===================================================================== <<(*=-- DREAM FORGE --=*)>> MAGAZINE <<((*=-- The electronic for your mind! --=*))>> ===================================================================== (formerly RANDOM ACCESS HUMOR and RUNE'S RAG) DREAM FORGE Dream Forge, Inc., 6400 Baltimore National Pike, # 201 Baltimore, MD 21228-3915 Modem: (410) 255-6229 (data to 28800 bps) Publisher: Dave Bealer Managing Editor: Rick Arnold DREAM FORGE (tm) is a monthly e-magazine for a thinking and literate readership. Dream Forge, Inc. is seeking Official DREAM FORGE Distributors (ODFDs) throughout cyberspace. The ODFDs will sell individual copies of the current issue (and back issues) of DREAM FORGE to their callers on a pay-by-download basis. The list price of individual DREAM FORGE issues is $2.95. (All amounts are in US dollars.) As additional online sales technologies become available, the ODFDs will be encouraged to offer DREAM FORGE using these new techniques. Responsibilities of ODFDs: 1) Make DREAM FORGE available to their callers using any available online sales technology (e.g. sale by download). The ODFD warrants that all DREAM FORGE downloads will be counted and paid for on a monthly basis. 2) Promote the availability of DREAM FORGE to all callers during the logon process. 3) Resolve any customer complaints related to obtaining DREAM FORGE from their system (i.e. broken archives, aborted downloads, etc.). Dream Forge, Inc. will assume no liability for any such problems, other than replacing any broken DREAM FORGE archive sent to the distributor's system by the publisher. 4) Provide a monthly report to the publisher showing the download count for each DREAM FORGE issue carried by the system. 5) Remit the publisher's share (60%) of all DREAM FORGE sales to the publisher promptly on a monthly basis. Any credit card or transaction processing fees incurred in selling DREAM FORGE are strictly the responsibility of the ODFD. If an ODFD chooses to sell DREAM FORGE for a discount, the publisher's share remains 60% of the official list price of the magazine ($1.77/copy at the list price of $2.95). 6) Provide a complimentary account on the ODFD system for the use of DREAM FORGE staff. The account need not have any sysop privileges, except that it should allow DREAM FORGE staff to view the current download counts for all DREAM FORGE issues being sold. The account should have all upload and download privileges normally offered to those with "free, shareware uploader" status. Benefits for ODFDs: 1) The ODFD retains 40% of all DREAM FORGE sales ($1.18/copy sold at a list price of $2.95) made, less any transaction fees incurred (see #5 above). The ODFD also retains any time based fees incurred by any user as they download the emag. 2) The right to advertise their system as an Official DREAM FORGE Distributor. A logon screen may be (indeed, should be) displayed to all callers so identifying the system. 3) A listing in each DREAM FORGE issue identifying the ODFD, including System name, primary data telephone number, number of lines, and location of system (City/state/country). 4) A 20% discount on any advertising purchased in DREAM FORGE to advertise the ODFD system, or any products or services offered by the firm that owns the ODFD. This discount is cumulative with any other applicable discounts. 5) A 40% discount on a display subscription to DREAM FORGE for the ODFD system. Applies only to a prepaid annual subscription, and is not cumulative with any other offers. (e.g. The operators of a 100 line BBS that is an ODFD will pay $597/year to display DREAM FORGE to their callers rather than the normal fee of $995.) Interest Sysops should contact the publisher, Dave Bealer. Internet e-mail: dbealer@dreamforge.com FidoNet netmail: Dave Bealer @ 1:261/1129 * DREAM FORGE is a trademark of Dream Forge, Inc. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Official DREAM FORGE Distributors - Frequently Asked Questions In the short time since the release of the January issue of DREAM FORGE, many sysops have asked about becoming ODFDs. To save time (a precious commodity these days) I have created this list of frequently asked questions. Q) What kind of software is available to take orders/control downloads? A) Sorry, we don't have the time or inclination to help sysops set up their systems to handle online ordering. If you have to ask a question like this, you're simply not ready to become an ODFD. We are looking for established commercial boards as distributors. Line count isn't important, but you must have experience accepting online orders, or at least online subscriptions, to be seriously considered as an ODFD. Q) I don't live in the United States. How do I handle pricing? A) There is a system used by print magazines in North America whereby the magazine covers contain two prices: example: $4.95 US, $5.95 Canada This accounts for the fact that the Canadian dollar is worth somewhat less that the U.S. dollar (about $0.70 US, in 1/95). There is no reason why such a plan cannot be used for e-mags as well. ODFDs are therefore allowed to charge the local equivalent of $2.95 US in their local currency. Further, Non-US ODFDs will be allowed to charge a premium of up to 10% to recover long distance and currency exchange costs. The ODFD may want to round the price down to the nearest customary price point (3.95, etc.) in local units. For instance: Canadian ODFDs could charge $4.50 (Canadian) for each copy of DREAM FORGE. ($2.95 US/0.70 = 4.21 Canadian, plus 10% = $4.63 Candian. Round down to $4.50 Canadian. Note that given the 0.70 exchange rate factor, a Canadian ODFD could NOT charge more that $4.63 Canadian per copy of DF). Q) How do I make payments to Dream Forge, Inc.? A) Simply mail a check or money order every month to the publisher: Dream Forge, Inc. 6400 Baltimore National Pike, #201 Baltimore, MD. 21228 USA We expect to accept checks online eventually, which would allow ODFDs to logon the Dream Forge BBS and pay by check without having to mail any paper. Remember that all checks and money orders must be in U.S. funds. Q) How would I get the new DREAM FORGE issues? A) Several ways are available: 1) By internet e-mail (as a uuencoded file attach). 2) Logon to The DREAM FORGE BBS and download the new issue. 3) Via private Fido-technology Tick file echo. Q) Can I give sample issues away to my users to entice them to subscribe? A) No, that is what the free demo issues are for. Beginning in July 1995 we will publish a free quarterly (tenatively titled DREAM FORGE LITE (DFL)). DFL will contain the table of contents of the previous three DF monthly issues, plus a few (very few) sample articles from those issues. The samples will usually highlight any new features added to DF since the last quarterly edition. DFL will be freely distributable the same way the sample issues are, so there is no need for ODFDs to give away the monthly DREAM FORGE issues. Actually, you MAY give away the monthly issues, provided you pay Dream Forge, Inc. the fee of $1.77 (US) per copy given away. Q) May I print DREAM FORGE on paper and sell it that way? A) No. DREAM FORGE is an electronic magazine. The publisher retains full control over distribution format. If we do decide to offer a printed edition or non-English language editions in the future, rights will have to be negotiated on an individual (per-project) basis. Dave Bealer Publisher, DREAM FORGE (tm) January 1995 ===================================================================== {DF Document: ODFD.TXT} Other DF documents available: odfdfrm@dreamforge.com ODFD Application Form writers@dreamforge.com DREAM FORGE Writer's Guidelines info@dreamforge.com Info for individuals about DREAM FORGE subscriptions.