The Value of These Maps?

I was listening to a podcast this morning, Misdirected Marks "down with d&d" they were talking about the dmsguild and the "pay what you want" method. Mostly about how it works and the reasons you should use the pay what you want method. The general idea is that you want your material out and available. When trying to break into the market you want your material to be seen by as many people as possible. With the idea that your building a fan base. Your showing people what you can do, and the quality of your work. So that say for example when you go to build a setting or start a kickstarter you have a base of people that know what you can do and they will back your larger products. The argument was pretty sound and interesting. You should be charging for your maps, they are great quality!

Murder Hobo Show

Thanks Mister Numbers. I was almost certain you were rebuking the change, but instead I find an encouragement! I know I've only asked paying folk for their input, but between this thread and the advice of my other respected friends I'm now quite optimistic about this whole change. I suppose everyone who turns their hobby into something profitable feels selfish about it at first, but I have to remind myself that there are already people paying freely.

Ross from 2-Minute Tabletop

Alright, first things first... You creating these maps and distributing them for free does NOT devalue other maps out there, just as any given writer who posts their works on an art site does not devalue other writings. Different people have different preferences, and there will be people who prefer to get high-quality maps off roll20, and there will be people who prefer to build their own, and there will be people who just use whatever's available. I, personally, like your aggressively cheap model. Yours are the ONLY maps that I have ever paid for. Why? Because I know EXACTLY what I'm getting, and the price is extremely reasonable, and because you clearly love your craft. I heartily recommend putting map packs on roll20, so that you can get additional sources of income. Organize them by theme, and offer them at a similar price you do on your main website- this will make you an appealing option to map-purchasers browsing the marketplace. And, if that causes trouble for the competition, you won't be to blame for any of that- you're just offering a good product for a good price. I personally would have no problem with a 1$-each array of maps on your website (and perhaps some large packs of maps at discount price) and I hope that your mapmaking will continue to be this strange amalgamation of hobby and business.

Mister Numbers

Thanks again David! I will definitely be keeping the Patron rewards in mind, and will adjust them to fit the new model. I'll make a post going into detail soon (I must draw a map first!)

Ross from 2-Minute Tabletop

Thanks Dave. Send me a message with those map concepts please, my ideas list can never get too long!

Ross from 2-Minute Tabletop

That sounds like a great idea. I thought it was kind of amazing that you were giving these away for free. Good luck!

Vivian of Ultimate Evil

I appreciate the mixed model you are contemplating. I don't use VTT, so that price doesn't make sense to me, but I also understand what it is like to go from creative (writer, artist, etc) hobbiest to 2nd income to primary income. It's incredibly hard work and you must be paid a value that justifies the transition. At this point I'm only using about 20% of the maps in my game. My patron level was chosen with that in mind, knowing that you would still get paid for the other maps used. There are some packet concepts I would enjoy and I would also like to see a couple maps for encounters at range. Keep on keeping on.

Dave Clark

You are a business now. If you want to make a life out of it you need to make a breakthrough. I think Roll20 and Fantasygrounds, and any other map selling app has some advantage you can use for yourself. As of now, Patreon helps you make it worth your while drawing maps but its not yet a viable lifestyle. If you want to make it happen you will need some kind of sacrifices, such as the free maps. I think the free map samples will help people to connect with your work. Themed bundles will also encourage people to buy your work. I thank you to be trying hard to work for us, but work for yourself too. I think this is a great opportunity for you and as long as you keep it worthwhile on Patreon you shouldn't lose patrons!

JoueurSansFromage

You're 100% correct. I want to give Patreon backers a significant discount, in fact, as thanks for being a more predictable source of funding. Higher tiers will receive their maps on the Patreon stream, and lower tiers will still get a coupon code or somesuch to claim maps from the website. I will be reworking and rewording the reward tiers alongside the pricing changes.

Ross from 2-Minute Tabletop

Hey Mate, These are absolutely worth $1 each. Absolutely support you in venturing into new markets such as roll20. I think you would do really well there selling packs and sets. Am I right in assuming if patreon backers are pledging $1 or more per map they still receive them without paying an additional amount? If so I don't think you should worry at all. Thanks for the absolutely terrific maps. They make my games so much better.

Thanks Hugh, I'll take this on board. There will always be a generous free sampling no matter the route I take, I can promise you that.

Ross from 2-Minute Tabletop

I'd say keep it free. It would be likely the easiest way to get it to the most people and thus expose you to more people who would give back on Patreon. Hopefully more than if you just put it behind a paywall. I'd suggest that you leave it for a while and see where it goes on Patreon. Rely on the good-will of people in return for such a useful good. Team Fortress 2 comes to mind, it has made far much more money with the free-2-play model and the paid item store than before when it was a paid game. It got exposed to many, many more people of whom only a small part would buy off the store but a small part of a huge amount is still a fair number. I'd say I'm an example of this, I want to donate because I can, not because I have to. I'd suggest to keep it on Patreon and damn roll20 for now, see where it goes then try the paid model. Of course ultimately it's up to you and if you need the money go for it though I'm not sure if I'll want to be along for the ride.

I agree with the $1 a map price-point, and selling them in packs is a good idea, even necessary on Roll20.

Sean vas Terra

It's true! And my goal has always been to transition from hobby to job to career. Or see how far that line goes, anyway.

Ross from 2-Minute Tabletop

To quote important professional/business advice from the Joker: "If you're good at something, never do it for free."

Michael Raichelson