High Plain Samurai

Exploring the Atlas

Todd Crapper High Plains Samurai , , , , , , , ,

Screenshot 2018-03-20 15.21.18It’s been almost a month since the Atlas of the One Land launched on HighPlainsSamurai.com and we’ve already discovered a train station, a former monastery, a bounty hunter, and a gargantuan earth elemental that roams the central regions of the Wastes. Plus there’s tips for converting your HPS Legends pre-generated characters into a catar, one of the feline humanoids of the Pale Jungle outside of Monsoon. If you haven’t explored the One Land yet, take a look at what the Atlas has for you.

 

  • The Devil’s Throat, the entranceway to Yung Zhi overwhelmed by refugees
  • The Catar, the cat-like people of Monsoon with guidelines for converting HPS Legends‘ pre-gens into catar
  • Fireball Zuo, the bounty hunter from Ballad of a High Plains Samurai
  • Titan, a gargantuan earth elemental in the heart of the Wastes
  • Port Royale, a way station outside of Serenity Falls where you can catch a ride with the Caravan
  • The Grotto, a former monastery outside of Monsoon

If your group has created interesting new locations and characters during the course of your stories, share them with us. We’re always eager to add more discoveries to the Librarian’s collection. Simply click on the “Submit Your Discovery” button on the Atlas and help other Directors populate their worlds.

 

Advertisements

Measuring Success: The First Quarter of 2018

Todd Crapper Measuring Success , , , , , , , , , ,

What the…?!! We’re already one quarter of the way through 2018? Wow, that was fast. Which means it’s time for the quarterly update on BRG sales for the first 25% of the year.

Let’s start by offering up the actual sales numbers, with 99% of them coming from OneBookShelf sites (DriveThruRPG and RPGNow) and the rest from BreakoutCon this past month.

Product Total Sold Gross Sales Earnings
Killshot: The Director’s Cut 8 $20.90 $13.59
PDF 8    
Hardcover B&W 0    
Hardcover B&W + PDF 0    
Killshot: An Assassin’s Journal 2 $0.00 $0.00
PDF 2    
Softcover B&W 0    
Killshot: Direction 0 $0.00 $0.00
PDF 0    
Softcover B&W 0    
Killshot Files #0 11 $0.00 $0.00
PDF (Free) 11    
Killshot Files #1 4 $5.96 $3.87
PDF 4    
Killshot Files #2 3 $6.82 $4.43
PDF 3    
Ironbound 38 $1.40 $0.91
PWYW 17    
Blessed and the Damned 21    
ScreenPlay 4 $56.52 $47.31
PDF 3    
Softcover POD 3    
Softcover POD + PDF 0    
Dial M for Monster 1 $0.00 $0.00
PDF 1    
Softcover POD 0    
Fragments 402 $0.00 $0.00
Duel (PDF) 402    
High Plains Samurai: Legends 472 $90.00 $62.55
PDF 470    
Softcover B&W + PDF 3    
Softcover CMYK + PDF 1    
TOTAL 952 $181.60 $132.66
Killshot Directors Kit (Bundle) 2  

Launching T-Shirts Into The Crowd…

HPS_Legends_cover_web_850x1200_Jan2018There’s a vast difference between the total number of sales and the money we earned as a result of those downloads. It’s a difference I expected for one reason: freebies. There were two new releases launched this quarter, HPS Legends and Duel. Both of them are free PDFs (with Legends available in paid softcover copies through a variety of sites). While Duel was always intended to be a free PDF (it’s only 8 pages long), there was some internal debate on Legends‘ price. The deciding factor was building an audience. Because BRG used to be part of the Mystical Throne Entertainment family, those sales were part of MTE’s data and were not guaranteed to port over to ours. As a result, the decision was made to make Legends free to help build up an audience for BRG (as well as HPS) and because it was created as a kind of stretch goal from the Kickstarter. That’s why this section is called “Launching T-shirts…” because that’s exactly what this first quarter was all about. Just without the t-shirts. Or the canons that killed Ned Flanders’ wife.

The numbers for both new products are very encouraging as both earned over 400 downloads a piece, primarily in the month of March. There were even a couple of softcover sales for Legends online. As both products were the central focus of this first quarter, mission accomplished. The true measurement of their success will reveal itself by next quarter.

Screenshot 2018-03-20 07.25.11

Speaking of free stuff, this quarter also saw the release of the official High Plains Samurai website (highplainssamurai.com). Beyond your typical setting-based website with basic rules, setting overview, and purchase links, the site features a weekly blog post called the Atlas of the One Land. If you haven’t checked it out yet, have a peak and learn about new locations, characters, even gargantuan monsters that wander across the Wastes. Data on the first two weeks of operation have been right on cue. To quote the Gauntlet podcast, this site is giving me life right now.

Add on the few sales for our older products, especially Killshot, and these numbers were very much what I was expecting. Q2 will be light with the launch of our second Fragments mini-game, By The General’s Hand, before the latter half of 2018 brings the full glory of HPS to the masses. Expect something about it on the site soon or you can learn more by signing up for the Broken Newsletter to the right side of this page (or on the bottom if you’re on a mobile). So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a core rulebook to finish.

The Atlas of the One Land: Titan

Todd Crapper High Plains Samurai , , , ,

Screenshot 2018-03-20 07.25.11

Since Jeff Brown emailed that first draft of the map of the One Land, there has been a giant elemental walking through the middle of the Wastes. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what that creature might be, the Atlas has the answer for you. Meet Titan, a gigantic earth elemental acting as both caretaker of the Wastes and guardian of those with noble intentions who find themselves caught up in the inevitable violence. Written by the Librarian herself, this new entry in the Atlas includes information on how to incorporate Titan into your own stories. Enjoy!

Continue reading →

Explore The One Land Like Never Before

Todd Crapper High Plains Samurai , , , , ,

HPS_Legends_cover_web_850x1200_Jan2018It’s launch day here at BRG and do we ever have some exciting news to share with you today. First, High Plains Samurai: Legends is officially on sale as a free PDF plus you can purchase softcover versions (either full colour or black-and-white) at DriveThruRPG.

But that’s not all. We’re very pleased to announce the launch of our new website, highplainssamurai.com. Here you can learn the basic rules for playing HPS, introduce yourself to the setting and concept of the game, read the ongoing short story of Black Scorpion’s origin by Fraser Ronald (Nefertiti Overdrive, Centurion)… oh, but that’s not all. The biggest feature we’ve added to the site is the Atlas of the One Land, a deeper exploration into the tumultuous world of post-apocalyptic qi warriors. Every week, new content provides a look at some of the exciting locations, interesting characters, new creatures from the Wastes and beyond by the team that helped bring this world to life. Plus anyone can submit new discoveries based on the stories you create with your Writers! Yes, we’re looking for everyone to share their creations with us to help populate this world like never before. So check out the site and discover more about HPS than you thought possible.

One Successful Weekend

Todd Crapper High Plains Samurai , , ,

HPS_Legends_cover_web_850x1200_Jan2018…aaaaaaand it’s gone! If you were hoping to get your hands on a PDF of High Plains Samurai: Legends this past weekend, it is temporarily back in the vault until its full launch on March 20th. 333 downloads of the game over a period of 85 hours, working out to 3.9 downloads an hour. Thanks to everyone who jumped on board the game like an Outcast trying to rob the Salvation.

This was just a sneak peak and if you’re concerned about having to pay for a copy on the 20th, we want to assure you that will not be the case. You will still be able to download a free PDF of HPS Legends as well as purchase full colour or black-and-white softcover copies on March 20th and every other day after that. Even now, we’re making a few updates to the layers and some of the layout to give you an even better version in the next couple of weeks. We hope everyone’s diving through and getting a feel for what makes the One Land tick.

Because it’s going to get bigger. The Atlas of the One Land is coming soon…

Atlas_map_March2018
Artwork by Jeff Brown.

HPS Legends Unleashed For GM’s Day

Todd Crapper High Plains Samurai , ,

HPS_Legends_cover_web_850x1200_Jan2018Damn you, Chaos! It seems that with all the hassle and bustle of getting ready for the official release of High Plains Samurai: Legends on March 20th, a certain extra-dimensional creator of the One Land decided to launch the free PDF for GM’s Day weekend. Rather than summon the other Elemental Spirits to fight the All-Father’s machinations once more, we’re going to roll with the punches.

HPS Legends is available to download for free this GM’s Day weekend (until Monday, March 5th) and won’t be back again until the 20th. On that day, you can purchase full colour or black-and-white softcover copies of the game along with the free PDF. Go ahead… unleash your potential!

Pick it up at DriveThruRPG.

Gnomes Love Samurai!

Todd Crapper High Plains Samurai , , ,

gnome_stew_logo_00There was a fantastic and thorough early review of High Plains Samurai: Legends posted on Gnome Stew yesterday from one of the game’s backers, Jared Rascher. It provides a complete chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the book as well as the pros and cons you expect from a review.

Here’s a snippet of it…

“The book’s appearance is striking, and that’s relevant beyond just the aesthetic value. That striking appearance helps to call out items in the adventures, sidebars, and special rules. The setting is evocative and has lots of room for play, and gives just enough detail to be useful. The rules provide a structure that allows for narrative descriptions that can be as cinematic as the players are able to provide, but still have some built-in mechanics to remind the players when to move the spotlight. The adventure structure is very useful at a table, and even divorced from the specific rules would be a nice template to follow to keep track of triggers and the flow of information about the plot.”

You can read the full review here. High Plains Samurai: Legends will be available on March 20th for free in PDF or for low-cost print-on-demand on DriveThruRPG and RPGNow.