D&D (2024) D&D Player’s Handbook (2024)

[GrimCo]

it is also their only option as the old books go out of print… unless they go digital

For new books, yes. But, there are always second hand books floating around. And TBH, they should include digital download code with every physical copy so one can download digital copy.

one could argue that this is in the eye of the beholder and if you do not consider it worthwhile, you can simply choose not to buy them. I am sure some people will do just that while others will gladly buy them

Also, you can pretty much take 1/3 of that price off when you buy on Amazon. If you wait a while and time it right, you can take more than half off…

Yup, agree. People who don't see value won't buy. Amazon is cool for you guys in US. German and Italian Amazon has smaller discounts and shipping is around 13-15e (to countries outside Italy and Germany shipping costs wary from 6-15e inside EU). Also, non english versions of books are rarely if ever discounted (like in german or italian).

 

[Zardnaar]

That sucks, of course, but RPGs are a luxury. (Though I think I would go hungry to get my hands on them myself).

I was going to make a joke about how it serves you right for living in such a beautiful place, but I thought better of it.

I was gonna make a joke about California cost of living on Alabama wages.

But I'm not sure Alabama doesn't get more.

Average house price hit 700k few years back I live in the cheapest city and it's only 400k usd. Exchange rate has fluctuated though so not sure atm.

No cheap Amzon deals due to postage. Its always been expensive though. My 2E phb in 95 was more than my friends rent for a week in 1996.

Island tax, 15% GST, and an F you from the distributor.

 

[Oofta]

Man I can easily spend $30 for two people at chick fil a, don’t even get me started on a movie date with concessions.

Any luxury is expensive for people that are struggling, but $60 for a luxury item today is really not that much when you consider how long it’s used.

If people are that strapped for cash (been there done that it sucks) you can pool your money together to buy the books and there's no need for anyone but the DM to have anything but the PHB. It's hard to find any entertainment that's cheaper.

 

[Oofta]

it is also their only option as the old books go out of print… unless they go digital

Unless they're still available like all the old books as PDFs. Existing books will, of course, not self destruct the last time I checked if you want to continue using them.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I was gonna make a joke about California cost of living on Alabama wages.

But I'm not sure Alabama doesn't get more.

Average house price hit 700k few years back I live in the cheapest city and it's only 400k usd. Exchange rate has fluctuated though so not sure atm.

No cheap Amzon deals due to postage. Its always been expensive though. My 2E phb in 95 was more than my friends rent for a week in 1996.

Island tax, 15% GST, and an F you from the distributor.

I live in a similarly pretty part of the world, and we've got similar issues. Average (in USD) house price: 800K; Average annual income: 37K. Mortgage payments on that place, assuming you somehow put 20% down, would be 45K in a year. Not doable. Rent is generally MORE expensive than mortgage payments, obviously. And FOOD is astronomical post-pandemic.

But we can get Amazon! Lucky us!

 

[ART!]

This book is going to be one of those that I will have to look through a copy in person before buying. One of the people in my gaming group gets the WOTC books as soon as humanly possible, so I'll spend some time with his copy, at the table, and see if it's something I'm compelled to own. A lot of my decision will be affected by the layout and art.

 

[Clint_L]

Also, even with book prices increasing, RPGs are still one of the most economical hobbies out there in terms of cost-to-entertainment-hours ratio.

Tell that to my Dwarven Forge addiction...

 

[Parmandur]

But even at $60 for a single book, or ~$200 for the holy trinity that's still a heck of a bargain.

Whooooa there, the difference between $180 MSRP and $200 is still more than one metric burrito.

But yeah, you are right, it is a good bang for the buck. $180 won't even get yoy 3 whole PS5 games.

 

[Parmandur]

Tell that to my Dwarven Forge addiction...

I mean, minis stuff literally dwarves the books, lol.

 

[Parmandur]

A lot of my decision will be affected by the layout and art.

I think that's true of most people.