BattleMaster Community
BattleMaster => BattleMaster Expansions => Topic started by: Tom on December 30, 2011, 08:26:25 PM
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http://wiki.battlemaster.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Blight
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Since I'm sure the question will come up:
Why is Beyond the Blight not free?
That has two reasons.
First, it is much easier for getting it published. Publishing services don't work for free, so the best deal available to small, unknown authors like me is finding one of the services who offer to do your self-publishing for you - at a cut of the book price. Since they want to earn something to pay their bills, that price is by necessity not zero.
Two, as some of you may know, I have founded my own company in 2011. That means I need a justification towards myself when I do things like this, because I could do work that puts bread on the table in the same time. While the book would have to become a bestseller in order to give me the same income I make as a professional in my real job, it does satisfy my consciousness if I make at least a little money.
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Nice! The expansion turned out to be something I wasn't expecting again and it sounds great. My study books can wait a day! Didn't know you had your own company, but I'm sure we will all cheer on the thought of the book becoming a bestseller ;)
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On that matter.
If everyone who is interested in it buys it on the same day (say... the release day...) it might have a chance to reach a spot in some Amazon top seller list or whatever, which then creates a feedback process where people get interested and buy it, keeping it on top, etc.
I know it works for iPhone/iPad apps.
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Does it work on a normal computer as well? Is it going to be in a PDF format or something like that?
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Ummm... Tom? You might have some competition from a band by the same name. v_v
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Quick suggestion--one thing that http://machineofdeath.net/ (http://machineofdeath.net/) did with the Machine of Death book, is offer podcasted readings of various chapters.
You may want to consider releasing at least the first few paragraphs of some of 8 stories as a sample.
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Ummm... Tom? You might have some competition from a band by the same name. v_v
I don't think either of us cares - free marketing for both parties. :-)
You may want to consider releasing at least the first few paragraphs of some of 8 stories as a sample.
The first three stories are available in-game, and I think someone copied one of them to the Wiki.
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What. First three copies are available in game? How do we access that?
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What. First three copies are available in game? How do we access that?
Stories, not copies. They were posted as role plays to the realms they happened in.
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Beyond the Blight has been finished and is on its way through the distributor verifications, etc. - no ETA, but I will let you know as soon as it is available.
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It has now been released. Purchase links are on the wiki page (see first post).
Shopping guide:
- If you own a Kindle - use the Amazon link
- If you own any other e-book reader - use the Lulu link
- If you insist on buying it in the iTunes/iBooks store or the Barnes&Noobles Nook store only - wait a few days, it's coming there.
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When I read the Prologue on the preview all I was thinking is 'I experienced those last invasions. I was there. I was one of the folk who got rolled over by the blight. This is so cool!' Honestly, it's making me regret retiring Attila and not being part of Beluaterra for this one. What was I thinking? Definitely had to purchase so I could get a taste of the Fifth Invasion :-)
- If you own a Kindle - use the Amazon link
And even if you don't have a Kindle, you can still buy Kindle books and use the Kindle for PC app available for free through Amazon so don't let that put you off a purchase!
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I read it on my Android phone with the Kindle app. :) I really enjoyed the pre-release copy. Looking forward to the final.
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Do I have to point out that a few positive (but honest) reviews would be really cool? :)
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...Are there any goodies if we buy?
I think it's a fair question. A lot of products nowadays give out stuff like fanbooks, figures, etc, to preorders and/or the first X orders.
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...Are there any goodies if we buy?
I think it's a fair question. A lot of products nowadays give out stuff like fanbooks, figures, etc, to preorders and/or the first X orders.
No, there aren't. It's not that I'm unwilling, it is simply that there is no way to tie in the various e-book shops with the BattleMaster backend.
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I don't have an e-reader. Is there a PDF version available? Or even text?
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I don't have an e-reader. Is there a PDF version available? Or even text?
I don't either, looking into e-reader software for my laptop.
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There's e-reader software readily available.
Yes, I could make a PDF as well. But the various e-book shops don't sell PDF. And I don't want the hassle of sales and transactions for myself.
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Free Kindle reader software for PC, Mac, Android phones, iPad/iPod, etc.:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000493771
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And even if you don't have a Kindle, you can still buy Kindle books and use the Kindle for PC app available for free through Amazon so don't let that put you off a purchase!
Even better--use "Amazon Cloud Reader" and simply view it as a web page.
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Even better--use "Amazon Cloud Reader" and simply view it as a web page.
Which is really trivial because - surprise - e-books are basically HTML files. :)
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Hm... really nobody buying, or is the reporting delayed? According to Amazon, I have sold a grand four copies so far - two on .com and two on .co.uk - and Lulu says I've sold nothing.
I didn't exactly expect a bestseller, but four is a bit frustrating.
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Hm... really nobody buying, or is the reporting delayed? According to Amazon, I have sold a grand four copies so far - two on .com and two on .co.uk - and Lulu says I've sold nothing.
I didn't exactly expect a bestseller, but four is a bit frustrating.
I'll be buying a copy in the next few hours, soon as I figure out which option is going to hurt me least in currency exchange fees.
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I'll be buying a copy in the next few hours, soon as I figure out which option is going to hurt me least in currency exchange fees.
Well yeah, that's one more. I'm more wondering about the big picture. I had estimated about 100 sales, that'd be 10% of the players. But less than 1% of the players? That sounds like something is wrong - do the sales not work? Do people not know? That's what I'm wondering about.
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Well, I bought one of the amazon.com copies...maybe those who bought them, should post reviews. I'll try to do that tomorrow.
I should mention here that I'm 85% through and I've enjoyed the book.
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Once I grab my buddy, I will pay him so I can buy the book. Got no credit card for myself.
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Well, I bought one of the amazon.com copies...maybe those who bought them, should post reviews. I'll try to do that tomorrow.
I should mention here that I'm 85% through and I've enjoyed the book.
Glad to hear that. And yeah, reviews would be cool.
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Glad to hear that. And yeah, reviews would be cool.
Done. I find it annoying that I can't put the link to battlemaster in the review, but it makes sense, for combating spam.
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Hey, Tom! Just wanted to say I picked up a copy now that Barnes and Noble is showing it. (I added the link to the wiki page for it.) I'm really enjoying it. I think the account of Rhys is my favorite so far. Since I was playing in Heen when it fell, it hit closer to home. Thanks for the fun read!
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Hey, Tom! Just wanted to say I picked up a copy now that Barnes and Noble is showing it. (I added the link to the wiki page for it.) I'm really enjoying it. I think the account of Rhys is my favorite so far. Since I was playing in Heen when it fell, it hit closer to home. Thanks for the fun read!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. And yes, I did try to strike a few chords with people, and integrate the stories into the realms and existing lore. It really should feel like it fits in, not as if it was added on top.
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Can some excerpts from the stories be taken IC? Especially the travels of Spencer Rhys, and some other interesting bits...
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Can some excerpts from the stories be taken IC? Especially the travels of Spencer Rhys, and some other interesting bits...
I think the rule is, your character has to have some IC reason for having the information.
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All of these stories describe events that did happen IC.
The book itself also exists IC - see the introductory chapter.
You should explain IC how you learnt about it. It's not exactly going to be printed in large numbers, if for no other reason than because the printing press has not yet been invented.
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Quick suggestion--one thing that http://machineofdeath.net/ (http://machineofdeath.net/) did with the Machine of Death book, is offer podcasted readings of various chapters.
You may want to consider releasing at least the first few paragraphs of some of 8 stories as a sample.
That's a cool idea.
I'd be happy to provide the voice talent for the podcasts.