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<blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 6793470" data-attributes="member: 6778044"><p>No. D&D is not a loss leader. The books have healthy margins and stores make good money off of each book sold. </p><p></p><p>Ultimately, WotC has determined that pdf versions of the book don't make sense in their current business model. If they did, they would do it. It's that simple.</p><p></p><p>Digital copies cannibalize physical copy sales. That doesn't mean they won't come up with an alternative option (which they already have by licensing it to Fantasy Grounds), it just means that right now they aren't selling digital copies, pdf or otherwise. Giving them away now with the purchase of the book eliminates the possibility of a for-sale version in the future, with the exception of a straight digital alternative. Based on other digital copy models, the digital only version would be priced lower than the published book. In which case it starts to cannibalize physical sales.</p><p></p><p>I have no doubt that they have spent time, probably considerable, investigating whether a digital copy, pdf version, etc. makes sense. If it would increase sales and profits, they would do it. If it doesn't then they won't. They've found a model where providing extra material for free helps build sales for the published game. The amount of free stuff they released in the first year is astounding when you look at the volume. The fact that they release a free addendum for each adventure path that includes any rules needed to run the adventure so you can use just the basic rules, the addendum and the adventure is extraordinary. </p><p></p><p>From a business standpoint, this is just the beginning. With the 5th Edition they didn't just change their game, they changed their whole business model. If Hasbro was interested in dumping the game, we wouldn't have a 5th edition. </p><p></p><p>The brand licensing is where they'll make money - video games, comics, shirts, movies, whatever. But without the game, there is no brand. Even better, the licensing brings more people to the game. The more people that play the game, the stronger the brand is. As a game D&D is very mature. As a leveraged brand, not at all.</p><p></p><p>Ilbranteloth</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilbranteloth, post: 6793470, member: 6778044"] No. D&D is not a loss leader. The books have healthy margins and stores make good money off of each book sold. Ultimately, WotC has determined that pdf versions of the book don't make sense in their current business model. If they did, they would do it. It's that simple. Digital copies cannibalize physical copy sales. That doesn't mean they won't come up with an alternative option (which they already have by licensing it to Fantasy Grounds), it just means that right now they aren't selling digital copies, pdf or otherwise. Giving them away now with the purchase of the book eliminates the possibility of a for-sale version in the future, with the exception of a straight digital alternative. Based on other digital copy models, the digital only version would be priced lower than the published book. In which case it starts to cannibalize physical sales. I have no doubt that they have spent time, probably considerable, investigating whether a digital copy, pdf version, etc. makes sense. If it would increase sales and profits, they would do it. If it doesn't then they won't. They've found a model where providing extra material for free helps build sales for the published game. The amount of free stuff they released in the first year is astounding when you look at the volume. The fact that they release a free addendum for each adventure path that includes any rules needed to run the adventure so you can use just the basic rules, the addendum and the adventure is extraordinary. From a business standpoint, this is just the beginning. With the 5th Edition they didn't just change their game, they changed their whole business model. If Hasbro was interested in dumping the game, we wouldn't have a 5th edition. The brand licensing is where they'll make money - video games, comics, shirts, movies, whatever. But without the game, there is no brand. Even better, the licensing brings more people to the game. The more people that play the game, the stronger the brand is. As a game D&D is very mature. As a leveraged brand, not at all. Ilbranteloth [/QUOTE]
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