Badmike wrote:2. Was Jo grateful the pre-gens had names and so unlike a certain DM she has she was not stuck with naming characters spur of the moment awful names like Kumar, Damu, Gra-Gra or Sholo?

Uh...I guess I should consider tossing the character sheet for my 17th level paladin Gra-Gra the Magnificent that I had way back in 6th grade.  

killjoy32 wrote:i really need to get my hands on one of these....

Yes, you should.  

burntwire brothers wrote:-Had 2 packages out of 80+ take bit of damage and quite a few went out of the U.S.

I am the other one in the total of 2.  I've held back comment for a bit, because I really wanted to consider what I wanted to say.

My copy arrived quickly, in the photo mailer, as indicated.  It had received minor corner dings that penetrated to the booklet.  I talked to Devon about this and recommended stronger packaging in the future.  Nothing more really happened.  It wasn't a trashed book, just not perfect, as I feel a new item should be.  If this had been a purchase of a used book, I wouldn't have even blinked.

BUT, as an experiment, I reused the photo mailer in a recent trade here.  I shipped one module, in excellent condition, within the US.  However, I added one piece of reinforcing cardboard inside the mailer with the module.  It arrived "pristine".

So I'd speculate that with a minor enhancement, the mailers could be made to resist even more of the USPS' mishandling.  Maybe it's only an increase from 98% to 99.5% safe delivery, but in my opinion, it would be worth it.


Now, to speak more generally, as this really isn't about Die Cast.

We've all dealt with ebay sales, online dealers, private trades, etc. that have run the gamut in packaging from "sub-flimsy" to "how do I open this?"  The amount of packaging used matters only if there is a problem, though.  If a book is tossed loose in a manila envelope and arrives safely, then it was sufficient; if it was in a double walled box but still ending up receiving a deep gouge, then it wasn't.

When it ends up on the worse end of things, who is responsible?

If you buy from NKG or Amazon, then the problem is their's to resolve.  Against that risk, they (theoretically) package better, necessitating higher shipping costs, which they might pass on to the buyer.  They still accept a certain amount of damage/loss as part of their business.

Ebay is similar.  You can state "wrapped only in tissue paper" or "not responsible if you don't elect to pay for insurance" but it isn't true.  Ebay will side with the buyer if the item doesn't arrive in the same condition as it was advertised, regardless of your auction conditions.

I treat private sales/trades similarly.  I am responsible for the item until you have it safely in hand.  To that end, I pack well, and elect to cover insurance costs, or for international deals, where shipping costs can skyrocket, develop an understanding with the person on the other end of what will happen in the event something is damaged/lost.

I understand that small dealers/publishers have a problem.  They want to make some profit.  They don't want to go crazy bulletproofing each package, and want to streamline shipping by being able to use the same method/materials for many packages.  I understand that, and I agree with it.  But I think new material needs to arrive new.  If it doesn't, it's on the sender to make things right.

If you have to increase the item or shipping costs to everyone by fifty cents to cover those occasional hiccups, do it.  If you hate dealing with those issues, go overboard on packaging, put everything in a box, charge more for shipping to cover it, and accept that you'll lose some sales because the new total is higher than some will want to pay.

Again, I'm trying to make a general point, and I don't think Die Cast did anything deceitful or shady dealeresque here, but as more people sell new items (and clean out the closets on ebay), there will be more issues.  It's occasionally useful to look at the trade offs involved in resolving those issues.

Received today another TSR1 module. Paid shipping cost and choosed to pay half the module price even if Devon very kindly offered a free module but I thought half discount on module price was fair.
Second module is in PRISTINE condition, mint and fresh as expected for a new item. As asked, Devon put the module between two rigid and thick cardboards larger than the module, in a flat-rate envelope.
Without any flaw, this module is really a "gem", the glossy cover is on the top. A pleasure to look at it and to add it in a AD&D collection.

burntwire brothers wrote:Acaeum members will receive a FREE PDF version of the module with the purchase of one or more hard copies!!

To receive the free PDF just add it to your cart and when checking out enter the code ACAEUM in capital letters in the coupon space.

I'm on the site now and I can't get the coupon code to work.  I get the following message: "Coupon code: ACAEUM is not an active coupon. Please check the coupon start and end dates."

Did I maybe miss out on the deal or something?  I didn't see anything about an expiration date on this offer.  

~Kat  ^_^

killjoy32 wrote:devon/shaun

when youre about next, having calmed down from GenCon etc....gimme a shout so i can sort out one of these modules please.

Al

Alan,

Check your email.  I have a copy on its way to you.

Martin

Mine arrived in Belgium without any problems and solidly packed.

When you guys have some time, I'd like the pdf as well.

Ordered. Although I forgot to put the pdf in the basket, so it told me the "Acaeum" code was only applicable to orders over $15. Phooey. But I never use pdfs anyway, I hate them.

I have to say, I'm kind of waiting to see if there's a train wreck over the use of WotC intellectual property, but if it's as good a module as everyone says, I want a copy. Especially if the maps are blue!  

I was wondering when someone would take notice.

Also makes me wonder whether WoTC might revoke the OGL completely.
They have the right.  
If enough products are cutting into their market share ...  

akp

Badmike wrote:

Yeh, the long knives are coming out in fandom....

http://underdarkgazette.blogspot.com/2010/08/well-i-wonder-how-this-will-go-over-tsr.html#comments

Mike B.

First off - I followed the link to Knights and Knaves forum and my Norton went off with 171 threats and site is unsafe.

About this grumbling, this is where the retro-clone people piss me off. They've gone to all this trouble plagerizing AD&D and D&D then it turns out they were just a bunch of chicken shit bastards who were to afraid of the sky falling on them to create material just using AD&D and D&D to begin with. Then of course there are the ones who seem to think that they have somehow invented the wheel (or AD&D/D&D) themselves and feel like they own it, as well as coming out with a better version.

How many of these scumbags have tried to report this transgression to a wotc brand manager I can only guess, but why would it bother anyone who loves the AD&D/D&D game system enough to rewrite the rules under an assumed name to find that they could just use AD&D/D&D? Because what some of these retro- assholes want is to claim better men's work as their own.