I need your advice!
Hello, everyone! Today I have a question for you, because I'm conflicted. The Gravebound Edition of Ker Nethalas is finally complete, which means I've started the process of preparing the files for DTRPG/Amazon. I expect the book to be available later this month, on all formats. So my question is: should I remove from sale The Book of Masteries and the three Vaelorian codices? I ask this because I think it might be confusing for a newcomer to purchase the core rules and then purchase some of its supplemental material and find out that they can't really use it that well because the versions don't match. On the other hand, I know a lot of people don't really mind... So I don't know what to do. What do you guys think is the best course of action?
If I do remove the Book of Masteries, it will be unavailable for two months. The three codices will be about five months from now, before I can release the single unified tome.
Comments (33)
Hi! several weeks ago I bought the old Ker Nethalas edition, is there some errata / update to get it to Gravebound?
I imagine you did so via Amazon? If so, contact me and I'll send you the DTRPG files, and a link to purchase the new physical version at cost
I voted for remove. Current customers will understand the distinction, but new customers may not, and those are the ones you want to grow.
Yeah, it's honestly a way to ensure no confusion is caused, I think.
I personally wouldn’t have any issue with it remaining on sale. If the description mentioned that this is the older version and that a free update will be provided once it is ready,
I know postage is a bummer, Alex, but I’d definitely support a Kickstarter for a deluxe set of everything!
Yeah I'd really love to do that!
I'd remove them as well since those will be revised to match the new edition. You should also launch a new Kickstarter campaign for it. That may re-excite the product for newbies.
I would love to launch a new KS for a nice set, but right now with all the shipping and tariffs issues, it's honestly tricky.
I would remove the physical books from sale, but not the PDFs. as the pdf's have a complete upgrade path for the buyer, not just a reduction... and yeah, with the large red lettering pointing that out. :D
Yes, that's a good idea!
People will be OK with mismatched editions if there is some indicator (even if the don’t read it). For a one man shop, it might be tough to miss out on a revenue stream delayed by six months. And new comers will definitely want to get those other materials within a few weeks of the core book, when they are fully engaged.
makes sense, thanks for the feedback!
As someone who owns it all including the special cloth bound: remove all the old stuff. You can always leave the PDFs at Drivethru. It’s a lot to explain that there are two editions.
Yeah, I'm starting to think that's the best option. Thanks!
Just edit those clarifying they are not for the gravebound edition YET, but they work perfectly with the normal edition and will be updated in the future.
In my experience, people never, ever read those sort of announcements and clarifications... It's astonishing.
You could pull all expansions from sale at the release of Gravebound edition - and then release them all together as a bundle with the original Ker Nethalas as: "Ker Nethalas 2024 Complete" or Classic or complete original works or something... Just brainstorming at waking up... but if they are all bundled together, maybe that will force someone to read or ask why the expansions aren't available unbundled. Negative of course is what if they only want the third codex or BoM...
Yes, I did consider doing something like that, but it would mean waiting until the three books are ready, which would mean about 6 months of no sales. Considering KN alone is about 60% of my monthly sales, it would probably kill me, haha. So I think I'll probably release the core rulebook once it's done (later this month), remove the three zines, and leave the Book of Masteries for the time being since that one's being updated now and people already have access to the beta PDF. Then, once the new Vaelorian Codex is ready in 5-6 month, release it. And meanwhile release the Warren of the Ratkin expansion, and the revamped Quickstart.
Personally I mostly buy the book versions for the aesthetics and artwork, and use the PDFs when I actually play. So from a collector's standpoint I prefer when things are available for purchase and I don't feel like it would be a huge problem as long as it's communicated on the store page that there will be a newer version
Thanks for the feedback! I do think you might be in the minority, though, haha.
Personally, I would remove the codices from sale since they're being completely replaced. The book of masteries is just being updated so I would leave it up with a note that it is being updated. Maybe remove the option for PoD until the update is finished, but allow the pdf to be purchased
This is probably the most sensible option, yes.
Can you take them down and put the new ones up on pre-order? I'm not sure how amAmazon works, but with a new release date at least they will know there are new books coming.
I could do it with the Vaelorian Codex, since that one is indeed going to be a different product (one book, as opposed to three zines), but the Book of Masteries is a direct update, so I can't take it down and put the upcoming version for pre-order, I'm afraid...
If you are selling 1e products, like Book of Masteries and when you release the 2e version the 1e version they purchased will be automatically updated to the new content, so thier previous spent money isnt wasted, I would leave it up for sale. If however, the current Book of Masteries will only work for 1e and will have a different title like Book of Extended Masteries, then definitively take them down until the new versions are out. So basically auto-update leave, if not suspend sales. I know I get alerts for products that are updated all the time.
it's not a second edition, it's simply a large update, which is why it's free. And yes, the current versions of the codices and book of masteries only work with the non-Gravebound version of Ker Nethalas.
I'd personally feel a bit more irked if i spent money on a couple of codex only to discover 2 months later it had been replaced by something new & improved! You're doing them a favour in the long run Alex.
Yeah, I agree!
Maybe you can rename them like 1e and 2e so people can see to which version belongs what?
No, there are not different editions. The new books will replace the old ones, since it's an update. They will not co-exist, I don't want to confuse people.
Keep them with the sale and a big disclaimer saying that a new version will be released soon
I have considered that, yeah! But trust me: people don't read. Like, never.