DriveThruRPG’s offset print option proves unpopular among small creators
Many cite the steep revenue cut without fulfillment support as a key issue.
About a month ago, DriveThruRPG launched its Partner Shipping Program (PSP), allowing RPG publishers to sell offset print books on the storefront, but the announcement quickly came under heavy criticism. The platform takes a revenue cut of 35% or 30% of the retail price, depending on whether the selling publisher is an exclusive partner. And the caveat? The publisher has to manage every other part of the warehousing and fulfillment process — to enter, pack and ship the product on their own.
Back in October, designer Third Kingdom Games shared that orders were simply emailed to them on spreadsheets every morning. Part of the requirement was to email DriveThruRPG after shipping every order, including both the order number and a USPS or UPS tracking number. It was a rudimentary process, but the program has since been updated in November, according to its FAQ page. Currently, publishers are sent notification emails that contain order-specific web links. They will then need to click on each link and input the tracking number on the site, with Roll20 stating that its customer service team will “update the rest”. What this entails is unclear. Rascal reached out to Roll20 for more information, but the company declined to comment.
