Café de Nuit

I think RL'S problem is that it is not RPG mainstream and that it doesn't get promoted in any way.

Besides, some of the 3e books have provoked disgusted reviews and may have alienated a lot of players.

Third, as long as WotC gives one the entire GC series, and as long as there are so great netbooks out there, how do you tell people who just want to give the setting a try that they spend 20€ for a book.

Not bashing on too high prices again, I think it's just reality: If people can get sufficient stuff for free, why shoud they spend money?

Only with Gaz 5 you can make up campaigns that last for years...

I like physical copies a lot better then PDFs but you can't beat free!

From looking at their prices, they aren't bad. I saw a couple interesting books I may download. Definitly downloading some of their free stuff.

Desdichado wrote:Third, as long as WotC gives one the entire GC series, and as long as there are so great netbooks out there, how do you tell people who just want to give the setting a try that they spend 20€ for a book.

Not bashing on too high prices again, I think it's just reality: If people can get sufficient stuff for free, why shoud they spend money?

They're both very good points. And, it seems that such a perception is taking greater hold of the RPG publishing industry as each new month of new releases passes.

It's times like these that I fear for the future of this hobby that we all love. However, so long as there are always communities such as the Cafe de Nuit remain online through the hard work and determination of the site administrators and staff, the dreams of previous settings will always live on...

Hey, I don't think it works that way: most RL fans KNOW how to download books from P2P. I already had downloaded gazetteers, because I cannot carry them around - I just bring the laptop to the sessions. I didn't have Masque of the Red Death (and it has a ridiculously high price here in Greece), so drivethrurpg gave me a way to buy it for less money - I wouldn't buy it otherwise.
And, downloading from P2P is very very different from downloading from drivethrurpg - usually the files are huge and not OCRed - if you use a book in a game, OCR can really really help you find out the rule you need in a couple of seconds.
So, drivethrurpg is for people with laptops, who can't carry tons of books around. In that way we can buy more RL books. It's another market altogether - I don't see this encouraging people downloading from P2P (actually, usually it's the other way round: first you learn how to download from DC++, then you learn that it's cheap to buy it from drivethrurpg with OCR - and if you are really a RL fan, you will gladly give a reasonable amount of money - 10-20 euros to buy a book).
Now that you reminded to me, it's time for me to buy Masque. I'm going right now!

Shadowsworn wrote:I think that if Arthaus is sponsoring something like this the line must be in trouble. Putting it out there will hopefully get more people into the setting and get them to buy the other books. Of course, on the downside, like Deschidado said, it encourages them to download other products via P2P

i doubt it's in that much trouble, they just released a new Ravenloft PDF "Tales and Disturbing Legends" thru Drivethru

Well, considering all the trouble our oversea fans have getting the book, finding stores and then waiting for the shipment that might not be a bad idea.

I do not think that the line is in trouble. I think they are just slowing down, which is normal. They released something like 5-7 books a years over the past four years and now they want to reduce that to 3 or 4. Maybe this will lead to better planned volumes (Gazetteer 5 Dread Possibilities, case in point).

Also, I find that myself, and many other people I know, buy the books and then get a digital backup in case something happens to the original. In some cases, stuff has happened. Why are carbonated drinks so attracted RPG Books?

Stygian Inquirer wrote:Why are carbonated drinks so attracted RPG Books?

I've done worse, I dropped one in the bath!

on the subject of distribution of the PDF, i just noticed they would be able to track who ever breaches the useage rights of the PDF as it's watermarked with the Drivethru customers name and Free Product stamped in the corner.....

though the offer has now finished, something from White Wolfs Demon RPG is up for grabs now

Hey. Sorry I've been gone so long, but I have a good excuse. See, I'm really lazy and...well that's it.

Now I find that my lazyness has cost me a free copy of Gaz V! I practically cried myself to sleep when I heard of it. That's what I get for not checking the boards often enough.

Just another one of those *sticky* questions...

May I TRADE/RESELL pdfs I downloaded for cash?

*No similarintentions, just wondering... As the authorities are so strict with copyright law violations these days, one should not make any move without some kind of legal backup.* *...Although I wonder if can get some money for my printed copy of QtR 11... the content's great! *

No, the PDF isn't free to trade, the promotion is over, and besides DriveThruRPG where the only ones given permission to distribute it for free.

And as for reselling, that violates copyright laws.

Heck, even with Canada's liberal personal-use laws that alow heavy photo-copying and duplication making a profit is strictly no-no.

David of the Frat wrote:Heck, even with Canada's liberal personal-use laws that alow heavy photo-copying and duplication making a profit is strictly no-no.

Greedy big business. Not wanting the little guy to make a profit of their work.

Thank you for that info! Will help me to stay out of trouble! *Or so I hope...*