There was quite a bit of enthusiasm in the RPGCA thread about having an Acaeum newsletter (perhaps we could call it the Acaeum RPGCA Newsletter!). As per JasonZavoda's suggestion in the last thread, I am starting a new thread to discuss this idea.

It would be quite a cool thing if we could have a bi-monthly(?) newsletter. We could show highlights from the Acaeum discussions and events including:

- new print version findings
- interesting sales / prices
- social events related to members
- ongoing RPG games played by members
- Wiki news

and so on.

Typical me to post an idea at the most critical, busy time in my life (the next two months I am submitting my PhD). Anyway, let's just start the brainstorming. What do we need to consider? How often would we put it out? What should we inlcude? etc. We brainstormed over the Wiki for a number of months before it got started - but it did get started - so perhaps we can do the same here.

Free gifts.

I'd like a black foldered PoVQ with Issue #1.

Another collecting website (not-RPG's) I frequent does a newsletter similar to what is being discussed here.  Some of the things they do:

- Monthly trivia questions.
- Pictures of member's collections. (Still think we should have a stickied thread on the forum for such a thing.)
- Interviews with industry professionals.
- Coverage of conventions.
- Auction data.  In this particular case, they only listed a handful of items that were saw a higher difference in price than usual.
- Sales events from retailers.  (This in particular would be nice as I dont frequent Troll Lord and Goodman as much as I would like and usually dont find out about their sales until after they are over.)
- Member bios.

Just some food for thought.

I think a quarterly would be plenty, considering most of us frequent here daily/weekly. I also think it allows for enough material to build up to warrant an individual listing or piece.

On the suggestions so far, I'd support social events related to members/Con details, funny events from current players sessions, a good listing of the really rare pick ups or as per Fun Finds thread, some great deals at bookstores etc.

Trivia questions sounds fun too.

If those it relates to were open to the idea, I'd love to hear tales from yesteryear in an "Interviews with industry professionals" section.

All the other ideas so far put up are good also, but I think there should be a balance between what we have here already and enhancing that with the newsletter.  

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well that's post 500 up as well!!  

I'd suggest that electronic is the only way to do this for the world membership etc...

Also, I think with Dragonsfoot bringing out 'Footprints', at least we can focus on information and news rather than new creatures etc.


As a footnote, I'm not too worried about a free PoVQ with #1, so if anyone wants mine when it arrives, I'll trade for a woodie...  

Can we get a section for retail locations?  Crazy Egor's, Castle Perilous, etc where you can actually still find/buy collectibles is what I mean.

Gnat the Beggar wrote:Is it going to be an E-Zine?

Is it going to be in print format, or both?
If so, then How are you gonna pay for this?
Especially if you are planning to give out free copies of a Black Folder PotVQ with Issue #1.

Quarterly (at least at first) seems plenty.

Quarterly sounds good to me too.

If it's an e-zine, then there's no monetary cost, right?  Unless you have to pay for a host site.  And if you want a paper copy, you could just print it out on your printer.  I don't recommend getting into postage issues.

All this assumes you have an editor, someone who picks what goes in and what doesn't, edits whatever comes in, and informs everyone about what's needed/wanted.

Is picking/electing the editor going to be tricky?  Or do we just ask who wants the job and is willing to pay for the host site out of their own pocket and see if there is only one volunteer?   Is the term of service one year before there's another election/selection?

What's the name of the newsletter?  The Acaeum Advocate? The RPGCA Reporter?    D.A.R.N.! (D&D Acaeum RPGCA Newsletter). Or The AD&D RPGCA BYOB ASAP?  

maybe hosting here, if Foul would allow it, in a sub-web like the JG etc.

Perhaps as an aside, an annual contribution fee is applied to any members to access it?

How about a contest to determine the name of the newsletter?  Everybody can toss in their idea for a name and then we can have an online poll to see which is everyone's favorite.  Maybe the winner gets a freebie module from next year's NTRPG Con or something like that?