Some Codex numbers (and thoughts)

Some Codex numbers (and thoughts)

Some Codex numbers (and thoughts)

Here are some stats and thoughts on the first sixteen issues of Codex (including the Discern Realities Annual).

Basic Stats

Number of articles: 79

Number of original illustrations: 143

Number of pages: 338

Things I’m very happy about

Codex is a community effort

Codex is distinctly a product of the Gauntlet, and something only we could pull off. The content comes from so many places: crowd-sourced directly from the community; contests we organize and advertise on our podcasts; paid freelance work; and material from long-running campaigns on Gauntlet Hangouts. It is a space where players, new game designers, and established game designers have their creative work shown side-by-side. And we do all of this on a rigorous schedule that sees us publishing each new, high-quality issue on the first of the month (so far, without fail). More than anything, Codex is a celebration of this amazing community. The Gauntlet could be gone tomorrow, but the creative efforts of our community will live forever, and Codex is emblematic of that.

Number of different game systems featured

Between original games and supplements for existing games, the total number of systems that have been featured in Codex is 36. Most zines (and even larger magazines) tend to focus on a very small number of systems (and most of those are D&D derivatives). I’m very pleased with the overall variety of game content in Codex.

Number of original tabletop games

11 original tabletop games have been published in Codex. Many of these, such as the recent Pack of Strays, have been extensively play-tested before hitting the pages of the zine. The authors of these games are a mix of established game designers and game designers being published for the very first time.

Number of original LARPs

To my surprise and delight, LARPs have become a significant feature of the zine. 9 original LARPs have been published across all issues. This makes me happy because the LARP side of the hobby, in my estimation, hasn’t really come up with a good solution for easy access to these game texts.

Number of paid contributors

41 different contributors, both authors and artists, have received payment from Codex. As in some earlier stats, this a healthy mix of established RPG industry folks and newcomers.

Things I’m less happy about

The number of paid women contributors

Of the 41 paid contributors we have had over the life of the zine, 7 were women. That is not enough, and it’s something we are trying to improve as we go forward. There are a couple of positive caveats here: 1) although the total number of paid women contributors is not high, several of that group have received a significant portion of the available dollars (Claudia Cangini, for example, has received more commissions than any single male artist) and 2) the numbers are getting better in Volume 2 of Codex: In Volume 1, the percentage of paid women contributors was 18%; in Volume 2, the percentage (based off who has already been booked for the next few issues) is currently 28%.

No stats for people of color or queer contributors

Anecdotally, I suspect that Codex is (like the rest of the hobby) white af and straight af. But I haven’t actually done any surveys of contributors, so I’m not sure. The diversity among paid contributors might be better than I realize, but until we do a formal survey, I can’t say with any precision.

Distribution

I’m torn between two powerful urges: 1) to make Codex an exclusive reward for folks who are willing to support the Gauntlet at-large via Patreon and 2) the desire to get this great zine in the hands of more people. I’m not sure how to reconcile these two competing impulses. We can’t do the latter without the former, and I feel a particular loyalty to the former that makes it hard to consider all the various options for the latter. It’s a dilemma.

Closing thoughts

Overall, I’m really happy with how Codex is going. Big thanks to everyone who has had a hand in making it such a successful project!

30 thoughts on “Some Codex numbers (and thoughts)”

  1. As someone who contributes to the Gauntlet, my vote is to get it out there to as many people as possible. The “exclusivity” of the content is not a factor in my decision to continue to be a patron of such great work.

  2. As someone who contributes to the Gauntlet, my vote is to get it out there to as many people as possible. The “exclusivity” of the content is not a factor in my decision to continue to be a patron of such great work.

  3. Thanks for this, Jason Cordova! My two cents, for what’s worth, on the distribution question: I support a lot of stuff on Patreon that I could get for free – in fact, I did get a lot of it for free before I started supporting it. Personally, I wouldn’t feel any sort of slight if Codex were made more widely available, and I’d be more than happy if it managed to grow the Gauntlet community!

  4. Thanks for this, Jason Cordova! My two cents, for what’s worth, on the distribution question: I support a lot of stuff on Patreon that I could get for free – in fact, I did get a lot of it for free before I started supporting it. Personally, I wouldn’t feel any sort of slight if Codex were made more widely available, and I’d be more than happy if it managed to grow the Gauntlet community!

  5. What about following the TableTop model (which no one ever said with a straight face before me, right now). Gate the new stuff for 6 months to patrons, then sell the older stuff.

    (And of course, some day, Kickstart a single book. ;))

  6. What about following the TableTop model (which no one ever said with a straight face before me, right now). Gate the new stuff for 6 months to patrons, then sell the older stuff.

    (And of course, some day, Kickstart a single book. ;))

  9. n00b in terms of the indie rpg scene and trying to sort out what this is all about. In terms of Codex distribution, poll your patrons on this:

    a) exclusive to patrons and incenting more patrons

    b) distribute to a larger audience, perhaps in a delayed manner

    I’m interested in the samurai dueling game (Iron on the Wind?) mentioned in the Gauntlet podcast e120, but not even sure if it’s available yet or if I want to jump on the patron band wagon.

  10. n00b in terms of the indie rpg scene and trying to sort out what this is all about. In terms of Codex distribution, poll your patrons on this:

    a) exclusive to patrons and incenting more patrons

    b) distribute to a larger audience, perhaps in a delayed manner

    I’m interested in the samurai dueling game (Iron on the Wind?) mentioned in the Gauntlet podcast e120, but not even sure if it’s available yet or if I want to jump on the patron band wagon.

  11. My 0.02 cents, as a patreon non member, I would like to be able to “buy” the issues, and send gold pieces your way. I do not mind waiting after members, as this is the way to build a VIP audience.

  12. My 0.02 cents, as a patreon non member, I would like to be able to “buy” the issues, and send gold pieces your way. I do not mind waiting after members, as this is the way to build a VIP audience.

  13. I’ll echo the sentiment already expressed so far that the exclusivity doesn’t appeal to me, and I am definitely be in favor of wider distribution. I’m also with Robert Bohl about making it “early release” (or “delayed release,” depending on your point of view), but I’d be fine with a shorter time, even, like a month.

  14. I’ll echo the sentiment already expressed so far that the exclusivity doesn’t appeal to me, and I am definitely be in favor of wider distribution. I’m also with Robert Bohl about making it “early release” (or “delayed release,” depending on your point of view), but I’d be fine with a shorter time, even, like a month.

  15. I think for distribution (it sounds like you were doing this already) giving the Patrons monthly content then wrapping it into a competition that can be sold, printed and shared later

  16. I think for distribution (it sounds like you were doing this already) giving the Patrons monthly content then wrapping it into a competition that can be sold, printed and shared later

  19. I’d be extremely happy with a “first to patreons” and “second to drivethru” method. Perhaps a survey to Patreon members is in order to gauge blowback? Personally, I’d love to see this go as far and wide as possible.

  20. I’d be extremely happy with a “first to patreons” and “second to drivethru” method. Perhaps a survey to Patreon members is in order to gauge blowback? Personally, I’d love to see this go as far and wide as possible.

  23. I feel like we should sell previous years as ‘zines, just black and white. but then I remember part of the fun is the artwork. I wonder if printing them on similar color paper would work.

  24. I feel like we should sell previous years as ‘zines, just black and white. but then I remember part of the fun is the artwork. I wonder if printing them on similar color paper would work.

  27. If you want to reward Patreon supporters, you could let us vote on /suggest upcoming themes. Then you can distribute Codex however you want without depriving patrons of any kind of reward (besides the satisfaction of supporting the product).

  28. If you want to reward Patreon supporters, you could let us vote on /suggest upcoming themes. Then you can distribute Codex however you want without depriving patrons of any kind of reward (besides the satisfaction of supporting the product).

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