D&D 5E Rants Regarding the Corporate Castration of our Beloved Hobby

[Matthan]

The books could come with cards that have a code on them. The code is beneath a scratch-off portion (like those scratch and win lottery tickets), so you'll be able to see if the code has been revealed (which likely means it's already been used). To discourage theft of the cards from the books they should be kept behind the counter and dispensed by the sales staff when a book is sold.

Alternately, it could work like getting a free game with purchase of a graphics card. The code is generated by the register and printed on a receipt. The purchaser then submits the code online and downloads the game.

I think your solution is interesting (especially the receipt one), but it doesn't deal with the four issues that Elfcrusher lined up:

1. Backwards compatibility with already printed/sold books? No, it would only work going forward. You could give codes to folks who purchased through an online retailer like Amazon. I remember when Amazon started giving mp3s alongside of CDs you purchased, I retroactively got access to some. However, I assure you that if they did that, it would be a PR nightmare from everyone who chose to support a FLGS and since Wizards incentivizes supporting the local store through early releases and special covers, they would be attacking their core consumer base. There's not a simple solution here.

2. Not require new technology or training? I'm pretty sure both of your approaches would fail this test. The cards would require training and the receipts would require new technology.

3. Not require expensive/complicated packaging to prevent theft? Both of your solutions solve this. The cards could even be like gift cards that have no value until activated.

4. Work with online retailers? I think neither of your solutions precludes an online solution. You can purchase digital game cards on Amazon that generate valid codes in the same way that can purchase physical game cards. The tech may not be plug and play, but I don't think it would be out of reach.

Personally, I think the biggest issue that folks have with the digital options are the cost. Most folks are willing to pay something. They just don't feel that cost to value is right for them yet especially if they already own the book(s). I understand that and I'm in the same boat. However, I will add that the fact that I do not place the same amount of value on a good as the seller does not give me the right to take that good for the value I want (whatever that value may be, including free). At best, I can wait and hold my money. If the cost of the good drops to a point where it meets my personal valuation, I purchase. If not, I don't. That's the best way that I can communicate my desires on the subject to the owner of the good.

 

[Satyrn]

That would require a TARDIS.

And that's just asking for a Dalek invasion.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Yeah, asking every bricks-and-mortar store in the country to treat this one book as a special snowflake and have cards behind the counter is not likely to happen. More likely is that a lot of those stores...maybe not FLGS's but definitely bookstores...are just gonna not carry it.

Plus there's the backwards compatibility problem.

And charging significantly less for the online content runs into the same problem as giving it away for free: it would cost them a lot in book sales.

I probably should have added one more requirement:
5) Does not alienate bricks-and-mortar retailers.

Look, in general I agree with the sentiments: I would love to play around with Beyond but I'm not going to buy the books a second time. And I find it aggravating. But that's the right side of my brain. The left side of my brain understands why it needs to be like this.

 

[MechaPilot]

Yeah, asking every bricks-and-mortar store in the country to treat this one book as a special snowflake. . .

Ugh. I gotta say, I'm incredibly sick of people referring to things and people (usually in a derogatory manner) as "special snowflakes."

. . . and have cards behind the counter is not likely to happen. More likely is that a lot of those stores...maybe not FLGS's but definitely bookstores...are just gonna not carry it.

I don't believe that's accurate. I've purchased several books that came with digital enhancements from a card received from behind the counter.

Plus there's the backwards compatibility problem.

Backwards compatibility is a problem that's just generally not going to be fixed. It's regrettable, but that's what happens when a company doesn't consider that people might want to access the books they buy in a digital format as well. WotC has generally not been very good at handling the digital end of things, and it's no surprise that their lack has created this issue.

And charging significantly less for the online content runs into the same problem as giving it away for free: it would cost them a lot in book sales.

Would it? As far as I know, it might stimulate people to buy digital copies in addition to their books. The ttrpg hobby is somewhat unique compared to other forms of gaming. Miniatures gaming generally requires physical pieces. Video gaming has mostly reached the point where people are content with digital copies instead of physical disks/cartridges. However, ttrpg games seem to have a preference for owning physical copies (sometimes multiple copies) in addition to digital copies. I think more market research on the ttrpg fanbase is warranted.



Another option is wrapping the books with the cards inside them. Have one sent to each store as a display model that people can look through and that doesn't contain a code card.

 

[Parmandur]

Ugh. I gotta say, I'm incredibly sick of people referring to things and people (usually in a derogatory manner) as "special snowflakes."




I don't believe that's accurate. I've purchased several books that came with digital enhancements from a card received from behind the counter.




Backwards compatibility is a problem that's just generally not going to be fixed. It's regrettable, but that's what happens when a company doesn't consider that people might want to access the books they buy in a digital format as well. WotC has generally not been very good at handling the digital end of things, and it's no surprise that their lack has created this issue.




Would it? As far as I know, it might stimulate people to buy digital copies in addition to their books. The ttrpg hobby is somewhat unique compared to other forms of gaming. Miniatures gaming generally requires physical pieces. Video gaming has mostly reached the point where people are content with digital copies instead of physical disks/cartridges. However, ttrpg games seem to have a preference for owning physical copies (sometimes multiple copies) in addition to digital copies. I think more market research on the ttrpg fanbase is warranted.



Another option is wrapping the books with the cards inside them. Have one sent to each store as a display model that people can look through and that doesn't contain a code card.

One thing it is hard to say about WotC is that they have neglected market research: and their current approach appears to be successful in the market, so...*shrug* Mission Accomplished.

 

[Satyrn]

Ugh. I gotta say, I'm incredibly sick of people referring to things and people (usually in a derogatory manner) as "special snowflakes."

I wish you'd told me this before I named my new Himalayan kitten.

 

[MechaPilot]

One thing it is hard to say about WotC is that they have neglected market research: and their current approach appears to be successful in the market, so...*shrug* Mission Accomplished.

WotC has been good at performing market research. However, WotC has also seemed unwilling to sell PDF copies of 5e books. Consequently, it wouldn't really surprise me if their pirate paranoia impeded their desire to do research on or plan for digital sales.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've purchased several books that came with digital enhancements from a card received from behind the counter.

Ditto. Not just gaming products, either.

 

[MechaPilot]

Ditto. Not just gaming products, either.

Yeah. It's extremely common with textbooks.

 

[Parmandur]

WotC has been good at performing market research. However, WotC has also seemed unwilling to sell PDF copies of 5e books. Consequently, it wouldn't really surprise me if their pirate paranoia impeded their desire to do research on or plan for digital sales.

Or maybe their market research has shown that PDFs aren't heavily desired. They do have digital offerings available for sale of all the books, with more added value than a PDF.