Re: Turn Prices?

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000

>>I think either a fiver or three and a half quid is an over-inflated price
for what you normally get in a standard IF/RPG turn. I justify that by
comparing what 3-5 can get me on the High Street.<<

But thats silly.  How can you compare them.  For a fair comparison, try writing
to loaded and get a quote from them for a PBM turn published *just for you* in
their magazine.  If its cheaper than 3-5 I'll eat my hat.  (Not that I have a
hat.)

>>There are VERY FEW people willing to pay anything for RPG PBMs because the
cost (say) of ten turns at 35 quid can't be justified when the game is
likely to fold on turn 11.<<

There are a *lot* of people prepared to pay 3-5 and *more* for a good IF
hand-mod turn.  The folding is certainly an issue, but it usually occurs
because initially enthusiastic GMs realise they aren't earning enough.  Games
that run for a decent length of time can easily build a reasonable one-man
business that'll pay a tenner an hour, with a bit of clever design.

>> The future for paid-for turns is almost certainly
Computer-mod Wargames etc -<<

Well, I certainly agree that if you want to 'move up' and earn more in your PBM
business then computer-mod games are the way to go.  (Its what I did, after
all.)  But its also perfectly possibly to run and earn a decent wage on IF too
and you are wrong if you think nobody will pay high fees for such a turn.
Loads of people are crying out for a regular, reliable IF and they won't balk
at a �5.00 or �6.00 turnfee at all.

>> the core of the hobby these days comprised of people who see roleplaying as
a skill-less art best left to University
Students and twelve-year olds with their CCG/Top Trump games.<<

I dont agree with that statement at all.  The hard-core wargamers have *left*
the hobby for computer games and the re-emergence of board games.  Thats why
close-ended wargames are so hard to sell these days.  The core of the hobby is
made up of eager 'middle ground' PBMers who love *both* combat and roleplay.
That's why the big open-ended games, Quest, B.S.E., DungeonWorld and so on are
all still going strong.

>>I earn a good living doing a proper job that I hate, and spend a portion of
my spare time balancing that out by doing the hobby (GMing) which I love.<<

Me too. <grin>

>>People who attempt to do the same but in inverse invariably fail and annoy
the faeces out of their players.<<

Very true.  IF GMing is a tough job and 'burn out' can occur.  Many people who
try it are living on cloud nine and find it out too late.  But the fact that
many people who shouldn't be doing it then fail doesn't mean it can't be done.

Personally, I would pay �5.00 for a good, ongoing reliable IF as long as there
were plenty of other players in it to interact with (at least 20 or so).  If
you decide to run one, let me know!  I'd be interested!

Steve T.

References

Re: Turn Prices?
"Roy Pollard" <plod@proweb.co.uk>
Wed, 05 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Turn Prices?
"Roy Pollard" <plod@proweb.co.uk>
Wed, 05 Apr 2000 00:00:00 +0000