Marketing BFRPG and sales

[jdn2006]

Having read a few comments about marketing Basic Fantasy Role-Playing, I was wondering how much presence it has in terms of "commercial" work. By that, I mean anything sold on print-on-demand, especially as a book: at cost, below cost, for profit, whatever.

It occurs to me that a lot of people enjoy buying things and many operate mostly through commercial routes. They are not as interested in free downloads as others. I myself enjoy printed copies; pdf's are nice, but I'd rather buy something all nicely done up. A free source of marketing is any time someone sits down at a table and other people (glancing at their books and modules) sees the game system's name on them.

I know about the rule books being on Lulu and Amazon.com. But I don't remember seeing any modules or supplements. I do remember seeing Labrynth Lord and OSRIC materials and wonder if that doesn't effect their popularity, giving potential users the idea that they are well supported. Not that there is a popularity contest going; rather, the more games the public is aware of, the more choices they have and the better everything is.

I myself am not interested in the commercial end of gaming (that's why I have to ask; I only have a poor idea of who is selling what). The fun from making materials far outweighs any monetary concerns, for me. But, I certainly support selling stuff for any reason at all -- especially to help promote and support the hobby.

[Hywaywolf]

Part of the popularity of LL is that people are DMing it online. Its a slow process but the more people that run it online the more people who are aware of it and who look for more LL players. Its like a Ponzi scheme . I am in two LL online games and could probably find a few more to join. I would rather be in a BFRPG online voice chat game but I don't see any available. Several times every game something happens that I think to myself would have been better handled with BFRPG rules.

[jdn2006]

It's true about play-by-post games. Anything that can increase exposure, familiarity and make more people interested in a game adds to it's market. I don't have the time for one; but if I did, I'd look into free forum's as a possible way of hosting one. If there was no other willing host.

[Solomoriah]

There are no modules for sale as yet, mainly due to none of them being ready. BF1 is 99.9% ready, though, waiting mainly for the cover art. I'll have to ring Wulfgarn's bell again...

[Hywaywolf]

I wish that I could draw. I have a great idea for a cover, but no way to make it happen. I'd like to see sort of a homage to KOTB, with something similar to that cover image - orcs fighting PCs with hills in the background - but have the river and island with the collapsed bridge in the foreground using the same color scheme as KOTB. The PCs are crossing in boats and/or climbing out of boats under attack by orcs or goblins. Maybe have the Old Island Fortress off to the side or Morgansfort itself up atop one of the distant hills.

[SmootRK]

Emphasis, it is the collective efforts of getting the name out there. I agree that games, online and locally, will add exposure... moreso by games hosted in places like game stores, cons, etc. Especially when the host might have a few copies of the rules on hand to sell or hand out as give-a-ways to players at the game. Perhaps some promo money might be gathered from the locale (if game store) to provide for such giveaways. Especially when the game organizer stresses to support the game store while here. Or perhaps a combination, one freebie and the rest sold at cost... perhaps even the players just get the first section of the game printed and stapled instead of an official copy.

Reviews are another great way to get some word out. Send an email to various places to post a review. I have seen some podcast or youtube people do reviews of some obscure stuff...

I think everyone involved here should try keeping a blog... even if it is just a little campaign log that summarizes events of their gaming group. Increasing the pages that reference BFRPG increases its search results ratings (how Google and various search pages work).

Tout the game in Meetup.com groups related to games, rpgs, D&D. Provide links to the game page and downloads. Perhaps one of folks gets turned onto the game.

The game is so cheap, that I intend to always have a copy on hand to give away to interested parties... much like some books get spread around on the pay it forword method. Write something on the cover such as "This book was shared freely. If you like what you found here, purchase a copy at xxxx. Then pay it forward to another interested person"... etc. the exact wording might need work. If we can work out good wording, perhaps Solo can insert such a intro into a special 'Pay It Forward' edition of the game rules.

Of course, keep it out on display for all your friends to see. Turns out that I have had friends who have never played an RPG before, become interested after seeing a book in my house.... how much easier to entice one of these neophytes than pointing out the free download.... and of course invite the individual to a game.

[SmootRK]

Another aspect of hosting BFRPG games at a game store...

use minis or other stuff that the game store can provide. Encourage patronage of the store, and use whatever props the store can in turn sell to folks. Do your utmost to drag new people into the stores... thats what the store owners want and need.

[Hywaywolf]

I don't disagree that hosting games in your FLGS or at Cons is a great way to introduce new people, but they are limited/advertised just to the people in your area. Also, my area doesn't even have a FLGS or even a comic book store with a gaming area and I live in a medium size area (nearly 200,000 people in my county)

An online game with a supported blog or campaign log is an ever present advertisement for people around the world. Say you recruit for a game on DF, Mayhem Gaming, enworld, etc. Then after the game starts you keep a campaign log on each site. Maybe no one will actually read it besides the people playing, but it will be there to be found by people searching for a game.

[SmootRK]

Not knocking the online games... only that I don't think they really do a lot for marketing. I could be wrong though. Online play by post sort of games don't really demonstrate how the game is played, while in-person games do.

Remember I was trying to emphasize that the collective efforts to spread the word is what matters. If your situation calls for online games, then by all means use the tools at your disposal to spread the word. If someone else has the economic means to pick up a couple of copies that he or she does not mind using as giveaways, then they should do that. For that matter, I plan to buy enough copies to give everyone in my group a copy come Xmas time...

... but everyone has the means to tout the game in their various ways. Signatures lines on other forums, blog postings, facebook has a BFRPG group, start other social-network groups on myspace or twitter, teach your children to play using the rules, donate a couple of copies to a school for a gaming club (or even start the club if the need exists), put in requests in various public libraries for copies to be made available.... I am sure the list can go on.

[Hywaywolf]

My point about online games isn't about teaching the game, its about showing that its being played. Humans are a herd animal. People in general don't really want to be the first to do something, but if they see someone else doing it then they will be more likely to do it too. I think that's one of the ways LL is flourishing. People see others playing it so they want to make sure they aren't being left out.

I am not knocking playing games in a FLGS. I think that would be great. I wish we had one in my area that I could join, but I think FLGSs are a dying breed. We had one open up and closed within 3 months. The long time one we have here just moved location and went back to its core of selling comic books and dropped its game room. Online games are flourishing. I could play 7 nights a week online if I wanted to be divorced.

I am a friend of BFRPG on facebook. I have introduced my kids and their friends to BFRPG. My daughter has introduced more kids as well but they don't really get together to game much anymore. She keeps planning to schedule a game but they have scattered to the winds. She will be starting a new group when school starts back up. I print out copies all the time and give them away. We've bought 3 paperback copies and 1 hardback. All this and I still can't find a BFRPG to join. I wish I could get my circle of friends to play D&D but its just not their thing. And finding a local group here is hard. I want to be a player since I just returned to RPG after a 25 year hiatus. I have DMed for my kids, but I don't think my DMing skills would impress adults.

The thing is, I don't think I am all that different than a lot of new D&Ders out there. We are wanting to play, but can't find games. People are playing C&C, LL, etc online so that's the games they join.