D&D 4E No more reprints of the 4E core books?

[jasonbostwick]

It would be deeply bizarre for WotC to suddenly pull books off the shelves which are the only non-digital source of those rules.

Also, pulling the DMG in particular would be odd, because most of the books isn't rules, but instead advice for running games.

(Emphasis Mine)

Except this is an exaggeration of what is happening. I consider there to be a fairly significant difference between not planning on reprinting something and 'pulling it off the shelves.'

We have no idea how much stock is left of the original core set - it is entirely possible that as new customers shift to purchasing the Rules Compendium as a primary reference, the remaining stock of the PHB will last for years. (Not counting the possibility of a boatload of used copies hitting the second-hand market as current users upgrade to an updated rule set.)

Even if this rumour is true, I don't see it becoming difficult for someone who wants the core books to purchase them in print form.

 

[Jack99]

Is this akin to a "fee" instead of a "new tax" that the government is fond of using.

I could see where they aren't ordering reprints because they have a warehouse of unsold core books (which could be the case), and they don't expect to sell out for the next several years. Why on earth would they order more reprints if they had 20,000 books in a warehouse somewhere and sold a few hundred a month? They won't need new books until a next edition might be ready to roll out, and the essentials books are probably something they can do in smaller print runs and turn around faster.

Let's just something straight. This rumour has surfaces because a couple of FLGS have been told they can not order any more of the core 3 books. Can we all agree that this most likely means that WotC does not have a warehouse full of books?

 

[ggroy]

Most likely the large quantity of 4E core books still remaining, are in the warehouses and/or on the store shelves of companies like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Alliance Distributing, etc ... and their counterparts overseas.

 

[jasonbostwick]

Let's just something straight. This rumour has surfaces because a couple of FLGS have been told they can not order any more of the core 3 books. Can we all agree that this most likely means that WotC does not have a warehouse full of books?

Where did you hear about these FLGSs? Not doubting you, but the Magic website being used as the source for these rumours mentions nothing about game stores running out of stock.

 

[ggroy]

Where did you hear about these FLGSs?

http://www.enworld.org/forum/5258070-post5.html

 

[Jack99]

http://www.enworld.org/forum/5258070-post5.html

Are you so sure that's where I heard it first?

 

[jasonbostwick]

Thanks for the source, I missed that thread somehow (though if yours is different, Jack, I'd like to see it).

That gives me some eerie premonitions for what they'll say at Gencon next week - certainly nothing as bad as the info black-out between the cancellation of Paizo's license and Gencon '07, but I'l be waiting with anticipation for any announcements.

 

[mkill]

If I was doing the WotC product schedule I'd stop printing the PHB now, sell off the inventory, put out the Essentials. Then, I'd check what the general reaction on the Essentials is (not some preview Internet backlash, but actual sales figures etc.)

Meanwhile, I'd start to prepare a revised PHB. The big question is whether a revised PHB should be a second entry point to the game, or the next step after the Essentials books.

In any case
* Incorporate the errata
* Include some stuff from later splatbooks that should be in the PHB, like the Expertise feats (or come up with a better replacement)
* Make revisions that reflect later design changes. For example, I would not include a Str Cleric again. It would also make sense to use subclasses in the PHB
* General improvements like better layout, better iconic class pictures, clearer wording, more fluff text (feats!) etc.
* Revise powers that don't fit the class role, do too much / not enough damage, have quirky effects etc.

 

[Terramotus]

Honestly, if this is true, I don't know what I'll do. Stop buying WotC products until current management is all gone, at least. The level of unfaithfulness to the customer this move would demonstrate is staggering.

Hey, on the bright side... If this is true, and Essentials tanks, then maybe WotC might be sold to someone who gives a damn.

 

[Jack99]

Thanks for the source, I missed that thread somehow (though if yours is different, Jack, I'd like to see it).

Nah. Was just poking at ggroy's assumption.

Honestly, if this is true, I don't know what I'll do. Stop buying WotC products until current management is all gone, at least. The level of unfaithfulness to the customer this move would demonstrate is staggering.

Why do you consider this unfaithful?


Anyway, bear in mind (as I have said elsewhere) that the inability amongst (at least some) FLGSs to order the 3 core books could just as well mean they have run out and are waiting for their printers to be done with the Essentials line - or something.

Or maybe their projections say that atm, there is enough core 3 books around the stores to meet demand, and are thus waiting for said demand to be there.

Lots of possibilities that doesn't involve evil schemes to dupe us into buying Essentials, or whatnot.