I just bought FantasyCraft, and I really wanted to like it, but...

[Crafty_Pat]

Oh, no, no, no... you misunderstood my enthusiasm. I, as a gamer, love having PDF versions of my print products. POD is a different animal, and I hates it. One day it'll destroy my buggy whip store, but until then... meh. No, I own a gamestore because I love games. And, much like Sletchman, I like you guys. So it's very frustrating to convince my customers to give Fantasy Craft a chance, and then tell them for almost two years that the big cool magic book is gonna come out soon. That kills momentum for the system. This forum is full of understanding fans. The standard mantra is "Take your time, we want it done right." But the general game buying public isn't so forgiving. They want the product, and I lose a few more converts every month to, well mostly, to Pathfinder. Don't really take this as whining, per se, but more as an effort to make you aware of the problem. You might not even see it as a problem, but as a retailer, I do.

Believe me, we're keenly aware of the damage being done to Fantasy Craft here, and we wish we could change things more quickly. We do have plans that we think will turn things around, at least in part, but what we've learned - again, the hard way - is not to talk about them until they're pretty much ready for action, purchase, or whatever. Launching Spellbound the way we did - way back in the days of it being a 2.0 line - was one of the worst mistakes we ever made. We thought we were doing better when we took pre-orders at Gen Con last year, on the assumption that I was nearly done with my time on Mistborn, but that didn't work out either.

We don't make those kinds of assumptions anymore. Now we plan and try and hope, but we do it all behind the scenes where expectations can't hurt impressions of the game out there in the wild. Of course that leads to folks just assuming the worst but we can't help that - all we can do is assure all of you that we're doing the very best we can for the lines and for you guys, and ask that you trust us as we turn things around.

We learn more about this business and how to run things more efficiently every day, and Alex and I are tighter and more in sync as designers than we've ever been. The freelance roster is growing and it feels like we're starting to figure out how to use them in ways that don't require us to be as involved as we always have been, which should dramatically improve productivity. We have a new production manager on staff to take several responsibilities off our plates, and on, and on.

It's a process, and I'm happy that every month feels a little better than the last. Onward and upward, I try to say. Onward and upward.

[Crafty_Pat]

I feel like I should quality, before I get quoted out of context and it blows out of proportion... When I say that I'd ideally sequester myself for 3-4 months to get the project done, I'm not also saying that there's that much work left. What I'm saying is that in an ideal world that's what I would have taken when we got the project up and running, so I could knock it all out from the beginning. There's less work than that left, though there will also be a bit of a re-learning curve (a re-acquaintance phase, if you will), as I get back up to speed after I slap Mistborn on the butt and send it off to the printer. I'll have more specifics about how much work is really left in front of me - in terms of time - once I dig back in.

[Soulcatcher]

Do you have any estimates on roughly how long until Mistborn is sent off to the printers?

[tfwfh]

Believe me, we're keenly aware of the damage being done to Fantasy Craft here, <etc>

For what it's worth, if Fantasy Craft hadn't been released when it was, I would probably be playing Pathfinder instead.  Round abouts 2009, I was feeling entirely dissatisfied with 4e DnD and I started looking around for something else to play.  Then I thought to myself, "You know what?  Spycraft 1 was totally the best rpg ever.  Let's see what they're doing now.  Wait a minute, what's this?  Fantasy Craft?  Yes please."  So I bought it.  Then some time later, I was able to get a group to play it.

I wasn't a big fan of SC 2.0 when it was new, and then the group I played Spycraft with disintegrated, so I never really got into it.  But after my Fantasy Craft game wound down, I was in the mood again for some espionage action.  And you guys were saying things like "Welcome to your home for Spycraft Third discussion".  So, I thought to myself "Spycraft Third!? That's great!  If only it was out already.  Well, I guess I'll run a 2.0 game, because that will probably be easier to convert when Third comes out."  So I bought 2.0 and world on fire, and a selection of other 2.0 books.  And now I'm running a 2.0 game.

And as long as I'm telling stories, I wasn't going to buy Mistborn either, as I wasn't familiar with the fiction and was kind of ambivalent on the concept.  But then I listened to the interview you guys gave to Atomic Array.  And your discussion of Crews and Resources and social combat sounded just fantastic.  So I bought that, too.  And as long as I was going to be exploring some Mistborn, I thought I should explore all of it, and I bought the first trilogy as well.  And now I'm reading that.  Thanks, btw.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that, while there is a lot to dislike about how the schedule for these things has worked out, it's hasn't been all bad.

[Crafty_Pat]

Do you have any estimates on roughly how long until Mistborn is sent off to the printers?

Until yesterday I was pretty sure it would be very early next week. A few more rounds of small-ish but important layout tweaks wound up derailing that estimate, and now I'm holding off with an ETA, just in case. (Folks 'round these parts understand the process - you never know there are problems until you do, and you deal with them as they come.)

I'm actually expecting a call from the graphic designer in the next few minutes to talk about the two remaining chapters that require significant tweaks. Those are the big wild cards at the moment, and I can't start my last run on the project until they're locked down.

I've got a blog post with updates primed to go up once I have that ETA locked down.

[Crafty_Pat]

So, I guess what I'm saying is that, while there is a lot to dislike about how the schedule for these things has worked out, it's hasn't been all bad.

This is actually a pretty common sentiment on our side as well. Fantasy Craft did very well for us - better than we were worried it might, given how late it was and how long Pathfinder had been out by then - but it's hard not to wonder how much better it would have done if it had hit when we'd originally hoped it would. Still, you can't change the past and you can't do more than you're able, so we count our blessings and move on.

Spycraft Third is benefiting from a whole lot of perspective on every front. From release expectations to system choices and everything else, we're making very careful, measured decisions to ensure it reclaims its rightful title as your first and best destination for modern gaming. That process is not fast, but it also won't be without its rewards. When it's out, the game will enjoy sustainable, regular, and reliable releases, and in all likelihood a bunch of other perks as well.

BTW, the conversation with our graphic designer went well, and he's refitting those two chapters now. Hopefully he'll be done this weekend. More as it comes together.

[Grimace]

Oh, no, no, no... you misunderstood my enthusiasm. I, as a gamer, love having PDF versions of my print products. POD is a different animal, and I hates it. One day it'll destroy my buggy whip store, but until then... meh. No, I own a gamestore because I love games. And, much like Sletchman, I like you guys. So it's very frustrating to convince my customers to give Fantasy Craft a chance, and then tell them for almost two years that the big cool magic book is gonna come out soon. That kills momentum for the system. This forum is full of understanding fans. The standard mantra is "Take your time, we want it done right." But the general game buying public isn't so forgiving. They want the product, and I lose a few more converts every month to, well mostly, to Pathfinder. Don't really take this as whining, per se, but more as an effort to make you aware of the problem. You might not even see it as a problem, but as a retailer, I do.

Believe me, we're keenly aware of the damage being done to Fantasy Craft here, and we wish we could change things more quickly. We do have plans that we think will turn things around, at least in part, but what we've learned - again, the hard way - is not to talk about them until they're pretty much ready for action, purchase, or whatever. Launching Spellbound the way we did - way back in the days of it being a 2.0 line - was one of the worst mistakes we ever made. We thought we were doing better when we took pre-orders at Gen Con last year, on the assumption that I was nearly done with my time on Mistborn, but that didn't work out either.

We don't make those kinds of assumptions anymore. Now we plan and try and hope, but we do it all behind the scenes where expectations can't hurt impressions of the game out there in the wild. Of course that leads to folks just assuming the worst but we can't help that - all we can do is assure all of you that we're doing the very best we can for the lines and for you guys, and ask that you trust us as we turn things around.

We learn more about this business and how to run things more efficiently every day, and Alex and I are tighter and more in sync as designers than we've ever been. The freelance roster is growing and it feels like we're starting to figure out how to use them in ways that don't require us to be as involved as we always have been, which should dramatically improve productivity. We have a new production manager on staff to take several responsibilities off our plates, and on, and on.

It's a process, and I'm happy that every month feels a little better than the last. Onward and upward, I try to say. Onward and upward.

Was looking for updates on Spellbounds' status.  And found this post.  If you could give an update in the Spellbound thread from time to time, it would be great.   Still have my receipt in my wallet from GC and it reminds me to check the thread for updates. 

[Crafty_Pat]

Once I'm back on the project, I imagine there will be pretty frequent updates. The main reason there haven't been many is we didn't have much to say, and we've also learned that folks dislike hollow news.

The fire's lit. We're on it. As soon as we possibly can be. 

[Grimace]

Once I'm back on the project, I imagine there will be pretty frequent updates. The main reason there haven't been many is we didn't have much to say, and we've also learned that folks dislike hollow news.

The fire's lit. We're on it. As soon as we possibly can be. 

Thanks Pat.  No worries, no ETA's necessary, just little bits of info here and there would be great. 

On a side note have you considered arranging some sort of PDF deal for those that preordered?  I'd jump at a reduced cost pdf copy, so I could use it as a GM and my players can use the hardcopy.   

[DefenderofFuture]

Been reading this topic and I wanted to say that my friends and I absolutely adore Fantasycraft, and it's become our system of choice.  However, it took me the better part of two years to win them over to it.  This is just the way of things in a niche industry like pen-and-paper RPGs.  I think it's frankly a better choice to have less publicity about it than more, because expectations are expensive.  Given the nature of this industry in culture, your time is better spent making an excellent product than advertising it. 

[Grimace]

Been reading this topic and I wanted to say that my friends and I absolutely adore Fantasycraft, and it's become our system of choice.  However, it took me the better part of two years to win them over to it.  This is just the way of things in a niche industry like pen-and-paper RPGs.  I think it's frankly a better choice to have less publicity about it than more, because expectations are expensive.  Given the nature of this industry in culture, your time is better spent making an excellent product than advertising it. 

I agree.  Nothing like rushing a product out to market to alienate people because of issues that occur because of the rush.

[tfwfh]

Been reading this topic and I wanted to say that my friends and I absolutely adore Fantasycraft, and it's become our system of choice.  However, it took me the better part of two years to win them over to it.  This is just the way of things in a niche industry like pen-and-paper RPGs.  I think it's frankly a better choice to have less publicity about it than more, because expectations are expensive.  Given the nature of this industry in culture, your time is better spent making an excellent product than advertising it. 

I agree.  Nothing like rushing a product out to market to alienate people because of issues that occur because of the rush.

On the other hand, there's also nothing quite like running out of money before the product is finished and never releasing it at all.  There's a balance that needs to be struck.

[Grimace]

Been reading this topic and I wanted to say that my friends and I absolutely adore Fantasycraft, and it's become our system of choice.  However, it took me the better part of two years to win them over to it.  This is just the way of things in a niche industry like pen-and-paper RPGs.  I think it's frankly a better choice to have less publicity about it than more, because expectations are expensive.  Given the nature of this industry in culture, your time is better spent making an excellent product than advertising it. 

I agree.  Nothing like rushing a product out to market to alienate people because of issues that occur because of the rush.

On the other hand, there's also nothing quite like running out of money before the product is finished and never releasing it at all.  There's a balance that needs to be struck.

True.   

[Crafty_Pat]

On a side note have you considered arranging some sort of PDF deal for those that preordered?  I'd jump at a reduced cost pdf copy, so I could use it as a GM and my players can use the hardcopy.  

As we've mentioned previously, those who bought the book at Gen Con will also receive the PDF at no additional cost.