Another newbie asking for clarification

[wonderfly]

Actually, I'm not a newbie, it's just been something like 3 years since I've visited the forum, but so much has changed, it feels like I'm a newbie...

Anyway, I was stunned and thrilled to learn that Lone Wolf is being reprinted, and I like the idea of Collector's editions, but upon looking through this forum, well, it seems there's been some problems with the printers.

Question #1: I just want a clear answer: I believe I read that the printer problems are now fixed, and the latest batch of Books 1-5 look great. Confirmation please? I want them, but I'm willing to wait till the printing problems are resolved.

Question #2: I also think I read that these latest batches are limited to print runs of only 500 books...so, are they already sold out? Should I place an order or just give up hope?!? I mean, I'd like to think they'd make enough "Collector Editions" for returning fans who grew up with the Lone Wolf books, (like myself), and surely that's more than 500 people. :?:

Question #3: I understand that "Flight from the Dark" has had several changes, written by Joe Dever himself, (a kind of "special edition", I guess). Sounds awesome, (never did like the fact that Lone Wolf sounds like an idiot hitting his head on a log). Are all of the other books going to have expanded adventures? And will they be written by Joe Dever? And if not by Dever, then whom?

Question #4: What's this I hear about new fiction books set in the Lone Wolf universe, (which are not the "John Grant" stuff, right)? Are these books written by Joe Dever? If not, then by who? When are these books set? During the years of Lone Wolf, or in the history of the world before Lone Wolf was born?

You have much supreme thanks, Mongoose Publishing, for bringing Lone Wolf back!!! You are my hero, (well, you and Joe Dever)!!!

 

[KaiLord]

I'll answer what I can:

1. Last book I got was #3, months ago. As for the problems being fixed, my books 1 and 3 were replaced, and book 4 was (from what I gather) halted mid-stream because of errors in it. Supposedly the printing problems are gone now, and the books are being produced for distribution.

2. By all means, place an order. My take on the current talk is that books 6 onward will be restricted to 500 in hardback. I don't know stock levels or total print runs of books 1-5 or the novels or the softcover books.

3. Book 1 is unique, in that the monastery battle and subsequent "Flight from the Dark" is expanded to give more action and more options. The other books are still 350 sections, but they contain mini-adventures (the total number of sections varies) in the back written and illustrated (?) by other people aside from Joe and the main illustrator. Incidentally, the mini-adventure is a distribution bottleneck, in that the stories have to be written, approved by Joe, illustrated, and (I'm guessing) finalized by Joe.

4. The books are written by someone other than Joe. One is August Hahn, a name familiar in the Mongoose Lone Wolf "lore". I'm not sure on the time frame, but I think it is after MS5050.

Hope that helps.
KL or KHFA, depending on what boards you frequent(ed)

 

[MongooseMatt]

Actually, I'm not a newbie, it's just been something like 3 years since I've visited the forum, but so much has changed, it feels like I'm a newbie...

Anyway, I was stunned and thrilled to learn that Lone Wolf is being reprinted, and I like the idea of Collector's editions, but upon looking through this forum, well, it seems there's been some problems with the printers.

Question #1: I just want a clear answer: I believe I read that the printer problems are now fixed, and the latest batch of Books 1-5 look great. Confirmation please? I want them, but I'm willing to wait till the printing problems are resolved.

Question #2: I also think I read that these latest batches are limited to print runs of only 500 books...so, are they already sold out? Should I place an order or just give up hope?!? I mean, I'd like to think they'd make enough "Collector Editions" for returning fans who grew up with the Lone Wolf books, (like myself), and surely that's more than 500 people. :?:

Question #3: I understand that "Flight from the Dark" has had several changes, written by Joe Dever himself, (a kind of "special edition", I guess). Sounds awesome, (never did like the fact that Lone Wolf sounds like an idiot hitting his head on a log). Are all of the other books going to have expanded adventures? And will they be written by Joe Dever? And if not by Dever, then whom?

Question #4: What's this I hear about new fiction books set in the Lone Wolf universe, (which are not the "John Grant" stuff, right)? Are these books written by Joe Dever? If not, then by who? When are these books set? During the years of Lone Wolf, or in the history of the world before Lone Wolf was born?

Hi there,

Welcome to the new Lone Wolf!

1. The issues have indeed been resolved, and we are expecting to take delivery of the books later this month. You will see them appear on the front page of the site when they are in stock.

2. There will be more than 500 copies of books 1-4 in circulation and, at this time, we predict 500 copies will keep later books around for a few months after release. This is something we will continue to monitor.

3. All books after the first have additional mini-adventures featuring other characters of Magnamund.

4. The novels are not directly written by Joe, but he works _very_ closely with the authors, checking plot points and the final manuscript. There is no set timeline for these books, and they potentially have all of Magnamund history to play with - the aim is simply to produce good Lone Wolf-based novels!

 

[wonderfly]

1. The issues have indeed been resolved, and we are expecting to take delivery of the books later this month. You will see them appear on the front page of the site when they are in stock.

Does that mean I should wait to place my order till they appear on the front page of the site? Or can I go ahead and place my order now?

Do you guys send some sort of email saying you've received my order, and another email letting me know when you've mailed out my order?

2. There will be more than 500 copies of books 1-4 in circulation and, at this time, we predict 500 copies will keep later books around for a few months after release. This is something we will continue to monitor.

So, "500 copies" may be just an initial print run? I would just think that there would be more demand than that.

I also predict that once the regular books hit the book stores next January, you'll see an increase in returning fans like myself, and probably a higher demand for the Collector's Editions...

Another question: I heard the first novel has new interior artwork. Will all of the novels have new artwork, or just "Flight from the Dark"?

Thanks again!!!

 

[BlackCat]

Maybe it's my turn to help here.

About ordering: you are better to order right now: once the 500 copies of the Collector's Edition of one book are gone, they are gone. There won't be any other Collector's Edition printed. If you miss them, you'll have to buy the regular softcover books, which are going to be produced later this year (or maybe next year... Matthew can give more details about this).

Oh, and when I've ordered my Mega-Deal (which, sadly for you, is not available anymore), I got a confirmation by email of my order. However, you don't get an email when they send you the books.

About artwork: Richard Longmore is the new artist for the interior artwork of the regular adventures of the gamebooks (I don't know for the novels); Alberto Dallago is the new artist making the covers of all the books; different artists are making the artwork for the mini-adventure in eacg gamebooks (except book 1, which doesn't have a mini-adventure because of the 200 extra sections the main adventure now has).

The authors for the new novels: August Hahn, author of the first version of the LW RPG, is writing the Agarashi Trilogy; Richard Ford is the one writing the Lencian Trilogy.

 

[wonderfly]

Will the paperback books that are set to be released in bookstore in a few months, will they have the extra stories in the back, like the collector's editions?

 

[KaiLord]

I certainly don't have time to do this, but in reading this thread, I can't help but wonder if we need a Mongoose-edited sticky FAQ to let new fans/converts know information about the books, the republication, timelines, etc.

That way, answers to all the "what" questions from potential customers and "when" questions from existing customers can be distilled to one thread instead of spread out in multiple ones.

Just a thought.

 

[beowuuf]

The only difference between the softback and collector's editions is the hardback and 'exclusive' nature of them plus the fact they come first- the softbacks have the same contents

 

[wonderfly]

I certainly don't have time to do this, but in reading this thread, I can't help but wonder if we need a Mongoose-edited sticky FAQ to let new fans/converts know information about the books, the republication, timelines, etc.

That way, answers to all the "what" questions from potential customers and "when" questions from existing customers can be distilled to one thread instead of spread out in multiple ones.

Just a thought.

I was about to recommend the same thing.

One last question, and I'll be done:

Is it better to go and and place in one order books 1-6, even though books 5 and 6 aren't ready to ship yet? (Books 1-4 are just about ready to ship, right)? Will they send all 6 out at once, or send boos 1-4, followed by Book 5, or Book 6? In other words, would I be better off placing one order for Books 1-4, followed by a seperate order for Book 5, and a seperate order for Book 6?

 

[EvilRedEye]

I certainly don't have time to do this, but in reading this thread, I can't help but wonder if we need a Mongoose-edited sticky FAQ to let new fans/converts know information about the books, the republication, timelines, etc.

That way, answers to all the "what" questions from potential customers and "when" questions from existing customers can be distilled to one thread instead of spread out in multiple ones.

Just a thought.

I was about to recommend the same thing.

One last question, and I'll be done:

Is it better to go and and place in one order books 1-6, even though books 5 and 6 aren't ready to ship yet? (Books 1-4 are just about ready to ship, right)? Will they send all 6 out at once, or send boos 1-4, followed by Book 5, or Book 6? In other words, would I be better off placing one order for Books 1-4, followed by a seperate order for Book 5, and a seperate order for Book 6?

Probably better to order in one go, as the delivery will be cheaper. I would guess they send the books out as they come, although I can't vouch for this.

 

[wonderfly]

Follow up question: Is it possible to get me local game store retailer to order the Collector's Editions books for me, to buy from him at the store? I seem to remember reading somewhere on Mongooses' website about how they'd rather I buy their products from a store, instead of directly buying from the company.

Are Mongoose products available for advance order in Previews catalog, (which is what the comic/game shops use, I believe)?

And one more random question: Are there plans to republish the "Grey Hawk" Books as well? Maybe a Collector's Edition of the Grey Hawk books? Because that would complete the awesomeness of what Mongoose is doing here.

 

[beowuuf]

I think Greystar has the additional wrinkle of being authored by someone else.

I think in this case the CE can only be ordered directly from Mongoose

As long as it's on the website with a 'buy now/preoder' button, you can pre-order it

 

[wonderfly]

But surely if a game store retailer wanted to order the books, he could come to the website and order it, just like anyone else, right?

 

[beowuuf]

I guess so unless there is a legal niggle in selling books on bought like that

The real question is, why would the retailer do that unless they then charged you for that service

 

[wonderfly]

Well, I know I sound naive, but how do game store retailers make money off of product ordered from Mongoose, (and other publishers) anyway? Do they get a discount, and they make a profit when we purchase the product at full price?

I ask, because I actually would rather buy from my local game store, but that's just me...

 

[coreystinson]

Well, I know I sound naive, but how do game store retailers make money off of product ordered from Mongoose, (and other publishers) anyway? Do they get a discount, and they make a profit when we purchase the product at full price?

I ask, because I actually would rather buy from my local game store, but that's just me...

Well, presumably they purchase the product at a wholesale/reseller price.

However, given the limited nature of the hardcover Lone Wolf reprints, I wouldn't be surprised to find that the only way for the consumer to purchase *those* is directly from Mongoose, thus there would be no vendor -> retailer -> consumer channel.

Only the Mongoose guys know for sure, of course.

 

[Greg Smith]

Unfortunately with Mongoose's relatively high postage a single LW book will cost £13.95. Definitely worth ordering more than one if you can.

 

[Sommerswerd]

1. Last book I got was #3, months ago. As for the problems being fixed, my books 1 and 3 were replaced, and book 4 was (from what I gather) halted mid-stream because of errors in it.

So, does that mean that we can still expect a replacement for Book 4 with the errors?

 

[Balgin Stondraeg]

1. Last book I got was #3, months ago. As for the problems being fixed, my books 1 and 3 were replaced, and book 4 was (from what I gather) halted mid-stream because of errors in it.

So, does that mean that we can still expect a replacement for Book 4 with the errors?

I'm still waiting to find that one out myself.