interviewed.
- First come, first served - all 3rd-party publisher interviews (which also includes self-publishers) are published in the order I receive the answers.
- However, Kickstarters are more time-critical and I'm going to make an exception with them: I'll publish any Kickstarter interviews a.s.a.p. They won't affect the schedule for the other interviews anyhow; i.e. they won't push back other interviews in the queue. Instead, they're posted as bonus content in addition to the 1/week interviews.
- I'll start sending out emails and private messages to everyone who has expressed interest (except individual freelancers because I'll interview you later) later today or tomorrow at the latest.
- However, if you want to get a head start, you don't have to wait for me to contact you. Just copy-paste the list and send me the answers. You may edit in the missing details (such as your company's name) but don't worry about it - I'll check them anyway and add any names missing.
- Notes and placeholders are marked with . They won't appear in the published interviews.
- Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
- How did you get into RPG design and what kind of projects have you been working on? What have been your best experiences?
- In your opinion, what makes a good Pathfinder RPG compatible product?
- When and how did get started?
- How did you join and what is your role or position?
- What can you tell about ?
- Can you give us an exclusive teaser about ?
- What are the best things about and what type of players or GMs would you recommend it/them for?
- What are the current goals for ? What are the biggest challenges?
- Is there anything else people should know about ?
- How do you generally find new freelancers to work for you? What is the application process like?
- What are the main requirements for a freelancer to work for you? What other skills and/or experience are useful?
- Can you describe a typical assignment you give to new freelancers? What steps does the process typically include from the freelancer's point of view?
- What advice would you give to aspiring freelancers?
- In your opinion, what are the most important things to consider when starting ?
- What skills, tools or other resources do you consider to be the most important in ?
- What do you find most rewarding about ? What about least rewarding?
- Is there any further advice you would give to someone interested in ?