These forums and advertising.

[Levi Kornelsen]

Let me be blunt.

I make games, and I like to talk about them.

I don't like feeling as if I'm spamming or derailing conversations by talking about them constantly.

Are any of the forums here appropriate for posting things like ads and discussion of stuff I'm working on?

[Roudi]

So far, I've been able to talk about upcoming product design on my blog.  However, for making open calls and press releases, I'm not sure where to post such things, or even if I should post them at all.  Part of what this site is built on is a heavy reaction against "commercialized" sites like ENWorld.

Hope an official word comes down soon.

[Oddveig]

What you do with your blog is your business, of course, so advertise through there, if you like.  I'll discuss the idea of an advertising forum with the other Nutkins, and we'll let you know.

[Levi Kornelsen]

Many thanks.

[BOZ]

how about this: publishers can use blogs as they like, as stated above.  the last thing we want to do is discourage publishers and designers from coming around here to chat!

set up a sticky thread (or two, as needed) for ads.  publishers can post an ad in that thread only, but of course anyone who wants to can post a separate thread to actually discuss a game or product.

[Knightcrawler]

Perhaps a stickied thread for each publisher that requests one.

[Dacke]

I'm not in charge here, but this is the way I see it:

A publisher starting a thread to push his own book... that's a little fishy. However, if someone else is talking about something where you feel your book would be relevant, you shouldn't hesitate to make a mild push in that thread. Something like:

"Hi guys, I'm trying to think of some religious-themed adventures. Anyone got any ideas to help me out?"
"You might want to check out A Dozen Religious Adventure Hooks, which you can get at //www.rpgnow.com/something and which, incidentally, yours truly wrote."

It would feel a little dishonest not to include that last bit, about telling of your own connection to the product in question.

[Gunhilda]

Okay, we're still bouncing this topic around, but I can give a little advice.

Pimp your stuff in your blog for sure.

If you come across an *appropriate* thread, where it would be relevent to mention your book, do so!  Lord knows that some things, like Iron Heroes or Unisystem, get mentioned all the time.  Add some more books to our repertoire of overmentioned books!  

[Sobek]

I suspect that the more you participate in a non-commercial way, the better received any pimping will be.
 
Steve Miller was a good example of this on the old NKL/NTL.  He participated in threads all the time in a casual manner.  But, if he had a product that filled a niche, he'd offer it as a suggestion in a thread.  IIRC, he also announced his new products in the RPG forum.
 
Myself, I don't mind seeing what my pals on the board have out, and would consider buying things from them.  I don't want to see a shitload of "New Product Announcements" in the RPG forums or feel like people are showing up just to pimp their wares.
 
I'm not an admin, though.  And it's not a very easy to quantify rule of thumb.

[Gunhilda]

I'm not an admin, though.  And it's not a very easy to quantify rule of thumb.

No it isn't.  :yell:

The more a body participates in the site in general, the more welcome their pimping will be.  But, on the other tentacle, we can't say, "No, mearls, you have to spend a whole bunch of your time posting here and NOT working and NOT paying your bills!!!!!!"

[Levi Kornelsen]

Having looked at and used the blog option for this now, I gotta say - it actually strikes me personally as a great option.

It's easy to use, people can click to it to see other entries by the same person (which means details can be split up), it gives a thread entry in a locked forum...

Very nice.  Thanks.

[BOZ]

you can also do like Roudi did, and have the link to the blog in every post you make.  the curious will find their way there...

[BOZ]

Steve Miller was a good example of this on the old NKL/NTL.  He participated in threads all the time in a casual manner.  But, if he had a product that filled a niche, he'd offer it as a suggestion in a thread.  IIRC, he also announced his new products in the RPG forum.

yep, the good ol' Ham Sandwich himself.  did anyone tell him we're back?

and Mike Mearls joined us regularly, and still does, apparently.  

[Silverlion]

As someone who also writes games, I like talking about them, but don't want to see every possible game pimped every single thread.

(For example, I started a superhero thread, my main game is a superhero game--but I didn't pimp it because I want to talk about superheroes/gaming in general, not about specific games--since its not uncommon to see: "What is the best superhero game" thread for everyone to pimp their favorite.

 I wanted to see something different a bit. About general superhero interest. (Especially now that there are a good half dozen systems out there. )