Chimera Creative

A play, to explain why I’m really fucking tired about arguing about people claiming indie RPG publishers don’t make a profit.

Some people: Well, you indie publishers are cute and all, but you’re not really making a “profit,” you amateurs you. Here’s why. See, profit is revenues minus expenses. And, you make nice revenues, I guess, but you don’t count your expenses.

Indie Publishers: Um, yeah, we do count expenses. See? here’s my revenue, and here’s my cost of goods sold, and here’s some art I bought.

Some people: Ah ah ah! You don’t count your time! You cheated. You didn’t count the time you spent writing as an expense! Gotcha!

Indie publishers: WTF?

Some people: See? You really don’t even understand business. Now, stop chewing up my living, ya’ punks.

Indie publishers: Are you drunk?

Some people: No! Unlike some folks, I value my time, and here’s what I should make as a living wage. If you can’t compare to that, your “profit” is a fairy tale. You’re just amateurs.

Indie people: You’re weird. First, no one “deserves” a living wage. But, nevermind that. More importantly, your revenues minus expenses is EXACTLY RIGHT. The problem is that my “time” is not an expense! It’s equity! It’s a valued asset, and it represents the stuff I own. All that “time spent” stuff is an expense to a company who pays freelancers or employees! I don’t have any employees, you nut. I employ artists and layout people, but I count their pay as an expense.

Some people: Well, you are an employee.

Indie people: Um, no. I’m not. Nothing, anywhere, ever says I have to pay myself a living wage in order to be a “real” business. That’s a silly assumption. I’m the owner. That’s like saying a corporation pays its shareholders “wages” when it gives out dividends. I’m not required to “pay myself” a dime.

Some people: Are too!

Indie publishers: Nuh uh!

Some people: See! Amateurs. You aren’t worth my time.

-THE END-