D&D 5E Can someone please explain to me why there are still no PDFs for 5e core books?

[TheSwartz]

Can someone please explain to me why there are still no PDFs for 5e core books?

It's March, 2015. I just don't get it... and don't blame the failed dungeonscape thing; we're months past that now.

Getting sick of lugging my books around LOL!!!

 

[Gecko85]

Do what the rest of us do: if you legally own the hard copy, go "find" a PDF version on the Internet. Fair use AFAIK. Just don't do so if you don't own the hard copy. I'll gladly pay for official digital copies if/when they're released, since the scans are a bit janky, but for now it's good enough.

 

[TheSwartz]

I'll gladly pay for official digital copies if/when they're released.

Exactly. That's what I don't understand, wouldn't it just be 'free' money to WoTC?

All they have to do is email the dang PDFs they already have from creating the books in the first place to dndclassics.com and then slap a price on it! lol

 

[Gecko85]

I really think they want an all-encompassing tool, not merely PDF versions of the books. They want the digital rules, character generator, and more...but they had to start over at square one.

 

[TheSwartz]

I really think they want an all-encompassing tool, not merely PDF versions of the books. They want the digital rules, character generator, and more...but they had to start over at square one.

Sure. Well, I'll buy that TOO in a year when (if) it comes out.

 

[Jester David]

Can someone please explain to me why there are still no PDFs for 5e core books?

Potential reasons:

1) WotC is a CCG company and doesn't "get" the need for PDFs.
2) They're worried about piracy.
3) They don't want to deprive game stores of sales.
4) They want to focus digital attention on an app, and don't want to split sales with a PDF.
5) Some combination of the above.

 

[Morrus]

I feel like this is a daily thread!

We're not privy to WotC's decision making process (or product schedule, or anything, really) but the general opinion is - unless someone from WotC says otherwise - pressure from retailers and distributors who think that will undercut book sales

And yes, we know Paizo does it. And no, we have nothing more than armchair Internet speculation on why it's OK for them.

Other than that, nobody had any idea. So guess away!

The one thing it's not is fear of piracy.

I need to save this somewhere for tomorrow's thread.

 

[TheSwartz]

I feel like this is a daily thread!

Ya, sorry, it's just so frustrating. It's 2015 for pete's sake!

 

[DEFCON 1]

Buy a book, take it apart, then scan it yourself. Voila! You have a PDF.

 

[Marius Delphus]

Please be aware that "fair use" (as that term is defined by copyright law) does not apply to "acquiring" illegal PDFs, nor does owning a physical copy of the book make having a copy of an illegal PDF any less a copyright violation.

I'm all for the idea of having an electronic version of the 5E books myself, but let's not delude ourselves into thinking there's some kind of legal loophole or excuse that makes illegal PDF copies any less illegal.