D&D 5E So when do you think the PDFs will go on sale? (Speculation)

[Starfox]

...the PFRPG.rd app on my iPad and iPhone, complete with search engine. It's a REALLY great resource to have at the table while running games.

Thanks for the tip, got to check these out.

 

[Blackbrrd]

If PDF is a problem due to piracy, why not make ebooks for ibooks and Kindle respectively..or indeed, an APP?

Personally, I can’t see a valid argument why they can’t make a PDF either, but sobeit.

Yeah, and people have already scanned and torrented the starter set, so the idea that not selling the pdfs will reduce piracy doesn't really doesn't make sense.

I do believe that they are creating the app you are suggesting, but it isn't ready yet. I think that's a bad strategy, releasing the print stuff first, then the digital content way later. This is 2014 and nearly everybody has a tablet/smartphone in addition to a PC of some sort.

 

[Werebat]

(Re: the PFRPG.rd app)

Thanks for the tip, got to check these out.

The app is amazingly useful and well worth the price. Basically having a concordance of rules at your fingertips, so that instead of guessing which sourcebook that Witch ability is in, finding it, and flipping through it for the info you want, you just type in the name of the ability, touch it, and there you are.

It has spoiled me, and I strongly suspect enough others, to the point where WotC had damn well BETTER come out with something just as useful for 5e.

 

[Torg Smith]

Yeah, and people have already scanned and torrented the starter set, so the idea that not selling the pdfs will reduce piracy doesn't really doesn't make sense.

I do believe that they are creating the app you are suggesting, but it isn't ready yet. I think that's a bad strategy, releasing the print stuff first, then the digital content way later. This is 2014 and nearly everybody has a tablet/smartphone in addition to a PC of some sort.

Well as far as an overall release, the early release is just under two weeks out. The official release is just over three weeks out. I would not expect digital to be with the early release. We don't know if it will be way later for the main content as in the core books. I am disappointed the Starter Set has not been sold in PDF form, but we do not know if the core books will.

 

[Starfox]

(Re: the PFRPG.rd app) The app is amazingly useful and well worth the price. Basically having a concordance of rules at your fingertips, so that instead of guessing which sourcebook that Witch ability is in, finding it, and flipping through it for the info you want, you just type in the name of the ability, touch it, and there you are.

It has spoiled me, and I strongly suspect enough others, to the point where WotC had damn well BETTER come out with something just as useful for 5e.

Sounds like what you get at a good SRD site. Particularly for Pathfinder; since everything Pathfinder is open, it is all in the SRD, unlike 3E. This is miles and miles ahead of what was in the DDI.

 

[Werebat]

Sounds like what you get at a good SRD site. Particularly for Pathfinder; since everything Pathfinder is open, it is all in the SRD, unlike 3E. This is miles and miles ahead of what was in the DDI.

So, I'm just unaware -- is 5e going to be OGL?

If it is, then a 3rd party could (and most likely will) eventually create a concordance like this, no?

Also, because again I am just unaware -- is there a place I can go to pre-order multiple copies of the 5e PHB? Paizo sells all their stuff on site but I don't see anywhere to order stuff from WotC.

Honestly, I'm excited about 5e, but Paizo just seems to have better business acumen than WotC.

 

[Morrus]

That's... kind of lame.

What about in app form? I play Pathfinder and have the PFRPG.rd app on my iPad and iPhone, complete with search engine. It's a REALLY great resource to have at the table while running games.

I would REALLY miss it if I didn't have an equivalent on hand for any 5th Edition games I might want to run or play in.

(HINT, HINT! Are you getting my hint, WotC?)

Yes, there is an app coming. That's Codename: Morningstar. Lots of info on it roundabouts!

 

[fjw70]

So, I'm just unaware -- is 5e going to be OGL?

If it is, then a 3rd party could (and most likely will) eventually create a concordance like this, no?

Also, because again I am just unaware -- is there a place I can go to pre-order multiple copies of the 5e PHB? Paizo sells all their stuff on site but I don't see anywhere to order stuff from WotC.

Honestly, I'm excited about 5e, but Paizo just seems to have better business acumen than WotC.

You really have no idea where to order D&D books?

Let me introduce you to a diet calked Amazon.com. You can lots of stuff there.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786965606/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Jester David]

We have to get PDFs eventually. It'd be ridiculous not to in this day and age. If not PDFs then some other form of e-book.
I mean, for the PDFs WotC releases (ones without hyperlinks and limited bookmarks) there's almost zero extra work required. PDFs are generated to create the files needed to send the books to the printer.
When they do go on sale I imagine PDFs will be released the general release date rather than the two weeks early WPN stores get the products.

I imagine the holdup is one of legal reasons and the D&D team being unable to get the lawyers and suits to sign off on products that are easier to pirate. It's one thing to sell copies of long OOP book was PDFs, especially when the brand is making money off other people's work, as is the case in any sales of 1e-2e products. It's another for first run books that still need their production costs paid off.
WotC is a company of 200+ people. The D&D brand is 14 dudes. Very literally 90% of the company is unrelated to D&D.
Getting lawyers to sign off on anything is likely arduous. Mearl's sends something to his boss, who sends it to the legal liaison who sends it to the appropriate person who reviews the matter, then sends it back. With a few hours at each step, even if the lawyer is quick and approved things, the process takes two full business days. If the lawyer makes any changes then the changes need to be approved and the lawyer informed they're approved. Each tweak likely kills a week. Then you need approval from upper management which is likely even more slow with even more bureaucracy.

It doesn't help that the legal team and marketing team and upper management are likely slightly ignorant regarding book publishing. Again, 90% of the company is dedicated to card games, board games, and the like with 5% dealing with getting books printed and 5% dealing with licensing for said books.
PDFs make no sense for MtG or Kaijudo. So much of making D&D is likely delayed by explaining the nuances of publishing and the needs of the audience to suits who spend the most if their time dealing with an unrelated product. I'm sure someone high up in a WotC believes annual D&D books, like the MtG core sets, would be a good idea and regular revisions of the core books are desirable...

 

[Torg Smith]

We have to get PDFs eventually. It'd be ridiculous not to in this day and age. If not PDFs then some other form of e-book.
I mean, for the PDFs WotC releases (ones without hyperlinks and limited bookmarks) there's almost zero extra work required. PDFs are generated to create the files needed to send the books to the printer.
When they do go on sale I imagine PDFs will be released the general release date rather than the two weeks early WPN stores get the products.

I imagine the holdup is one of legal reasons and the D&D team being unable to get the lawyers and suits to sign off on products that are easier to pirate. It's one thing to sell copies of long OOP book was PDFs, especially when the brand is making money off other people's work, as is the case in any sales of 1e-2e products. It's another for first run books that still need their production costs paid off.
WotC is a company of 200+ people. The D&D brand is 14 dudes. Very literally 90% of the company is unrelated to D&D.
Getting lawyers to sign off on anything is likely arduous. Mearl's sends something to his boss, who sends it to the legal liaison who sends it to the appropriate person who reviews the matter, then sends it back. With a few hours at each step, even if the lawyer is quick and approved things, the process takes two full business days. If the lawyer makes any changes then the changes need to be approved and the lawyer informed they're approved. Each tweak likely kills a week. Then you need approval from upper management which is likely even more slow with even more bureaucracy.

It doesn't help that the legal team and marketing team and upper management are likely slightly ignorant regarding book publishing. Again, 90% of the company is dedicated to card games, board games, and the like with 5% dealing with getting books printed and 5% dealing with licensing for said books.
PDFs make no sense for MtG or Kaijudo. So much of making D&D is likely delayed by explaining the nuances of publishing and the needs of the audience to suits who spend the most if their time dealing with an unrelated product. I'm sure someone high up in a WotC believes annual D&D books, like the MtG core sets, would be a good idea and regular revisions of the core books are desirable...

Their legal team has already signed off on a plan. They had to establish licensing with all the third party companies a while ago.

They might be looking at a different distribution method and PDFs might be a fall back plan. We have no way of knowing. We don’t know why they don’t want to say anything.

As far as the thieves go, they are going to steal no matter what. The question come down to do they want to punish the people who are willing to pay for their product.