Game and Content Creator and Publisher Services
Opie Games will help you improve your games and related content to reach and satisfy more gamers. A distinction of our services is we consider every project a growth opportunity for all involved.
Content Types
This is a sampling of the content types we can help you create and improve.
- Game Rule Books
- RPG Core and System Books
- RPG Supplements
- Game and Related Content Promotional Copy: Advertisements, Sell Sheets, etc.
- Podcast/Stream Loglines and Synopses
- Online Content: Product Descriptions, Kickstarter Project Pages, Site Boilerplate, Articles, and Blog Posts
Service Details
Service Descriptions
This outline highlights the deliverables, considerations, and expectations for our primary writing and editing services.
- Creative Writing Services
- Editing Services
- Rules Writing and Editing
- Playtesting
- Fantasy Grounds Conversion
Creative Writing Services
- RPG Adventure/Module Text
- RPG Scenario Fiction
- Game Background or Introductory Fiction
- Podcast/Stream Recap and Promotion
Editing Services
We don’t stop at making your writing better, we help you become a better writer.
- Substantive/Developmental Editing (“Wrediting”)
- Input: Concept and/or Outline
- Output: Final Text
- Copy Editing
- Grammar
- Style
- Comprehensibility
- Continuity
- Consistency
- Clarity
- Context
- Audience Awareness
- Gender Language
- Terminology and Jargon
- Consistency
- Use/Misuse
- Style Guide Adherence
- System/IP Style Guide
- Chicago Manual of Style (16th or 17th edition)
- Elements of Style (Strunk and White)
- Formality
- Fact Checking
- Proofreading
- Mechanics:
- Spelling
- Capitalization
- Numerals and Symbols
- Punctuation
- Text Flow & Breaks (Page, Line, Embedded Graphics)
- References
- Internal/External Links
- Cited References
- Mechanics:
- Review
- A separate document that provides a diagnosis of the manuscript that highlights the areas where changes might be most beneficial. Issues that are likely to confuse, distract, or bore readers are noted.
Rules Writing and Editing
Rules writing is a special skill. Many good to great games don’t succeed because their rulebooks are unintelligible. Here is a short list of service considerations specific to rules:
- Rules Jargon to Narrative Text
- Rules Clarity
- Logical Flow
- Value as Learning / Teaching Aid
- Value as Reference
Playtesting
Since we love to play games, especially new games, we often playtest for the simple joy of trying something new. However, we have limited time and your needs may be more extensive than a single playtest and a conversation or survey response. So here are some typical and extended services we can provide for greater consideration than a fun way to spend a couple hours. These services are geared toward “boardgames” due to our limited access to a large pool of RPG players. However, we can arrange RPG testing also.
- Typical
- Questionnaire/Template Responses
- Written Review
- Community Involvement (Discord, Slack, BGG, etc.)
- Extended
- Playtest Log Sheet
- Statistical Modeling
Fantasy Grounds Conversion
Released in 2004, Fantasy Grounds has grown significantly in its user base and importance to the RPG industry. The availability of your RPG content on Fantasy Grounds may make a significant difference in its distribution and profitability. Note: In all cases, we will honor all copyrights, even if the product is for your home game.
- Intelligent Story Breakdown and/or Reference Document
- Embedded links to related content
- Original Content
- Stat Blocks
- Spells
- Items
- Encounters
- Strong/Weak Party Variants (if applicable)
- Parcels
Editing Guidelines and Process
We prefer an introductory discussion (usually in email) regarding expectations, but the following guidelines and process option descriptions should suffice as a basic understanding of how we prefer to work with you. If you have a different expectation or need, we can resolve that in the project on-boarding.
- Mutual Respect
- In general, the writer-editor relationship can often become contentious. As writers and editors, we understand the passion and self-significance imparted to a piece of writing. So, we are as accurate, thorough, honest, objective, instructive, respectful, and encouraging as possible.
- Document Format
- Word (docx or rtf) files are the most effective, but pdf files are also acceptable, preferably text-based.
- The easier it is to work with your document, the more efficient and effective we will all be.
- Changes Tracking and Comments
- Simple rules implementation (punctuation, typos, spelling, etc.) are made directly in the text with Track Changes.
- More substantive changes are described in comments describing the perceived issue with suggestion(s) to fix.
- Larger sections may be rewritten and added immediately after the original text.
- Editing Process Options
- Two-Step: A two-step editing process is most effective and efficient:
- Copy editing final draft (before layout).
- Proofreading final layout.
- One-Shot: For a more economical review, a “One Shot” edit of final layout is available, combining copy editing and proofreading into a single review, with the following understanding:
- Some recommendations may conflict or become moot based on higher/lower level recommendations.
- Manuscript changes are more difficult for the content creator to execute as they may require layout changes.
- Two-Step: A two-step editing process is most effective and efficient:
Tabletop Gaming Rates and Agreements
The rates listed on this site are intended for the RPG and tabletop gaming industry, but we will honor them for any technical writing project if this is where you located our services. Game on!
Introductory Rates
Since the RPG and tabletop game industry operates on tiny margins and must be frugal, we offer special, introductory rates to demonstrate the economic feasibility and practical value of our services.
|
Service |
Scope |
Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Writing / “Wrediting” |
1 project or first 1500 words |
Copy |
|
Copy Editing / Proofreading |
1 project or first 3000 words |
Copy |
|
Fantasy Grounds Conversion |
1 project or first 1500 words |
50% Discount, Copy |
Standard Rates
Since we are RPG and tabletop game fans, and the industry is primarily comprised of solo and small entrepreneurial businesses, our standard rates are discounted from our typical technical writing rates to contribute to industry growth.
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Service |
Includes |
Fee1 |
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Creative Writing |
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Substantive/Developmental Editing (“Wrediting”) |
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Copyediting |
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Proofreading |
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Playtesting |
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Fantasy Grounds Conversion2 |
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- Rates are posted here to help you estimate your project costs. Ask for a quote.
- Standard rates assume “Work for Hire with Attribution” agreement except where noted.
- Rates may change at any time but are reliable at the time of RFQ.
- Revenue share rates assume typical product pricing (~$1 / 10 pages or $0.05 / 100 words w/ industry accepted price points) and are calculated on the contributor's share (after IP holder share).
Payment Terms and Method
- Standard Terms: Net 10 (from completion of work/date of invoice)
- Standard Method: PayPal or business check from a US bank.
Rate Negotiation
Our standard rates should apply for most engagements and will help you estimate your project, but if your business or project is special in some way, let’s talk about a house rule. If you have a community project of 200 pages and expect to earn less than $500, you can’t afford a $400 editing bill, but we might be able to negotiate terms you can manage. These are some of the factors that impact a negotiated rate:
Rate Negotiation Factors
- Agreement Type and Collaboration
- Project Scope and Estimated Effort
- Product Reach and Attribution
- Charitable or Community Component
- Small Publisher or Community Contributor
Agreement Types
We have two basic agreement types with some possible variety within each. All agreements allow the right to reasonable use for self-promotion unless it is specifically truncated.
- Works Made for Hire w/ or w/out Attribution
- Co-creator/Revenue Share