Shocking Tales goes Digital

[LidlessEye]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads-up: I'm currently putting the finishing touches on PDF editions of Shocking Tales #1 and #2, and hope to have them available by the end of the week.  Our intention had been to re-print ST#2, but after taking a long hard look at the costs of doing a short print run, have decided it would be better (and more efficient) to get new content out rather than keep re-printing the old stuff again.  Shocking Tales #2 was almost obscenely successful - we sold through not one but two print runs faster than we could have dreamed possible.  This gives us a much better sense of how to best operate in the future: upcoming Shocking Tales issues will receive one good-sized printing (~500 copies), and will be made available in PDF immediately upon going out of print.

Yeah, we know, it took us a long time to get this sorted out, and we very much appreciate everyone's ongoing patience as we've cobbled together a consistent product lifecycle policy.  One side-effect of the delay is that much of the core material from Shocking Tales #1 (scenarios and Lurkers) has been reprinted in Morbid Adventures.  Coupled with the content that was already available for free, this doesn't leave a lot of actual rules remaining, and some of these are in fact necessary for certain scenarios within Morbid Adventures.  With that in mind, we're doing two things with Shocking Tales #1:

• The rules for Promotion and Special Branch (experimental weapons) will be posted to the website for free download June 1st.  Animal rules will follow on July 1st.
• For those who want a full copy to print, or are interested in the non-game-rule content of the book (intro, the first part of The Council of Thirteen, cover art, etc), a complete PDF of the book will only be $5.

Note that this is a one-time only event, and further issues of Shocking Tales will not be released free of charge.  Shocking Tales #2 will be available for $12.

Again, thanks all for your patience.  I'll let you know when the PDFs are available for purchase (read: when I learn how to sell virtual products in the online store)

[Mason]

Great news!

I have been looking for number 2 for ages.
Will be awaiitng news on the release date like a very eager beaver!
 

[styx]

Great news!

I have been looking for number 2 for ages.
Will be awaiitng news on the release date like a very eager beaver!
 

Laddie, I think ye otta rephrase that!

[zobo1942]

This makes me happy. People have been talking about things which I haven't read, etc.. so I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on this.

EDIT: also, this may be an interesting idea for future distribution: http://www.tablish.co.uk/

[Anatoli]

Great news!!

[Lfseeney]

Maybe the base rules next?
 

One can hope...
Lee

[Cherno]

+1 for the base rules, shipping to Germany is really expensive and even though there's a local trader selling SE, he only has the first edition...

[LidlessEye]

There's no second edition yet, just the third printing.  The differences are mainly cosmetic - just some graphical tweaks to better match the expansions, and a few re-wordings here and there to make things clearer.  I think the only actual alteration is the addition of Poison to the weapon special rules and Serpentman profile.  So don't worry too much if you find yourself with a 1st or 2nd printing rulebook, as it's still 100% accurate.

We're taking the whole PDF thing for a spin here to see what we think of it.  While we recognize that the vast majority of the PDF-buying public have no ill intentions, unfortunately it takes only one 'bad seed' to create a torrent (pun completely intended).  If it goes well, and we don't find copies floating about through Piratebay, etc, we'll give consideration to releasing the core rules as well.  As a very small company, we can't risk undermining sales of our primary product - it'd be the end of the game.

[Cherno]

Thanks for the clarification, I'll pick it up localy then this month.

About pdf and the threat of digital distribution, from what I can understand it not much of a problem for smaller companies with a niche product such as yours is one, but the more a product grows and more people get attracted to it the the faster someone will redistribute it. So it's really tough to decide. Of course, at one point someone will just scan it in his or herself and put it up, pdf or not...

Ok back to topic

[LidlessEye]

And they're up on the website!  I ran a few tests without incident, but as this is my first time setting up a downloadable product, let me know if you run into any trouble.

The first free article, Promotion & Special Branch, will be posted on the SA website by Friday.  Note that this will also include a slightly updated version of the Advanced Scenario Table to incorporate the option to play a few Morbid Adventures scenarios into the rotation for promoted lists.

[Lfseeney]

 

There's no second edition yet, just the third printing.  The differences are mainly cosmetic - just some graphical tweaks to better match the expansions, and a few re-wordings here and there to make things clearer.  I think the only actual alteration is the addition of Poison to the weapon special rules and Serpentman profile.  So don't worry too much if you find yourself with a 1st or 2nd printing rulebook, as it's still 100% accurate.

We're taking the whole PDF thing for a spin here to see what we think of it.  While we recognize that the vast majority of the PDF-buying public have no ill intentions, unfortunately it takes only one 'bad seed' to create a torrent (pun completely intended).  If it goes well, and we don't find copies floating about through Piratebay, etc, we'll give consideration to releasing the core rules as well.  As a very small company, we can't risk undermining sales of our primary product - it'd be the end of the game.

Well look to folks like TooFatLardies, Ambush Alley, and Baen Books, who have been doing this for many years.

I have been using Ereaders for over 10 years, and you might have a few copies more floating than paid for, but if that gets a lot more folks playing it will lead to sales. The Record Industry makes it seem that only 1 copy is paid for per million, and it is not the case.

Good Luck with the Rule Set, but I think your missing a market.

Lee

[Thorlongus]

Robin Fitton recently published Gruntz as a PDF download, he is a very nice fellow and would be a good one to ask about it all.....maybe at gruntz.biz.com.with his PDF from wargames vault, I believe each copy, page is watermarked with the name of purchaser and purchase date.this may not eliminate piracy , but probably discourages it
I understand if you never do PDF for that reason, but it is hard no to have it on my tablet for easy access

[zobo1942]

Purchased #1 - horray!

[hummus]

purchased shocking tales 2
You guys made my birthday]
cheers

[Uncle Mike]

Thanks!    Glad you like it. Now, get hunting those dinos!