Geoff, General Manager of MCDM Productions, spoke with us about the company’s contributions to the world of TTRPGs (tabletop roleplaying games), as well as MCDM’s exciting plans for the future.

Humble Beginnings and Rapid Growth

The story of MCDM Productions begins with Matt Colville, a passionate author and Game Master who sought to share his knowledge and love for the tabletop hobby. His YouTube channel, dedicated to teaching others how to run D&D, gained a dedicated following. Recognizing the demand for high-quality D&D resources, Colville launched a crowdfunding campaign to turn his homebrew book into a polished product. The Strongholds & Streaming campaign was a resounding success, exceeding its funding goal by a significant margin. This success fueled Colville’s decision to leave his day job and focus on MCDM Productions full-time.

Enhancing the Dungeons & Dragons Experience

MCDM Productions has made a significant impact on the world of Dungeons & Dragons by offering a wide range of supplemental materials designed to enhance the gaming experience. Their prestige hardcover books, such as Kingdoms & Warfare and Strongholds & Followers, introduce new elements like large-scale warfare and political intrigue to the game. The company also offers premade adventures in Where Evil Lives, that provide ready-to-play content for Dungeon Masters.

Draw Steel: A New Frontier of Tabletop Gaming

MCDM Productions’ latest venture is Draw Steel, an entirely new roleplaying game that promises a fresh and exciting experience for players. Drawing from the wargaming roots of the RPG hobby, combat in Draw Steel takes place on a grid with robust rules for movement, displacement, damage, and progression.

If you zoom out a bit, Draw Steel and Dungeons & Dragons appear similar; both games allow groups of players to come together and create an original story through narrative-based gameplay. However, the rulesets and playstyles between the two games are vastly different. “It’s an entirely new game,” said Geoff. “It doesn’t use the same dice, the same rules – it’s an original creation. It’s a very tactile game, you really want to have a grid in front of you.”

MCDM hopes the tabletop gaming community uses their books to create their own original stories in their own fantasy worlds. “[The books are] sort of the building blocks that you can use to create your own worlds and adventures. We have an that allows people to use our full text in their own original creations. This is kind of the bedrock we hope the community uses to build stuff on top of.”

A Massive Undertaking for MCDM Productions

Draw Steel is the culmination of a herculean effort from the employees at MCDM Productions. “We have a team of 11 people in-house and dozens of contract artists, designers, testers all working together to make these books” explained Geoff. “We don’t cut any corners. Art, design, layout, editing – It’s a huge investment in time and effort. We’ve been working on Draw Steel for almost two years, and by the time we deliver it will be two and a half years.”

Presentation is an important compliment of game design and a priority for MCDM. “We invest a lot in our illustrations and layout. Really high-quality illustrations are an important part of fantasy,” said Geoff. “Our last book, Flee, Mortals!, had almost 400 illustrations in it, so making sure all the work is delivered to customers inside a high quality book is very important to us.”

A Shared Commitment to Quality and Innovation

As MCDM Productions continues to grow and evolve, it is clear that the company is committed to pushing the boundaries of tabletop gaming. With its innovative products, dedicated team and passion for game development, MCDM Productions hope to offer great products to their customers for years to come.

One of the many things that makes ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ’s partnership with MCDM Productions so successful is our shared commitment to quality products. MCDM won’t send a product to their customers if it doesn’t meet their high standards, and neither will we. If you’re a publisher of game books or other art books, contact ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ today to learn more about what we have to offer.

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Following Strongholds & Followers, the company launched another successful Kickstarter campaign, this time developing a second companion book titled Kingdoms & Warfare. This time, MCDM Productions wanted to partner with a printing company that reflected their own values; ethical sourcing, employee-focused and above all, owned and operated in the United States. That’s why in 2020, MCDM Productions and ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ entered into a partnership that has produced tens of thousands of high-quality books, with more on the horizon.

What MCDM Productions Was Looking For

Geoff, General Manager at MCDM Productions, emphasized this point, saying, “We’re an American company, we prefer to print in the country. It’s really important to us for a whole variety of reasons.” For MCDM, printing domestically is about more than just location—it’s a reflection of their dedication to quality and responsible business practices. “We take employee compensation and benefits, and ethics behind paper source and ink seriously,” Geoff explained. “Some of that you don’t get when you go other places. Getting the lowest price is not our priority – it’s about how everything is sourced and put together, and the overall customer service experience.”

MCDM’s game books are designed to be used as reference materials, meaning quality and durability are paramount. “These are books that people are going to use as a reference manual for many years,” Geoff noted. “They’re kind of like yearbooks. We’re looking for something that’s going to last a very long time – that’s the expectation of our customers.” With a devoted fanbase consisting of dedicated tabletop gamers, MCDM needs a printer that can deliver high-quality books that withstand heavy use.

¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ’s Commitment to Timeliness

Another critical aspect of their partnership with ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ is the ability to handle reorders efficiently. In 2020, MCDM faced the challenge of placing large orders due to supply chain disruptions. “Being able to be responsive to reorders is crucial,” Geoff shared. “Storage will eat you alive these days. Instead of ordering books all at once and having to store them, ordering a few thousand books a few times a year works better for us.” ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ’s flexibility in managing production and their ability to ship quickly to MCDM’s warehouses in Florida and Los Angeles has been a major advantage.

“Our experience working with ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ has been positive,” Geoff said. “Our customers have been very happy, and the process has been relatively painless – payment terms, quick turnaround.” MCDM Productions values how quickly ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ can deliver, compared to overseas printers where production and shipping times can be extensive. “Downtime or being out of stock is really rough,” Geoff said. “When you print in Europe, it can take weeks or months. When we print with you guys, it gets there in days.”

What Makes Our Partnership Successful

The combination of high-quality printing, ethical business practices and timely service has made ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ a trusted partner for MCDM Productions. Geoff concluded with a piece of advice for others in his industry: “Spend the extra dollar for something somebody might have on their shelf for twenty years. These aren’t newspapers that people just throw away – they’re reference manuals that people might use for decades.” For MCDM Productions, working with ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ means ensuring their products are made to last and reflect the same values their company stands for.

Learn More About What ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ Can Do for You

Our four state-of-the-art printing facilities located strategically across the Midwest allow us to offer competitive pricing and turnaround times to publishers across the United States and Canada. If you’re a publisher looking to print durable, high-quality game books, get in touch with us today.

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For gamers, printed books can serve as portals to explore deeper into their favorite game universes, providing rich backstories, character development and untold lore that can enhance the overall gaming experience. Whether your choice of gaming involves a screen or simply friends sitting around a table, print media can help you dive in and fully immerse yourself in a different world.

Novels: Delving Deeper into Game Narratives

One of the most popular ways to expand a game universe is through novels. These can be written as prequels, sequels or standalone stories that explore the world and characters in greater detail. For example, the Assassin’s Creed series has a vast lore that is expanded upon in novels, providing additional context for the games. Similarly, the Witcher series, written by Andrzej Sapkowski, has been adapted into a successful video game franchise, but the novels offer a much richer and more complex exploration of Geralt of Rivia’s world. Finally, the Star Wars universe, originally conceptualized in George Lucas’ film franchise, has enjoyed the addition of hundreds of novels and comic books that expand upon the stories and settings introduced in the movies and games.

Game Companions: Essential Guides to the Gaming World

For those who want to immerse themselves fully in a video game world, game companions are invaluable resources. These books often contain detailed information about the game’s lore, characters, weapons and gameplay mechanics. They can be used as reference guides during gameplay or simply as enjoyable reads for fans. For instance, the Elder Scrolls series has a wealth of game companions that delve into the history, culture, and mythology of Tamriel.

Game companions are a necessary part of tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs). These books contain information about character classes, game mechanics and monsters required to run a successful campaign. Dungeons & Dragons, for example, has countless game companion books, including the Player Handbook, the Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manuals and more, giving players and dungeon masters the tools they need to create their very own fantasy world.

Encyclopedias: Comprehensive References for Game Universes

Encyclopedias are another essential tool for exploring game universes. These books provide a comprehensive overview of the world, its history and its inhabitants. They can be a great resource for players who want to learn more about the game’s lore and backstory. The Final Fantasy series is known for its extensive encyclopedias that delve into the rich history of the series’ various worlds. The Legend of Zelda games also have an accompanying encyclopedia, educating readers on the various incarnations of Link, Zelda and Ganon.

Art Books: Celebrating the Visual Beauty of Games

For those who appreciate the visual aesthetics of games, art books are a must-have. These books showcase the stunning artwork that brings game worlds to life. They can be a great way to admire the talent of game artists and gain a deeper appreciation for the visual design of the games. The Horizon Zero Dawn series has beautiful art books that showcase the stunning landscapes and creatures of its post-apocalyptic world.

TTRPGs also gain an extra level of immersion through art books. For example, The Complete Elmore: Vol. III, a collection of fantasy art by renowned artist Larry Elmore, transports its reader to a world of dragons and magic. Fantasy art books can help inspire tabletop gamers to dream up new characters and settings for their own campaigns.

Expanding Your Game Universe with ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ

If you’re a game developer or publisher looking to expand your game universe with printed books, ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ can help. With our expertise in book printing, we can provide you with high-quality, affordable printing solutions that will bring your vision to life. From novels and game companions to encyclopedias and art books, we have the capabilities to produce a wide range of printed materials that will create new and exciting ways for your audience to interact with your games.

Contact Us Today to learn more about how ¶¶Ňń¶ĚĘÓƵ can help you expand your game universe with printed books, please contact us today. Our team of experts can provide you with a free quote and answer any questions you may have.

* This article was developed with assistance from Google’s PaLM 2 large language AI model.

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