FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PTOLUS GOES ON SALE THURSDAY AS A SINGLE PDF
Popular Demand Led to 808-Page eBook
February 21, 2007 (Milwaukee, Wisc.)-Some seven months after the print release of the deluxe Ptolus: Monte Cook's City by the Spire, the author has agreed to grant fans' repeated requests to release his landmark setting book in PDF as a single giant eBook. The book debuts on Thursday, February 22, at www.DriveThruRPG.com and www.RPGNow.com.
"We've always prided ourselves on listening to our customers," said Monte of his publishing company, Malhavoc Press. "We really do try to give them what they ask for, if at all possible."
Ptolus is a detailed fantasy city that rests in the shadow of a sinister three-thousand-foot Spire and is built upon the resting place of the worst evil in the history of the world. Heroes and dungeon-delvers visit the city from far-off realms to test their mettle against the unknown dangers that lurk below.
The requests for a single eBook volume started rolling in even before the release of the print volume, Monte said. Since Malhavoc Press popularized the PDF for roleplaying titles with its first release, The Book of Eldritch Might, in 2001, its customers have lauded the electronic format for its comparatively low price, utility, and ease of reference. Although the entirety of the Ptolus book's material has been available for months as a series of nine popular PDFs based around the themes of the book's various sections, its fans have not stopped asking to get the whole thing between two virtual covers.
"We initially didn't want to release the book as a single PDF due to its immense file size," Monte explained. But when testing finally resulted in a version of less than 100 megabytes, he decided to go ahead with the release.
Still, the resulting Ptolus file clocks in at a whopping 85 megabytes. That should be no surprise to fans who have hefted the book's six-pound print version. What's more unexpected is that the 672-page print book managed to gain more than 100 pages in the transition to PDF. "The extra pages contain the maps, reference sheets, and handouts from the envelope glued into the print edition," Monte said, "as well as much of the bonus material on the CD-Rom that came with the print book. It all totals out to 808 pages." He points out that this page count does not include the Player's Guide to Ptolus and Night of Dissolution titles, both of which are included free with the purchase of the Ptolus eBook.
Ptolus was released in print format in August 2006 with a price tag of $119.99; the new eBook sells for $60. Either product format is designed to provide roleplayers with a full year's worth of gaming enjoyment, taking characters from 1st to 20th level in adventures in, under, and above the city. The book is suitable for characters of all levels in any d20 System fantasy campaign.
Customers who have already purchased one or more of the Ptolus PDF themed installments (known as the "PT series") will enjoy a discount on the new eBook. The amount of discount depends on the customer's previous total investment. Those who have spent up to $10 on the PT series receive 15% off
the single e-volume. Purchasers of up to $20 in PT releases receive 30% off. Those who've spent up to $40 get 45% off, with each step above following the pattern of + $10 = + 15% off-capping at 90% off at $60+ purchases. Note that in order to receive a coupon, a customer must have opted in to receive communication from DriveThruRPG.com or RPGNow.com. Coupons will be issued via DriveThruRPG.com. For questions about the discounts or to inform us if you haven't received your coupon by Friday, February 23, please contact ned@onebookshelf.com. The PT series of PDFs will remain available for separate purchase indefinitely.
Two of Malhavoc Press' Ptolus partners are celebrating the Big Book's e-release with specials on their electronic tie-in products. SkeletonKey Games, makers of Ptolus Adventure Maps, E-Adventure Tiles, and Deluxe Maps, is offering 10% off all Ptolus titles. Fiery Dragon Productions offers 25% off the new edition of the Ptolus adventure Queen of Lies and the Ptolus Counter Collection. These partners' offers are good through February 28.
Read more at the Ptolus Website <www.Ptolus.com>, including Monte's Design Diary, previews, art galleries, timelines, characters, interviews, and more.
Monte Cook, co-creator of Third Edition of Dungeons & Dragons (the basis of the d20 System), also penned the Dungeon Master's Guide and many other books for TSR/Wizards of the Coast. He launched Malhavoc Press in May 2001 with the publication of the bestselling Book of Eldritch Might, which won three EN World d20 System Awards for excellence. Hallmarks of Malhavoc Press and Monte's game design include a mastery of the d20 System rules that only one of the game's original designers can offer. Malhavoc Press titles are available at <www.montecook.com>, along with free game articles and downloads. Print versions are published by Sword & Sorcery(tm).
###
CONTACT: Ned Coker
DriveThruRPG.com/RPGNow.com
ned@onebookshelf.com
(c)2007 Monte J. Cook. Malhavoc is a registered trademark and Eldritch Might and Ptolus are trademarks of Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Dungeon Master, and Wizards of the Coast, are registered
trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.. All rights reserved. Sword & Sorcery is a trademark of White Wolf Publishing.
PTOLUS GOES ON SALE THURSDAY AS A SINGLE PDF
Popular Demand Led to 808-Page eBook
February 21, 2007 (Milwaukee, Wisc.)-Some seven months after the print release of the deluxe Ptolus: Monte Cook's City by the Spire, the author has agreed to grant fans' repeated requests to release his landmark setting book in PDF as a single giant eBook. The book debuts on Thursday, February 22, at www.DriveThruRPG.com and www.RPGNow.com.
"We've always prided ourselves on listening to our customers," said Monte of his publishing company, Malhavoc Press. "We really do try to give them what they ask for, if at all possible."
Ptolus is a detailed fantasy city that rests in the shadow of a sinister three-thousand-foot Spire and is built upon the resting place of the worst evil in the history of the world. Heroes and dungeon-delvers visit the city from far-off realms to test their mettle against the unknown dangers that lurk below.
The requests for a single eBook volume started rolling in even before the release of the print volume, Monte said. Since Malhavoc Press popularized the PDF for roleplaying titles with its first release, The Book of Eldritch Might, in 2001, its customers have lauded the electronic format for its comparatively low price, utility, and ease of reference. Although the entirety of the Ptolus book's material has been available for months as a series of nine popular PDFs based around the themes of the book's various sections, its fans have not stopped asking to get the whole thing between two virtual covers.
"We initially didn't want to release the book as a single PDF due to its immense file size," Monte explained. But when testing finally resulted in a version of less than 100 megabytes, he decided to go ahead with the release.
Still, the resulting Ptolus file clocks in at a whopping 85 megabytes. That should be no surprise to fans who have hefted the book's six-pound print version. What's more unexpected is that the 672-page print book managed to gain more than 100 pages in the transition to PDF. "The extra pages contain the maps, reference sheets, and handouts from the envelope glued into the print edition," Monte said, "as well as much of the bonus material on the CD-Rom that came with the print book. It all totals out to 808 pages." He points out that this page count does not include the Player's Guide to Ptolus and Night of Dissolution titles, both of which are included free with the purchase of the Ptolus eBook.
Ptolus was released in print format in August 2006 with a price tag of $119.99; the new eBook sells for $60. Either product format is designed to provide roleplayers with a full year's worth of gaming enjoyment, taking characters from 1st to 20th level in adventures in, under, and above the city. The book is suitable for characters of all levels in any d20 System fantasy campaign.
Customers who have already purchased one or more of the Ptolus PDF themed installments (known as the "PT series") will enjoy a discount on the new eBook. The amount of discount depends on the customer's previous total investment. Those who have spent up to $10 on the PT series receive 15% off
the single e-volume. Purchasers of up to $20 in PT releases receive 30% off. Those who've spent up to $40 get 45% off, with each step above following the pattern of + $10 = + 15% off-capping at 90% off at $60+ purchases. Note that in order to receive a coupon, a customer must have opted in to receive communication from DriveThruRPG.com or RPGNow.com. Coupons will be issued via DriveThruRPG.com. For questions about the discounts or to inform us if you haven't received your coupon by Friday, February 23, please contact ned@onebookshelf.com. The PT series of PDFs will remain available for separate purchase indefinitely.
Two of Malhavoc Press' Ptolus partners are celebrating the Big Book's e-release with specials on their electronic tie-in products. SkeletonKey Games, makers of Ptolus Adventure Maps, E-Adventure Tiles, and Deluxe Maps, is offering 10% off all Ptolus titles. Fiery Dragon Productions offers 25% off the new edition of the Ptolus adventure Queen of Lies and the Ptolus Counter Collection. These partners' offers are good through February 28.
Read more at the Ptolus Website <www.Ptolus.com>, including Monte's Design Diary, previews, art galleries, timelines, characters, interviews, and more.
Monte Cook, co-creator of Third Edition of Dungeons & Dragons (the basis of the d20 System), also penned the Dungeon Master's Guide and many other books for TSR/Wizards of the Coast. He launched Malhavoc Press in May 2001 with the publication of the bestselling Book of Eldritch Might, which won three EN World d20 System Awards for excellence. Hallmarks of Malhavoc Press and Monte's game design include a mastery of the d20 System rules that only one of the game's original designers can offer. Malhavoc Press titles are available at <www.montecook.com>, along with free game articles and downloads. Print versions are published by Sword & Sorcery(tm).
###
CONTACT: Ned Coker
DriveThruRPG.com/RPGNow.com
ned@onebookshelf.com
(c)2007 Monte J. Cook. Malhavoc is a registered trademark and Eldritch Might and Ptolus are trademarks of Monte J. Cook. All rights reserved. Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Dungeon Master, and Wizards of the Coast, are registered
trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.. All rights reserved. Sword & Sorcery is a trademark of White Wolf Publishing.
