"Price of PDF Rules" Topic

I am writing a set of platoon-level modern and near-future rules (intended for 15/20mm but easily adaptable to others) and am considering publishing on DriveThruRPG or a similar site. What is generally considered to be an appropriate price point for a 15-25 page PDF rulebook?

Additionally, would anyone here be interested in playtesting or proofreading the rules before they are published?

If the concept looks good, I would generally pay aroun $5 USD for a rule book of that size. $10 USD if particularly well researched.

Check Wargame Vault for equivalent rule sets and quality examples.

15-25 pages, I'd put in the 5 dollar range.
It'd probably still sell for 10 if it looks really nice and professional.

I can't realistically promise any time for reading or testing but if you have general questions about the process of getting it self-published, feel free to email me :)
runequester@gmail.com

$5 USD-10 dollars seems fair. $5 USD if closer to 15 pages and no freebies will be published to support the game (extra army lists or factions etc). $10 USD for 25+ pages if it is a pretty full featured game (Army lists, scenarios etc).

JJ is good people, you should take him up on his offer :)

If you're a know designer, you can go for the higher end. If you're just starting out, not so much.

Depends on how much copies you want to sell.

If someone charges 5.00 for a 20-page document, I want to know what I'm gonna get. I probably will not buy it unless I've heard about it on other forums, or there is already a positive vibe. For something that's unknown to me, I will probably not pay that price.

If you charge 0.99, I might just throw it in with some other purchases to check it out later.

This has nothing to do with being a cheap buyer, but all with whether you want to haul in the impulse buyer. Whenever I visit wargamevault or drivethrurpg, there are always some cheap documents I toss in my cart without checking them out properly beforehand.

Whether your rules are good, bad, or excellent is also irrelevant. I don't know that yet when I'm buying an unknown set online. So a cheap price point might draw me in more easily.

Advice: make your core document very cheap or even free, charge more for add-ons or supplements. Also, what makes your rules special? A specific mechanic? A new type of universe? There are dozens of "platoon-level modern and near-future rules", so that description by itself will not generate much traffic.

Well, I'm playing around with a dice pool-type mechanic to represent degradation and replenishment of combat strength outside of casualties, as well as allowing for dynamic changes in unit posture. I am also working to represent the effects of numerous electronic systems, eg datalinks, BFT, et cetera. The intent is for fairly smooth play that does not include a massive variety of weapons. I'm also fiddling with limited off-board movement and pregame maneuvering.

Phil Dutre gives some good advice here.

Let me tell you what I am looking for when deciding to order or not.

1) How many figures in an average army? It is good to know how much I will be painting.

2) What are the game mechanics like? This is a key point here and will make or break sales. More information about a game is good.

3) How long should typical a game last?

4) Scenarios? Army lists? What is included?

5) Does the author have a supporting site or blog?

Usually 3 or more of these items are missing from any wargame vault order page. Quite often the game description does not include how the game mechanics work. (point 2)

Thanks for all the advice, guys! I'll consider working all of those elements in. Terrement, I'll take you up on that offer- I'll probably email you a draft copy sometime in the next week.

I agree with everything Phil said, and will be taking a similar rout in the future.

I'd be happy to red through your rules as well if you'd like, but won't be able to get them on the table any time soon unfortunately :/

-B