That kind of difference in quantity can easily explain the price. And, there is nothing Wizards can do to shore the difference up between the two to any massive degree when the disparity is so massive.
You're probably right. It's a sad fact though.
I just wish there were more products that bridge the novels and the game material. Personally, noone in my gaming group reads WotC fantasy novels. That said, I know that a lot of people
do. When I walk into a large-chain book store the shelving and stock for WotC novels is massive, whereas usually RPGs get a tiny section tucked away somewhere out of the way. This shelving dilemma alone must frustrate D&D's marketing people.
I think they need bridge products that they can plant in the novel section (Few to no game mechanics elements). One set of products that sortof filled this bridge space was choose-your-own-adventure novels, but those have earned a pretty bad reputation over the years, and most people I've spoken to think they're gimmicky, generally poorly written, and not worth reading.
What I hope to see in the next few years are products that provide world/setting detail, no mechanics (or better yet mechanics linked to them as a web enhancement), and the ability to be shelved in the "Fantasy" section of a book store rather than the tiny "Games" shelf. (Or better yet, maybe the ability to wind up on
both.)
In short, I'm moaning about the fact we don't have enough players in the game. Sorry for taking up thread-space.
