From: [d f n] at [ccwf.cc.utexas.edu] (David Nalle) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.advocacy Subject: Abyss Magazine/Ragnarok Games Guidelines Date: 22 Apr 1993 05:43:47 GMT GENERAL OVERVIEW Ragnarok is a small publisher of roleplaying and boardgames which has been in business since 1979. We have a broad catalog of games and game aids covering topics from history to fantasy to science fiction. Our game systems are progressive and flexible, with Ysgarth and To Challenge Tomorrow leading the way. Our background material is unusual, intriguing and comprehensive. Our boardgames are mostly designed for multiple players with simple rules, but complex diplomacy and interractive possibilities. ABYSS MAGAZINE Abyss is probably the only gaming magazine aimed at a really mature and imaginative audience. We are always looking for articles on a variety of game related topics, including reviews, game variants and explorations of new ideas. We have recently expanded our format and are eager to find new writers to keep our pages full. Articles: Articles for Abyss are chosen for their originality and innovation. We are particularly looking for variants and player or gamemaster ideas for the better games on the market (GURPS, Hero, Jorune, Call of Cthulhu, etc). We are also always interested in good general game theory and campaign design articles which will be of value to gamemasters or players regardless of the system they are using. We aim at a more mature audience than most other gaming magazines and expect articles to be insightful and well reasoned. We prefer articles to be 1000 to 3000 words in length. We pay 1 to 3 cents per word for articles and will discuss special assignments. Reviews: We publish more reviews than any other magazine in gaming, averaging 20 or more per issue. Standard reviews for our general review section should be 500 to 1000 words in length. They should include basic physical information, analysis of the contents and personal conclusions. We encourage our reviewers to be honest and uncompromising in expressing their opinions, both positive and negative. Featured reviews should cover a new game system in detail and run about 1000 to 2500 words. The same general requirements apply. We pay 1 cent per word for reviews, with a minimum of $5 and a maximum of $10 per review. Staff reviewers get to keep all review copies they receive as well. Columns: We run several regular columns in Abyss. Submissions for these columns must be appropriate to the topic covered. This requires a good knowledge of the magazine and what has been in previous installments of those columns. Our most active columns at this time are the 'Improve Your Spelling' series of articles on magic system design, the 'Among the Myriad Planes' series of world background overviews and the 'Berserkergang' series of editorial columns. We are planning to initiate a new articles series on gaming around the world for which we are eagerly seeking submissions. Mini-Adventures: We are interested in mini-adventures of all sorts for all game systems, or even without mechanics or any system specific material. They should be from 1000 to 4000 words and we prefer that they explore new themes or new concepts in adventuring. We published our last 'dungeon' more than 8 years ago and we don't plan to publish any more. We only published that one because Dave Hargrave wrote it. Fiction: We use only a limited amount of fiction in Abyss. Generally we prefer short stories of 1000 to 4000 words. If you have a story you want to try on us, please query first and find out if we need anything at the moment. We usually use no more than 1 story per issue of Abyss, which means we buy no more than about 10 per year. Payment for fiction is from 1 to 3 cents per word. Right now we are not taking any straight Science Fiction, and are looking mostly for TDark FantasyU and THeroic FantasyU in the tradition of Ted WhiteUs Fantastic of the mid-70s. This could best be described as grim, realistic and original fiction with a heroic, fantastic or adventure theme. We have been getting quite a few manuscripts lately, and as a result we have become very selective. To get accepted a story will have to be extremely well written and very appropriate to our needs. We are currently rejecting about 29 out of 30 stories submitted. Keep in mind that there are several things we are definatly not looking for right now, including SF, mainstream fiction, modern period horror or fantasy, poetry, puzzles or contests. GAME SUBMISSIONS As far as submissions of games, game-aids or modules, our needs are very limited. You would do best to be familiar with the type of material which we publish and with some of our game systems (To Challenge Tomorrow, Ysgarth) before trying a major project on us. Our role-playing and board games are simple, flexible and on the leading edge of contemporary game design. We take very few outside submissions, so please send a detailed query first. We are most actively looking for supporting material for our roleplaying system. This includes world background material, adventure material for our anthologies, general gamemaster and player aid material, and entirely new settings for use with To Challenge Tomorrow. Familiarity with other similar works we have published is probably a good idea before submitting anything along these lines. We pay most of our writers on a royalty basis, with split royalties for anthologies or co-authored works. Royalties are on a flexible scale from 3 to 7 percent. In some cases we also pay an advance against royalties, but this is negotiable. ART & ILLUSTRATIONS We use all sorts of art in Abyss and most of our other publications, both for covers and spot illustration. We generally work in a magazine-size format, but can work with originals in most any size. Most art should be in pen and ink, suitable for reproduction, though we are buying a limited number of color pieces for upcoming projects. Most of what we use comes in freelance, and we only occasionally give assignment work. What we suggest is that you send us a few pieces which are typical of your work and which we can go ahead and use. WeUll look them over and either send them back promptly, or go ahead and use them as space opens up, letting you know and asking for more or suggesting specific assignments. Right now we are particularly interested in art nouveau style fantasy illustration for our forthcoming game Nightmare Realm and spot illustrations for the new edition of Ysgarth. Payment rates are flexible, but for Abyss and other prublications we are currently paying $15 to $40 for covers (more for color) and $1 to $5 for spot illos. Other forms and rates of payment can be set if needed, including royalty shares for artists on certain projects. COPYRIGHT In general on art and written material we obtain copyright for you and you keep the rights, though we reserve the right to use art a second time paying at the same or a higher rate. SUBMISSION FORMAT We prefer to get submissions electronically (either through the internet at [d f n] at [ccwf.cc.utexas.edu] or our BBS at 512/472-6905), although we are primarily a print publisher. We like to get articles and other written work in MS Word or Wordperfect format, or failing that in ASCII format. We prefer art in scanned TIFF format, but are fairly flexible. For hardcopy submissions we like manuscripts to be typed and double spaced. Never submit your only copy of any thing! SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Abyss is currently published quarterly. It is $4 per issue or $12 for 4 issues or $20 for 8. If you are interested in prices for our other products we can send you a current catalog.