Less than 24 hours to go...

In less than twenty four hours, I'm about to start on a new adventure. Operating my own business. Today I've been calling freight-forwarding companies and agonising about additional stock lines.

It's a big step, and it is likely to be a challenging exercise. I'm starting off very very small, and it will be difficult to get people to be patient enough to wait for the business to grow, and willing enough to purchase from me. But in the end I'm pretty confident that my knowledge, interest and intuition regarding the industry will help me become a success in this venture.

Currently I'm humming and hawing over Warmachine and Hordes as potential products to stock. Mash argued that I wont be able to compete with experienced wargaming stores, but that's not really my goal with stocking it. I'm not planning on having every item in these lines available, rather I want to be able to hook new players into the games. They can then move on to other stores to get the specific details. In doing so, I hope to accentuate the benefit of both Evin Shir Games and Wargame Supply existing. WS will never be able to take me on in regards to roleplaying games knowledge. I can't even hope to beat them for wargaming knowledge.

The way I see it, WS can act as the core wargaming business with roleplaying games on the side. I'm going to be the business to come to for the specifics and the best deals for roleplaying. I'm already chasing up indie game titles, I will be stocking the upcoming Anima game along with several other hard to track titles. Once the business is generating enough income, I'll be able to focus even more on tracking down rare and out of print RPGS as well.

I want to make Evin Shir Games a community retailer - a company to rely on to get the goods and at a competitive price.

But it is going to take time. I don't have the buying power of many retailers yet. But on the flipside, I don't have their costs, so I can keep prices lower. Sometimes only by $5, but some of my products will be nearly $15-20 cheaper than anywhere else.

I am getting in Ptolus, and intend to have that at a truly competitive and crazy rate. :)

It's an exciting and nerve wracking time for me. But if this works, roleplaying in New Zealand will have a very healthy injection of books - with my contacts we will be at Armageddon, Sci-fi conventions, on the net - within the year, I want ESG to be known across the country as the go-to place for roleplaying. And I want to be hooking in new players... :D

Here's to the future...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Exalted 2e
Currently Playing: Exalted
Mood: It's sooo on.

Thoughts for the day

WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?!

Okay, so I went to the X-men III screening at Readings around midnight last night/this morning. Because so many people haven't had the chance to see the movie, I will give some of my thoughts in the comments section of this post so that they don't have to suffer the spoilers.

The short summary: Don't go to this film.

I've been gradually puzzling through a number of issues that I'm keen to talk about, but still am not quite at the point of discussing them fully. Part of what I have been thinking about is my place in the universe. About my views on religion and why I dislike the relativist approach to thought and morality. But these are still not formed to a point where I would be willing to take any form of stand about them.

So I'm kind of in a limbo state today - partly (I feel) due to my feelings about XMen III.

I'm also nervous about this business. In less than a week I will be taking action in setting the business up. Then we will see...

Last night I also went on a kind of date. It went reasonably well - but again, I don't feel there is any long-term possibility there. Still, at least with this guy I'm willing to give it a shot and see myself proven wrong.

While we were walking down Cuba street we overheard these girls interviewing pedestrians. They were asking "If you could change one thing in the world to make it better, what would you change?"

The usual Miss World type answers were trotted out, K. (my date) termed that phrase. You know world peace, poverty, family, children - but with no real thought about how those things would effect the world. While we were walking away, K. turned and asked me what my answer would be.

I didn't even stop to think much, I just turned and it popped out of my mouth - Improve how people communicate with each other.

It wouldn't fix the world, but it would be a starting point. Too often we hold back what we think or feel, or when we express these things they get confused and mixed up - creating miscommunication.

If we could better communicate without fear of the wrong impression being made - how much better (or worse) would the world be?

It gives you something to think about.

Of course I need to keep working on this theory before I commit to it - after all, my communication skills are not grade A, otherwise I'd be able to explain my ideas more clearly. :)

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading:Not much at the moment.
Currently Playing: Exalted
Mood: Thoughtful

The Snowball Effect

So my business idea is gathering momentum. A quick chat in the right ears has scored me some very cheap hosting options for the website, and a very cost effective way of dealing with purchases. Once the business is well and truly up and running I can review all of this - but I'm well on my way.

This "snowball effect" relates to some of my personal beliefs. See, whenever I head in the wrong direction fate throws all these barriers in my way. Even if somehting looks easy, it becomes more difficult. On the alternate side, once I find the proper path, the barriers melt away. This week has been like that.

Each step along the way has seen a barrier rise up, only to melt away as I find the next step along the path. Today I found problems in my plans, only to have the answers delivered to me.

The universe provides, I guess. :)

So my roleplaying business concept is well underway. The first order has gone out, and the shipment will arrive in about a month - barring any further problems.

Woop woop! :)

Also, I'm up to season four of Babylon 5 and it is damn cool! :D

Here's hoping things continue along their path... :)

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Wonders of the Lost Age
Currently Playing: Exalted: Stories and Beginnings
Mood: Feeling in touch with the universe...

Lost Wonders, New Doorways

Quite a lot has been going on in the last couple of days for me.

There has been a shift in plans for the business idea I've been working on - I'm going to a smaller sized operation if I am able to raise approximately $3000. But that operation will have the ability to slowly expand and grow.

It will also be devastatingly competitive from the looks of the figures I've seen. :)

I checked out Wargame Supply after reading all the positive and gushing commentary on NZRAG. It's early days yet for the business, but I wasn't that impressed by it. They have a reasonable mix of roleplaying games, although some of their stock is not likely to sell in a hurry and their prices are a bit all over the place. Most notable is how small the section is. Graphic has a bigger roleplaying section and cheaper prices. If they pulled finger and started ordering efficiently, they would be a better option.

Most telling is how WGS is focused on miniatures. Having been in miniature retail before, one thing I learnt is to make sure that you order effectively to ensure sales. You also need to keep a reasonable stock of every item in the line. WGS has a broad range of miniatures - Confrontation looks very cool - but their prices risk putting them out of the market altogether.

Having said all that negative stuff, it is worth stating that they have barely been open a week. Given that the owner has no previous retail experience, it will take time for WGS to learn how to effectively present their business. But roleplayers alone are not going to support a shop like that. Wargamers and boardgamers are going to need to join in.

If anything WGS has convinced me that my business concept for roleplaying retail is the future of the hobby for the next few years. After talking with a couple of people in the industry it is becoming clear to me that for the hobby to have an increase in sales and development, it needs to change its approach.

Which brings me to Indie Press Revolution. While in some respects they are making a good move to consolidate indie publications for sale - they are not helping the growth of those lines. By trying to limit all internet sales to their site, they are making the classic distributor's error - stifling the spread of the product.

By selling only to brick and mortar businesses they limit themselves to local businesses over seas. In New Zealand and to a degree, Australia - most retailers will not even be aware that they exist.

The future of roleplaying lies in spreading the accessibility of the hobby, getting real sales people in behind the product and finding new approaches to selling games. It is naive to think that an inexperienced person who has no interest in the hobby is ever going to be able to sell the product effectively. In my experience roleplayers will just tell you to purchase their personal favourite game. You need to be aware of the entire industry and how it is developing, be able to spot future trends and identify the games that have a potential to sell next year to be a success.

To date, there are very few New Zealand businesses that meet that. In fact, from what I've seen there are very few games stores in the world that actually meet that.

So in the spirit of future trends, here are my predictions:

- Exalted Second Edition will find its feet and continue the growth of White-Wolf's business.
- Promethan: The Created will be more likely to draw old school World of Darkness players back into the fold. It will also bring in a number of new gamers into the line.
- Dungeons and Dragons 4th edition will stay a strong contender, but will lose WoTC precious regular custom.
- OGL businesses will continue to fall by the wayside. The next few years will see a rise in "house system" approaches, possibly more cautious Open Licences for supplements.
- Green Ronin will continue to rise in popularity. They are likely to make a major gaming coup with True 20 within the next five years.
- Fanpro will remain in 3rd or 4th ranking with Shadowrun 4th.
- Unhallowed Metropolis by Eos Press will see a boost in sales, but as to pushing Eos up in the rankings... it will be dependent on the quality of the product.

That's all the crystal ball gazing I'm going to make for now. Of course it is all purely speculation, but with the industry going into a slump at the moment, it will be interesting to see who weathers the hard times.

As for me? I will be making a move into the business within the next two months if all goes to plan. Keep an eye open for some surprising developments in the local scene...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Wonders of the Lost Age
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood: Still working on plans and ideas...

Worries, Plans and Hopes

The pressure keeps building. University is pretty much dead in the water for me from the look of things. I'm investigating a number of alternate goals - I need to get back to writing - luckily I have a lot of free time this week so I will be able to take it on.

I'm really worried about my business idea. As those who have talked to me over the last couple of weeks will know, Issie and I have been looking at going into business - but the universe seems determined to throw as many obstacles in our way as possible. Wargames Supply opening up has been a primary source of stress. It is hard to watch someone step in and swipe something you'd hoped to achieve right out from under your feet. It has also been really hard to remain objective about people's excitement about the shop. Because it ends up feeling like a betrayal where there is none occurring.

With our primary investor out for the count, myself in no position to source the cash needed for the idea without sacrificing the whole deal to someone else - it's tough time at the moment. I'm beginning to think it may be better to let it go and try and chase something else instead.

I may just do as Morgue has done and take up a creative arts income and focus on getting one of my novels started. Or begin writing a roleplaying game... which reminds me... I must write to Arc Dream and see if they would be willing to allow me to utilise Star ORE as the core for my game...

So what are Conan's hopes?

Business: Somehow source the 20-30K needed to start this unique approach to a business. The idea is there and it is financially viable. It just needs to get the seed capital - but without my having to hand control of the business over.

Book: Get started on a real book. Find a way to break through this writer's block. I need to pick something and stick to it. I'm thinking that Evin Shir is going to be the easiest to get going. Here's hoping I can get it started...

Relationships: *sigh* Somehow I have to start socialising with circles where I'm not the only gay guy, or where there are very few guys who are interested in me.

In a surprise twist, Dad has provided me with a possible solution to the business problem. Depending on how negotiations go this week - I may have a surprise announcement to make... ;)

Edit: *sigh* I really need to proof read my posts more often. :D

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: WoD: Mysterious Places
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood: Getting Proactive!

When things start mounting up...

So I had a pretty awful week this week. A series of deliveries of bad news has put a dampner on my dreams and hopes. A lot of it has to do with just really unfortunate and sad things happening to people I know, and just mounting pressure that I'm putting on myself in the desire to try and figure out what I want my future to be.

Put simply, I want to find that someone who I can share my life with. It has come back with a vengence the last couple of days. I also want to run my own gaming business and I want to write. I want to be able to afford to be a writer full time.

But I can't write at the moment. Nothing ever meets my vague standards. So I need to somehow get over that hump.

Today was a horrible day at work - everyone was in a grumpy and foul mood. Usually I brighten the place up with my chipper and cheerful demeanour. But because I was also in a foul mood, I was having a hard time being any more of a help than anyone else.

E. was so concerned he even stopped and hugged me twice in an attempt to cheer me up! Which of course was kind of odd and really made me more confused than cheerful.

Thankfully VUWGC was a god send tonight with Mike's "The Repo Men" scenario. We had a blast, and it has helped to end the night on a really positive note. Luke's UA game last night did the same - so I'm in a good mood now.

Just wish I could fall in love with someone. Again with the single thing... but it is such a clear and present concern for me.

Seriously though - who would be the right kind of person for a guy like me?

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Castle Falkenstein; Shadows of Asia
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood: Tired but okay...

Why?

I was reading about the continued atrocities being committed in Iraq by assassins and other terrorist types. Now I'm not a supporter of the US action, and I do feel that much of Iraq's troubles were exacerbated by the way the coalition barged in without really having a real long term plan in mind.

But that doesn't excuse what is happening now. No matter what the coalition did, they are not directly responsible for unholy liars drilling into captives for no apparent purpose other than torture for the sake of torture.

These people use culture, religion, nationality and such to justify their actions.

It makes me angry when I read these things, and it also makes me feel helpless. To me, giving money to some aid group isn't enough to fix such ills. Something more needs to be done.

You see, the thing that pisses me off the most is that these people want to perform these actions. They lie to themselves that it is God or Country that makes them do it. It isn't.

There is always a choice. That is the message the universe is constantly trying to tell you. Sometimes it even tries to give you a clue as to the right choice. That reluctance to harm another - that's the universe saying "are you so sure about this?" Because in the end, the universe and you are all part of the same thing.

God?

Religion still angers me. Because while some people use it to comfort themselves and understand how the greater universe operates - others use it to enforce their own selfish desires onto other people in the name of their deity.

It makes me want to weep. I don't want to offend anyone - especially those friends of mine who find peace in their beliefs. After all, I am merely expounding my own beliefs. What gives me the right to say that I'm correct and they are not? Because I can feel it at the core of my soul? I'm sure many muslims and christians would say the same thing.

I don't care how you choose to approach the universe - as long as you admit that it is your personal journey and not one that you intend to force on to others. Because you have no right to. That is what free will is all about.

What hurts the most is this knowledge - if humanity really wanted the world to be peaceful, they could have it tomorrow.

All this talk about not being able to find peace because of centuries of hurt is simply pride talking. People are too proud to admit when they are wrong. I should know, I make the same mistake all the time myself. I argue when I know deep down I'm wrong at times. Why? Because I'm too proud to admit it. I try to learn not to be prideful - but we live in a culture where we are taught that it is a loss of respect to admit when you are wrong.

Religion and Politics is rife with prideful people who know in their hearts that they are wrong, but still stick to their claims out of pride and arrogance.

I don't really know where I am going here. I had it clear in my head. I just wish there was some way to snap people out of their foolishness. The world is hard enough to handle with all the twisted people whose brains are too damaged to know that it is wrong to kill and rape with us having to deal with rational people who are choosing to do so out of some arrogant belief system.

I know we all have dark thoughts, but most of us know better than to act on such passing thoughts.

Sometimes I wonder if the world would have been better if the gods and goddesses of our religions had remained silent and let humanity figure it out for themselves.

If only I could better verbalise what I hold in my heart right now. This feeling of sorrow and disappointment. This feeling that if only something could be said or done to show everyone why the human race is losing its way because of a mistaken belief of life.

I wish I could act on it better too. I want to be a better person, and to show people why when I look outside even on the wettest day I can see the beauty of the universe. Why it is that I do not worry that much about my future. Why it is that I know in the end of all things - it works out.

So why should I care, if it all works out in the end? Because I want the journey there to be one I remember with happiness. Not one that makes me shake my head in shame in the end.

Am I making any sense there?

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Shadows of Asia
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood:Wondering when people will begin to work things out

The Weekend is over, time to get serious...

My goal this week is to start getting serious about my plans for the next six months. I need to make a final decision about what I'm going to do about university - will I give in and quit, will I move on or will I complete what I can.

Also, I intend to put a couple of writing projects into motion and see what eventuates. I've realised that I've been so fixated on previous ideas that I may have worked them beyond the point of being able to write them - they are too fully realised in my head that any writing will feel a failure. I need to give them space and work around it.

I want to be dating someone regularly within the next two months. So that is also going to need to be worked on. I've been single far too long, and damn it - I'm a mature, friendly, caring and totally hot guy. Time to work on that. For this to succeed, I need to get my finances sorted out, get new clothes and basically work on my general lifestyle to get back to where I feel I should be. I've been moping around for the last ten months and it's time to shake myself out of it.

This business that I'm looking at going into must eventuate. I will find the financing - if it isn't working out, I will pursue other avenues.

I'm charged, positive and ready to tackle things!

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Exalted 2e
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood: Watch out world, Conan is powering up...

Cardigans in Spaaaaace!

I'm currently at home bed-ridden with some sort of flu or virus. *sigh* It was a tough decision to make - I almost went to work even though I have an iron man triathalon of a running nose. (I don't get sick days until I've been working there for six months.)

So here I am, sitting at home and watching Babylon 5. Now it is improving, but GOD is it tough going at times.

Some of the acting is still cringeworthy, and the fashions, oh my god the fashions. If this is what the 24th century clothing is going to look like... count me out.

Although it is funny to note how much in the 80s and 90s we underestimated the look and development of technology. In regards to Bab 5 I have to keep reminding myself that the series is not as contemporary as shows like Firefly. It is definitely a product of its time.

Speaking of such things, I've been reading a lot of Shadowrun material that was sent to me for review. Shadowrun has recently had a dramatic updating, and it shows. Man, I am falling in love with this game all over again.

Well not much else for me to report at the moment, I'm sick and hoping to be able to rest up enough to work tomorrow and then attend Luke and Matt's birthdays. Otherwise it is going to be one very miserable weekend for me. :D

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading: Shadows of Asia
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood: Sick and in bed with a head cold...

Business, Life, Uni and Apathy

Sounds worse than it actually is. :)

I'm beginning to realise that I'm not interested in being at University right now. I want to be moving on with my career as a writer - which means that I'm slowly making progress out of this damnable block. More ideas have been coming to me and I occasionally note things down, plan out sketches... it's looking like a month or more will see me actually tackling a full on book properly.

Plans continue with my little project - some bad news nearly frightened me into thinking that this was another dream failed at the start, but I'm thinking of alternative routes if we end up in the situation I don't want to be in. So everything is looking to still be firmly on track.

This weekend I got to hang out with Lex and his furry friends - it was a cool and relaxing eveing, with a fun session of watching season 4 Red Vs Blue. Soooo funny. :D

Gilmore girls is still giving me the warm fuzzies. YAY!

But I'm finding it really hard to care about University. I've tackled an assignment today and I realise... I don't care. I'm going to be giving it another shot later this afternoon, letting myself calm down a bit. But maybe it is for the best for me to face up to the fact that I went into Psych with a very different goal than I thought I had.

Damn I sound so flighty.

I hate that.

The thing is... I realise that I don't want an office job. I don't want to work behind a desk looking over statistics and writing up long reports. I want to be running my own business. Talking about games and how much I enjoy them. Trying to give people an opportunity to stop taking life so seriously.

I think that is why I get into a lot of these arguments on RPGnet - maybe I feel that people get too fixated on technicalities. Or they forget that it is a game and not something beyond that.

In a way it's like religion. I'm all for experiencing a mind-expanding vision or feeling the touch of the divine. But I want to feel that as a part of my life, not make it my life. Does that make sense to you guys?

To use the roleplaying analogy - I don't roleplay to become immersed in a character, or to challenge the way I think. I roleplay for the fun of it. If I do experience some sort of mind-expanding event in the course of the game, then I love that. Because it came naturally and wasn't forced by myself or the GM. But it isn't my reason for playing. Because for every awesome immersive experience I've had, there have been lots that weren't. So I want to get my fun from the gaming experience itself - from the crazy stories, or the witty banter...

Religion is kind of the same thing to me. I'm happier having belief and when the divine touches my life, I appreciate it and move on with living.

I've been seeing the hands of the Moirai in my life at the moment. Things just seem to be leaving big obvious signs of potential direction.

So maybe I'm not as apathetic as I thought I would be. Maybe I need to just take a little time out to think...

Love and Huggles

Conan

Currently Reading:Shadowrun 43
Currently Playing: Unknown Armies - To Go;Exalted
Mood:Contemplative