The One Man Operation TTRPG Creator.

I’m sorry, but I find of some of the advice online to be unhelpful to me.

I read a recent article on Sol’s Roles Ko-Fi page. Link HERE. I like a lot of Sol’s stuff even though I don’t always agree with everything he says. Having different opinions is why we’re here to a certain extent, though.

I’ve seen similar advice from Banana Chan. I like her channel. Here’s the link if you want to check her out.

I know everyone involved in this case means well. It’s great to get perspectives who have gotten into the TTRPG industry, sometimes against the odds. This is not intended as a dis on anyone. I respect y’all to pieces.

Here’s where I disagree with a lot of what is being said.

I’m a one man operation. It saves on things like HR and payroll. I don’t have team meetings to decide anything. I have 100% creative control over all projects. Other than Snoopy, I don’t have a boss. (He’s a good Snoopervisor, though.) It’s rather good times all things considered.

There’s a problem, though. I can write. I can do layout. I’m used to being my own editor. Art is where I start having some real issues.

Full confession: I can’t draw for beans. I’m pretty terrible, actually. I won’t resort to AI no matter how tempting, and I can’t afford to hire an artist. It’s not like anyone is going to put effort into a project for free. My first project can get by with me on the basis of little/no B&W art. I can get by with (non-AI) clip art, MS Publisher and what I can cobble together in MS Paint. Sometimes I draw pencil sketches, but I don’t feel comfortable selling them.

The future is distant when it comes to funding.

Kickstarter or any kind of crowdfunding for a project is still many years away for me. I’ve got some great ideas for projects. Asking for crowdfunding? That’s a huge ask. One that I’m not sure I want to make.

I need a couple of partners in crime that are willing to work cheaply or free, even. The problem has always been that people like to get paid. Which is totally cool by me because I like getting paid, too. I can’t ask someone to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself.

Artists really do deserve more. Even the Black & White art I would want in a Shadowdark  or Old School Essentials project takes time and effort. We all know that AI stuff is a major taboo despite being super easy to use. I would love to have an artist who would be willing to share profits with me on a project, but I just don’t see it happening.

I want to be able to pay for art is the bottom line. I want to collaborate with a human artist and get a few high quality pieces as filler and some concept art. I want to work with someone on a nice cover in the style of old school BECMI box art. I can’t draw well enough to do my own and we all can’t be lucky enough to have a good friend like Hankerin Ferinale of Runehammer fame. (Kelsey and DM Scotty, I envy y’all.)

People that have million dollar crowdfunding campaigns have it kinda rough in some ways and easy in others. How hard will it be for Matt Colville to find good artists with a $4 Million crowdfunding campaign? Better yet, he could grab four or five artists who’ve never been published and give them a start in the business.

That brings me to my point about crowdfunding.

One of the things I don’t think we do enough when it comes to TTRPG design is hiring new talent. I know I’m echoing a lot of what the other articles and podcasts have said on the subject. Recruiting a highly diverse team of new writers, artists, and editors whenever possible. I think the TTRPG industry has an abundance of the same old faces that have been around for decades.

Unfortunately, new talent or old, people don’t work for free. No one should be asked to commit to a project with unknown returns. Promises don’t pay bills. Promises don’t even rack up credit on DriveThruRPG.

No one ever truly gets into creating TTRPG content with the notion of getting rich and retiring as a designer. It rarely happens. I can name fewer than a dozen guys who’ve retired (or will retire someday) as game designers. It’s not impossible, just not likely. I’m trying to keep it real, and that’s what I’d tell anyone getting into the business.

I’ve dreamed for years of finding an artist who’d be willing to help out with a project for a percent of the return no matter how much or how little. Unfortunately, I think it’s just a dream. Honestly, I couldn’t ask anyone onto that project without some sort of promised returns.

I chuckle every time someone mentions their “social network.”

Conventions attended 2006-2023: None. Social media platforms currently involved with: seven. I tend to check five of the seven at least once per day. Sorry, I’m just not on Reddit or Facebook as often as I should be. Needless to say, I theoretically know a few people?

How many actual “friends” do I have on social media? That number is a bit sketchy. I interact with probably a dozen people on any given day, usually on X (Twitter.) Would I call them friends? Kinda. I love you guys, but I don’t know anyone that well IRL. Then again, I can count the live human beings I interact with most days on one hand. (Not counting the cats. The cats are just furry people who live in my house.)

So, yeah. I’ll just dial up a few good buddies and score some art and keep myself on track to bang these projects right out. We’ll be done in no time, right? Oh wait. Snoopy says we don’t have anyone to call. My therapist is retiring, so she’s of no help. Guess I’m kinda sh🦆t up a creek, huh?

The solo act continues for the time being.

I think maybe it’s a sign of my autism showing. I just don’t people well. I just want to write cool stuff and maybe sell in online at this point. Turns out it’s not as easy as it sounds. I’ll get there eventually if I can grow an audience.

Once I have a name for producing TTRPG content that people enjoy, I can start looking at freelancing, or hiring some help even. Honestly, it’s cool being my own boss. I always say I’m my own best boss and my own best employee.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you. Embrace the things which bring you the most joy.