Episode 383: What is Three Tier Distribution?

RPG Design Panelcast

Recorded at Metatopia 2024

Presented by Avonelle Wing and Nicholas Ambrose

My first question when someone tells me they're self-publishing a game is "What are your goals?" Sometimes, the answer is "I just want to know someone out there is playing it." Often times, though, designers are knee-deep in designing their One True Game, have sunk countless hours and funds into the process, and want it "in every game store across the country! And Target too!" For a single-title publisher, that's nearly unheard of. If you can name an exception, it proves the rule. So, join me for a discussion of what the 3-tier system is and why you should hold it in mind as a designer-publisher.