Expectations

Most of you who stop by my little corner of the world know I recently published an adventure called Knowledge Illuminates.  I plan on just yapping about the process that I've gone through.  Those of you that are already deep into the process will find most of this old tread. 

RPGNow is the place I am selling my adventure and they have a ton of tools available to help advertise your product.  I can't say enough good things about them.  To get a publisher account it's as easy as letting them know you would like one.  Then you have to decide if you went to sell exclusively through them, in which case you earn 70% of the price you choose.  Or you can sign a non-exclusive agreement so you can sell other places, this contract will earn you 65% of the listed price.  Even though I am offering my adventure only on RPGNow, I like to have options so I signed the non-exclusive contract.

Setting a price point was difficult.  I discussed this with Rob (Bat in the Attic) and my wife (The Happy Whisk) to settle on a price that I thought would be fair.  Both Rob and my wife told me not to undercut myself.  So figured a $2 profit margin on each sale would be a good point.  With a $4 price point and with the non-exclusive contract of 65% I earn $2.60 per sale.  It's interesting to hear different opinions, but in the end I have to make the final decision.  I think it is a good starting point.  Whether it is correct I will see.  And what will make it correct or not is my expectations of what I consider a success.

I have no delusions of making a ton of money.  I'll be happy to earn a little money to supplement my own gaming purchases.  My expectation for Knowledge Illuminates is to sell 10 copies this weekend and 25 copies overall.  Low expectations?  Maybe.  But, to me, selling 25 copies would be a success.  I'm good with that.  Rob thinks I'll sell 100. 

As of the writing of this blog I've sold 12 copies and 8 comp copies were downloaded for a whopping profit of $31.20.  Friday when I first released it Ivy went to the store and bought two bags of chips when she got back I had sold two copies and told her she already blew my profit margin with those chips.

I plan to publish a few other products before the end of March (and I won't sell them until the wife says they are golden).  Future releases will be a rerelease of Starter Adventures.  I'm going to fix all the typos, add some maps, add a few scenarios and offer it for free on RPGNow.  I checked the other day and Starter Adventures has been downloaded 608 times.  Holy crap on a cracker Batman.  I never thought it would get that many.  The other two will be another addition in the One-Shot Adventure Series and an ecology manual for Harpies.  I am figuring on charging $4 for the other adventure and $1 for the Harpy manual.  Not set in stone, but things I am considering.

Have a great Sunday.  No football, but I am sure a ton of you are glad of that.  I am heading to the bookstore armed with a 40% coupon hoping to bring down Pathfinders Bestiary 2.  It's a huge beast, but I think I can take it.  I just hope I don't have to roll or I am doomed.