Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
d20 Menace Manual
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Erratic K" data-source="post: 2014216" data-attributes="member: 14360"><p>I understand the economics of the 3rd Edition MM and d20 Menace Manual. They were not sold at or below cost, the volume of 3E PHB, MM, DMG sold is sooo much higher than Modern they can afford to sell them at lower cost. Costs of production go down (or are spread out over a higher number of units) with volume. You are mistaken if you think they were loss leader products. The first printing of the products was close to being at cost (but still profitable). All subsequent printings were at a very respectable profit (there were at least 3 reprintings). Both our financial arguments are based on hearsay- WotC did not have to publicly divulge details being privately held, and Hasbro can hide the RPG details under the WotC division. My hearsay is what I got from a former WotC employee.</p><p></p><p> If you imagine a graph of cost to number of units sold, there is a curve. There is a part of that curve for all products where lowering the price of a product gets you many more sales, there is also a part of the curve where lowering the price doesn't gain you many more sales. Menace Manual is at its point, Monster Manual is at its point. Their curves are different. Yes, I've taken basic economics.</p><p></p><p> That still doesn't make Menace Manual feel like a great deal if you pay retail for it. I, subjectively, feel the book is slim for it's cost. And so state it in the review. It is just a feeling- if you think it is a great deal say so...</p><p></p><p></p><p> Besides adjusted for 2.5% inflation per year (about the national average according to http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/ifc/us/ ) a 30$ book in 2000 should cost: 32.31$ today (probably a little less as inflation was according to the government now...slow). So according to you is it a better or worse deal than the Sept 2002 $29.95 cost of the Monster Manual 2? That should be a fairer comparison- closer in appeal and time.</p><p></p><p>Me, I was merely okay with my Monster Manual II not feeling gypped, but not raving about it. 5$ more in a year... ehhh. It is a factor- that is it.</p><p></p><p>It seems you tacitly agree with the rest of the review. Is that the case? Do you own the product and/or play d20M?</p><p></p><p>Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you took the time to read the review and I hope it helped you consider the product.</p><p></p><p>-E</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Erratic K, post: 2014216, member: 14360"] I understand the economics of the 3rd Edition MM and d20 Menace Manual. They were not sold at or below cost, the volume of 3E PHB, MM, DMG sold is sooo much higher than Modern they can afford to sell them at lower cost. Costs of production go down (or are spread out over a higher number of units) with volume. You are mistaken if you think they were loss leader products. The first printing of the products was close to being at cost (but still profitable). All subsequent printings were at a very respectable profit (there were at least 3 reprintings). Both our financial arguments are based on hearsay- WotC did not have to publicly divulge details being privately held, and Hasbro can hide the RPG details under the WotC division. My hearsay is what I got from a former WotC employee. If you imagine a graph of cost to number of units sold, there is a curve. There is a part of that curve for all products where lowering the price of a product gets you many more sales, there is also a part of the curve where lowering the price doesn't gain you many more sales. Menace Manual is at its point, Monster Manual is at its point. Their curves are different. Yes, I've taken basic economics. That still doesn't make Menace Manual feel like a great deal if you pay retail for it. I, subjectively, feel the book is slim for it's cost. And so state it in the review. It is just a feeling- if you think it is a great deal say so... Besides adjusted for 2.5% inflation per year (about the national average according to http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/ifc/us/ ) a 30$ book in 2000 should cost: 32.31$ today (probably a little less as inflation was according to the government now...slow). So according to you is it a better or worse deal than the Sept 2002 $29.95 cost of the Monster Manual 2? That should be a fairer comparison- closer in appeal and time. Me, I was merely okay with my Monster Manual II not feeling gypped, but not raving about it. 5$ more in a year... ehhh. It is a factor- that is it. It seems you tacitly agree with the rest of the review. Is that the case? Do you own the product and/or play d20M? Thanks for your comment. I'm glad you took the time to read the review and I hope it helped you consider the product. -E [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
d20 Menace Manual
Top