WereSteve wrote:Just to add to your woes ... I find the following to be quite good ...http://www.lulu.com/browse/search.php?fListingClass=0&fSearch=johnny+rook+gamesSteve
sunrunner44 wrote:Innocently, while browsing the 'completion' thread, I saw a cat that had done a continuation of the G-series, and was still available via Lulu...
FormCritic wrote:Ah...dang it!
mbassoc2003 wrote:On the whole, Lulu product is poor quality because there is no editing or quality control. They literally print whatever the author wants them to, and very few authors have the experience or inclination to polish their works, or the professional detachment to be able to see the flaws in their little achievements. That is why established publishing houses will always offer better quality product over solo author with lap top and mate with pencil.So, buyer beware. Lastly, never pay full price for anything. There is hardly ever a time when Lulu aren't offering at least 20% discount. You have to be really desperate if you pay the author's asking price for something.
mbassoc2003 wrote:... What I find with most small press guy on a sofa type offerings is that the product fail in so many different ways. Poor typesetting, poor editing, bad mapwork (although maybe the best a mate can do from a sofa with a laptop), bad artwork, poor cropping, poor typesetting, lack of alignment, justification and centring, the list goes on.
mbassoc2003 wrote:The problem is, with Lulu you have know way of knowing how sh!te or not what you're buying is....
mbassoc2003 wrote:There is no way of encouraging authors on Lulu to be honest about their work or right to get your money back if what Lulu sell you is sh!te.
mbassoc2003 wrote:ANd more often than not, it's gonna be sh!te (in comparison to what you pay for it) because if it was actually really worth publishing and selling to the public, a publisher would already have done it.
mbassoc2003 wrote:Occasionally you get something like the G-Series that should be picked up by a publishing house and remarketted, like GG did with LotFP's Esoteric Creature Creator, and that process alone is a learning process that can push an author into self publishing professionally, as it did with Edward Raggi. Problem is, most authors don't understand, don't care' or just don't get it. Lulu panders to them and proffits accordingly, but there is a reason they conduct their store like a discount bargain basement shop with permanent sales and discount vouchers, and that's because what they sell is bargain basement quality cr@p for the most part.
The thing is that the tide of technology has create a situation where there is very little difference in the raw capabilities of a Wizards of the Coast and a kid working out of his apartment.
First time authors that are serious need to realize this and send out free products to these sources to be reviewed and analyzed.
mbassoc2003 wrote:FWIW, there is a company called Black Swan or some such, publishing works on RPGNow. I have no idea who they are or where they are from, but they see the difference. Sooner or later they are going to publish something spectacular.
TheHistorian wrote:You probably don't want me to post a list of all the OSRIC adventures then, right?
TheHistorian wrote:I don't see a Black Swan. Who are thinking of? I'm always interested in checking out something worthwhile.
mbassoc2003 wrote:Those who do produce good quality work inevitably come to the fore, because publishers need good quality product to remain in business and need to scout talent wherever they can find it. If they can't get noticed by a reputable publisher, they're not worthy anyway, either through lack of talent, or lack of interest in doing a good job.