A Publishing Experiment
In 2021, I plan to release more D&D Fifth Edition compatible content on DriveThruRPG, which is a site dedicated to various RPG gaming systems. Why am I shifting my focus to DriveThruRPG? One reason is that it is simply time for a change. I've been publishing on the DMs Guild for five years (!) now. I love D&D and the worlds owned by WOTC, but I also want to explore some new places, especially ones of my devising. And possibly even other rule systems.
Another reason comes down to IP ownership. When you post something on the DMs Guild, you theoretically retain ownership of your IP, but it is tied in so closely with WOTC IP that you can't publish it elsewhere. This limitation doesn't apply to material posted on DriveThruRPG, meaning I have a lot more control over my material. For example, I can sell it on Amazon, crowdfund it, or turn it into a hardcover book.
Another bonus is that DriveThruRPG also gives creators access to robust analysis and marketing tools. I did not realize how powerful these tools were until recently. Using them makes it much easier to grow your audience and figure out which marketing strategies are working.
My first proper DTRPG release was The Book of Wondrous Magic, published last week. It was very much an experimental product for me. Not only was I publishing it on DTRPG, but I also tried out some new ideas around the product presentation. Let me explain.
One of the concerns I've had about the DMs Guild is that a kind of "arms race" has developed around presentation, with creators delivering evermore elaborate graphic design and art in a bargain-priced product. Although prices have also moved upward, that is often associated with a sales decline IME, meaning you can ultimately be worse off.
This "graphic design arms race" is one reason I wanted to experiment with a simple black-and-white interior. Stock and original art (where required) would generally be much cheaper than if everything was full color. But another reason for doing it is that I love the look of black text on white paper! Several modern RPGs use this look (e.g., The Forbidden Lands), and I think the results are spectacular. Another bonus is that I don't need to go to the trouble and expense of providing a separate "print friendly" file. I ended up using a bit of color in the interior of Wondrous Magic, but not much. I'm well pleased with the results.
The other experimental aspect was making it a digest-sized book. Most RPG books use a 2-column letter-sized page layout. While this looks fine in print and on a large monitor, it is less helpful when viewed on a mobile device. Even on a tablet, I sometimes have to zoom, and a phone is hopeless. Yes, you can have a different version of your product for mobile users, but that is more time and expense. Instead, I went for a single-column half-letter page layout. If you are using a monitor or have better eyes than I have for your tablet, you can easily view the book in a 2-up format. The same goes for home printing.
Speaking of printing, the digest size has another advantage. DTRPG recently discontinued saddle-stitching support, which IMO was the perfect binding method for letter-sized books with a low page count. Making the book digest-sized increases the page count, which makes it more suitable for perfect binding.
(For those who are curious about the text, I use Bookmania 12-point font for my main text, single-spaced. This size is much bigger than the eye-straining 9-point font that WOTC use in their core rulebooks. I use Modesto Condensed for my various heading fonts.)
So this was the essence of my experiment:
A new platform (DTRPG)
Digest-sized, single-column page layout
Plain (but attractive) interiors
I always felt confident that the book's content was strong. And I know that other publishers have played around with all these elements. My question, my experiment, was whether the platform and layout changes would prove a barrier to my audience.
Anyway, the verdict is in. After a week on sale, the book has exceeded my expectations. It has sold about 950 copies at the time of writing, so I should be picking up a Platinum Best Seller badge in a few days. I'm thrilled and grateful to everyone who has bought a copy. It helped that the low production costs helped me give this an attractive price point. I also want to acknowledge the great assistance I got from good press coverage.
What's next? I plan to write more Fifth Edition content on DTRPG. While it would make sense to follow up with some player options, the muse insists I deliver a particular adventure that's been on my heart, and so it must be. I don't imagine I will easily replicate the success I've had with The Book of Wondrous Magic, but it's an encouraging start to this new direction.