What do you expect from a free product vs one you pay for?

[fissionessence]

Since 4E was released (and even before), I've been seeing a lot of cool classes, monsters and adventures created by fans and posted on the forums. This was true, of course, even before 4E as well, and the advent of the En Wiki just makes it that much more obvious.

A lot of this content is stuff I'd pay for (if it were laid out nicely in pdf or book form), including the druid I've seen and some collections of monsters.

So what I'm wondering is: what separates these two types of product? Is it basically just how the creator chooses to release his or her content, or does it come down to a simple matter of needing a layout done and art added . . . and what does a product need to look like for you to be willing to buy it, as opposed to expecting it for free.

~ fissionessence

 

[cougent]

Personally I don't have many expectations of a FREE product, or player created XXX (where XXX is class, race, feat, skill, etc.) Simply because it is free, it may be well thought out and play tested or it may be thrown together in a single game session as a "What if".

Conversely my expectations for PAID products are pretty stringent. Maybe because I am cheap and want more value than I pay for, or maybe because I have just seen the acceptable level of quality fall so low that I am just rebelling in backlash, either way I expect the product to be worth what I pay for it (at least).

 

[Aus_Snow]

As long as it's useful and/or enjoyable, it doesn't matter much what else it does or doesn't achieve. If it's free, that's simply a bonus.

 

[FalcWP]

Free: Something entertaining, that has at least been tried out in someone's home game. I also expect to have to house rule it at least a bit for my game... I don't always have to, but I *expect* I'll have to. I expect there to be some errors, perhaps even major ones.

Pay: Something that has been tested, balance-wise, with the system its designed for. It should be fine to run, as is, with that system - I may still house rule stuff, but that's for my game, not as a general rule. A well-written product that covers any major issues (that aren't covered by common sense). Few, if any, errors, and nothing that's a game-killing error. Any errors that are discovered should be covered in official, online errata I can access easily and quickly, without hunting for it.

 

[frankthedm]

free product-

Readability and game balance. Can't use it if reading the document is a chore or painful. Having questionable game balance in a free supplement mean you have fallen prey to the stereotype of overpowered 3rd party splat. Crappy art also kills readability to me. Better to have no art than bad art.

 

[RFisher]

There are three things I expect from an RPG product that I’m paying for:

(1) Designers/developers/authors with a wide and deep knowledge of the hobby. Their creation should be informed by the many games that have come before.

(2) Playtesting, playtesting, playtesting.

(3) Decent organization and presentation. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be beautiful. (Especially considering the number of times that shooting for beauty goes awry and usability suffers.) It should just be decently organized and decently presented.

If it’s free, I have no expectations.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

Art and production values. A secondary benefit (though a huge draw in the market) is a good designer's name associated with the product.

 

[Orius]

If it's free, not much. I'm getting what I'm paying for after all. If it looks good, I'll keep it, it might be useful; if it's crap I haven't lost much on buying it anyway.