D&D 5E The cost of D&D 5E (it ain't so bad!)

[Mercurius]

I seriously used to think enworld was a nice place I don't understand why people here don't understand that for some people THIS IS A BIG DEAL...

my Tuesday night crew are ready to up grade... and want to play 5e, we play tested the game and given good word of mouth. I have 5 players, and I DM... I can not afford the books, 2 out of 5 players also can not afford the books, and 1 of the 3 who can afford it (one of those people who buy video games btw) has already said he will not pay more then $30 or so for a book... so yea they priced us right out...

My practical recommendation is that you pitch in and buy communal books. You, as DM, take home the DMG and MM, while the PHB rotates among the players. Depending upon what it ends up costing on Amazon, that's $25-30 a person.

But from what you say here and in the other thread, WotC didn't as much "price you out" as you are simply in a place of tight finances that doesn't enable any frivolous spending. I mean, if the books were $40 each would it make a difference? Consider also the market and context - it sounds to me that your issue is less with WotC and their pricing and more with the national economic climate and your own situation. Again, $50 a book sounds like a lot - and it is - but it isn't so out of whack with inflation, the market, etc.

Let me ask you another question: How much do you think D&D should cost to play? Consider the market, how much other RPGs and entertainments cost, the ever-increasing cost of publishing, etc. What is a fair price, in your mind, based upon the market?

Another question: If they release an SRD, and thus make the game playable for free, will you feel OK about the pricing?

 

[Mistwell]

Does it help to know the Canadian Amazon has them listed at $33 in US dollars, which likely means the US Amazon will adjust to that price at some point prior to release?

Does $33 feel better? $99 for all three books?

 

[TarionzCousin]

For me, it's worth it if it keeps my FLGS in business and going strong.

 

[pickin_grinnin]

First of all, $150 is about how much money one might spend taking their partner out to dinner or a show, and a few drinks. One night's entertainment.

I don't think I have ever spent that much money for a single night's entertainment for two people. $50 at most, and half or less of that in general.

The real issue is that it's $150 for three hardback books. I can easily afford that, but I still think it's too high for something that it essentially just a set of hardback books. I may or may not buy them, depending on if I like the system, but I still think they are overpriced.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Let me ask you another question: How much do you think D&D should cost to play? Consider the market, how much other RPGs and entertainments cost, the ever-increasing cost of publishing, etc. What is a fair price, in your mind, based upon the market?

using my indepth expertise of 0 knowledge I can only go by gut feeling...

I think they COULD sell the books as loss leaders at $25... but wont
I think they COULD sell the books at about even with some profit in the $30-$35 range
I think they SHOULD sell the books at $35-$40 range

If I where wotc I would sell the PHB at $35 the MM at $38 and the DMG at $38 or a special box set of all of them for $105...

then when Amazon takes there discount on that... it would be great

Another question: If they release an SRD, and thus make the game playable for free, will you feel OK about the pricing?

it would make it more likely (still not a gurantee) that I would play, but I don't know if it would feel any better.

 

[Morrus]

I'm OK with the price. It's 5+ years of fun. Unlike others here, I do quite happily spend that on the occasional meal out. In fact, I paid more than the price of one of those books for two of us to see Godzilla today - and I'd rather have the book!

 

[falcarrion]

The cost for the hardbounds is what I expected. but the big question to me is will they come out in PDF?
All my pathfinder products are pdf. The PDFs are a lot cheaper too. If they fail to do PDF's, they will shoot themselves in the foot again.

 

[Morrus]

I don't think I have ever spent that much money for a single night's entertainment for two people. $50 at most, and half or less of that in general.

I'm jealous! $12.50 each is about £8, I think. That would just buy two drinks round here, or a very cheap meal. I get the impression things are more expensive over here though.

 

[pickin_grinnin]

I'm jealous! $12.50 each is about £8, I think. That would just buy two drinks round here, or a very cheap meal. I get the impression things are more expensive over here though.

I don't drink. Even if I did, I wouldn't pay restaurant/bar prices. That's where they get you. I would just wait until I got home.

I had an 11 oz. steak dinner with two sides this weekend at a restaurant for about $16, after tax and tips.

$30-35 is reasonable for hardback RPG books these days. I have paid $40 on one or two occasions, but that was only on Kickstarters that had a lot of extras already unlocked in the stretch goals.

If they put the books out in PDF form, they'll hit the torrent sites in nothing flat, and a lot of people will get them there. I won't, but that's the route a lot of people are likely to take if they get too frustrated with the prices.

 

[Mistwell]

GM:

Let's see what a movie cost:

Godzilla playing on Thursday in 3d in Dolby Atmos at 7:30PM in my local theater (Sherman Oaks Arclight) is $19/ticket, so for two that is $38. I can get the price down at an off-peak time or non-3d, but let's just take a look at the normal peak price when most people go.

Parking is $8.

Large poporn and drinks is $17.75.

So total is $63.75.

Now, I also have a 3 year old. So 4 hours of babysitting a $12 an hour is another $48. I'm not at $111.75. For one night out, without any dinner even!