NEW RELEASE: House Arano: The Aurigan Coalition

[NeonKnight]

I don't recall anything saying they want to try going PoD only. Similarly, I've heard nothing that says future PoD products will be PoD only.

We know this:

1: House Arano is CGL's test for the PoD process.

2: House Arano is PoD only.

3: If this goes well, future products may also be PoD.

I don't recall seeing anything that said the products from #3 would only be PoD.

You can get it as a PDF, it is available as PDF only at Drive Thru RPG

As per Adrian Gideon, it should be up on the CGL store.

[Weirdo]

I was leaving that out for brevity, because we were specifically talking about the physical copy release.

But you are correct. Lest I become guilty of the same rumor-sourcing I rail against, I'll go back and edit my post.

[Cubby]

as far as I've gathered, CGL is considering switching to PoD completely and is using House Arano as a test balloon.

Gathered...from where? Genuinely asking, in case there's another source of rumors I need to hunt down.

To be clear: I have heard absolutely no plans to cease the distribution of print sourcebooks through traditional channels. AS:CE will be on shelves, for instance.

The lack of print books on shelves would not be a growth indicator for the line. POD is another tool in the toolbox, which (in my view only) is probably best used to get OOP books back in circulation, and to enable the print availability of books which otherwise would never get a run.

That's what House Arano is a test balloon for - not a total switch-over to POD for everything, but whether a product which otherwise never would have been available in print could sustain its own existence via POD. I'll leave it to others to drop the "Mission Accomplished" banner, but its days-long run near the top of the DTRPG best sellers list should give you some sense of its success.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

What's the difference? PoD is the general print release venue for this product.

The difference is where I buy the product.  My default purchasing preference is ordering from the local comic book store.  If the only printed version of this product is PoD, that's obviously not an option.

[mbear]

The lack of print books on shelves would not be a growth indicator for the line. POD is another tool in the toolbox, which (in my view only) is probably best used to get OOP books back in circulation, and to enable the print availability of books which otherwise would never get a run.

Taking advantage of the long tail idea of sales? Makes sense to me. I've seen several people looking for OOP books and complaining about the prices here on the forum. Selling those as PoD would put more coin in CGL's pockets and make happy customers.

That's what House Arano is a test balloon for - not a total switch-over to POD for everything, but whether a product which otherwise never would have been available in print could sustain its own existence via POD. I'll leave it to others to drop the "Mission Accomplished" banner, but its days-long run near the top of the DTRPG best sellers list should give you some sense of its success.

<mbear puts on rose colored glasses>
The future looks bright to me if House Arapaho...Oregano...Oregon-o...Lion-O...Arano's success is any indication.
<mbear takes off rose colored glasses>

[Cubby]

Taking advantage of the long tail idea of sales? Makes sense to me. I've seen several people looking for OOP books and complaining about the prices here on the forum. Selling those as PoD would put more coin in CGL's pockets and make happy customers.

Yes, although not to be more of a wet blanket, getting those out is not the reverse-slam-dunk that I've seen many people assuming that it is. There's more to it than just uploading a PDF to DTRPG and then profiting.

And I've said this around here before, but if I have any say, I'd want there to be a thoughtful, coherent plan for rolling out more POD. Not whipping random pasta against the wall, nor making the customers take a drink from the firehose.

(And I've murdered enough metaphors for today.)

[Frabby]

Gathered...from where? Genuinely asking, in case there's another source of rumors I need to hunt down.

Oh, ok. I can't really point to a specific post. Looks like I read things into your announcements that weren't really there. Sorry for that; I'll go and correct my posting above.

Personally, as long as I can get physical books, I'll be happy and I don't care if they're regular print runs or PDF.

[Colt Ward]

I think the judicious use of a bombing or artillery metaphor would have been apt-  We're not just chucking PoDs around to see if we hit your battleship- or Its not like CGL is a fleet of B-17s raining PoDs down on you.

Rumor-  Since the House Arano book is in the style of the old House books, its a trial run to getting those long OOP books back out!  You heard it here first!

[Sartris]

They’ll look great with half the art blanked out

[Colt Ward]

You just make a black square and write things like 'redacted' 'top secret' 'Chancellor/Coordinator's Eyes Only!' on the black spaces.

[Sartris]

They should recreate the same awkward stock unseen art with the classics for maximum stylistic dissonance

[Daryk]

Just got my hard copy, and it's gorgeous!  Now, where are my House Centralla, House Calderon, and House Avellar books?  8)

[Adrian Gideon]

They should recreate the same awkward stock unseen art with the classics for maximum stylistic dissonance

So we shouldn’t?

[Adrian Gideon]

Just got my hard copy, and it's gorgeous!  Now, where are my House Centralla, House Calderon, and House Avellar books?  8)

Already published 4 times over.

[Sartris]

So we shouldn’t?

You do you

[Daryk]

Four times over in not the same form... not quite the same... But I see your point...  :thumbsup:

[Tyler Jorgensson]

Have acquired PDF and read it: awesome! Awaiting the PoD format to arrive in mail. Very nicely done.

[Dragon Cat]

Is this on the catalyst store yet? Can't see it

[mbear]

You just make a black square and write things like 'redacted' 'top secret' 'Chancellor/Coordinator's Eyes Only!' on the black spaces.

"ComStar [Transmission|Reception|Encoding] Error" would be my vote.

[Colt Ward]

Anyone compile a list of the new small periphery mercs House Arano introduced us to?  One neat thing, IMO, is the way they are introduced is such that you do not expect them to be around in 5-10 years with the description about how marginal their life on the Rimward frontier is during the 3020s. 

Capellans decide they need something on that little world near Detroit?  You have two lances of mostly working lights & meds from Rim Mercs to protect the largest settlement, under contract to the city council?  Neat, well Liao decides they want that widget and send a company to get it- mechs that are mostly fully functional, fully armored and has a assault or at least some heavies to pound on the riffraff.  Mercs-no-more . . .

[Wrangler]

Anyone compile a list of the new small periphery mercs House Arano introduced us to?  One neat thing, IMO, is the way they are introduced is such that you do not expect them to be around in 5-10 years with the description about how marginal their life on the Rimward frontier is during the 3020s. 

Capellans decide they need something on that little world near Detroit?  You have two lances of mostly working lights & meds from Rim Mercs to protect the largest settlement, under contract to the city council?  Neat, well Liao decides they want that widget and send a company to get it- mechs that are mostly fully functional, fully armored and has a assault or at least some heavies to pound on the riffraff.  Mercs-no-more . . .

Once the thing out for  a couple months, any small merc units in the book should end up on Sarna's List of minor mercenary unit list.

[Colt Ward]

Cool, I have data-mined the game some and added from the book but I figure I missed some.

[Frabby]

Once the thing out for  a couple months, any small merc units in the book should end up on Sarna's List of minor mercenary unit list.

Actually, no. Please ignore that article - it's a dead project that I would have liked to delete years ago.
If you want to help out on Sarna, you can create proper articles for the merc units, one for each unit. After August 16, of course. :)

[Colt Ward]

Will the Sarna article provide a list of the mercs mentioned with links to those articles?

And will CamoSpecs be putting the three red & gold Arano Royal Guard scheme, yellow & bronze Antian Lanciarii, and sea green & gray Irukandji Company?

[Deadborder]

Late to the party, but just finished the book. Fantastic work all around and a great job of integrating the Aurigan Coalition into the world without contradicting anything prior.

All those units need colour schemes, ASAP!

[VhenRa]

Does make the NCR much less notable in that most of those worlds were already inhabited and it was more Canopians-Taurians moving in and planting flags.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

I've been playing too much Fallout.  I saw "NCR" and immediately thought "how did the New California Republic get into the Periphery?" ;D

[Bedwyr]

I've been playing too much Fallout.  I saw "NCR" and immediately thought "how did the New California Republic get into the Periphery?" ;D

Aw you jerk. Now I...


dang. I can't unsee.

[glitterboy2098]

i'm a little disappointed they didn't have stats for the Turrets from the game. the APCs are nice (though i'm not sure what the difference is between them?)

and we are told that some of the worlds in the New Colony Region/Fronc Reaches existed before the creation of the region. and from what i've done so far (i'm still early in the game i'll admit.) there really isn't much out in the Fronc Reaches area aside from some mining concerns. the more settled areas seem to be located coreward of Fronc, between what would become the Fronc Reaches and the Capcon.

[Colt Ward]

One APC is 5/8 and carries a single platoon IIRC, the other is 4/6 and has 7t of space.  Both are pretty well armored, and then each has 2 flavors . . . one with MLs and the other with missiles.