D&D 5E WizKids Yawning Portal new set

[eyeheartawk]

No need to be condescending about it. This doesn't hold value for you, we get it.

This is definitely a high-end item for gamers who, 1) appreciate this kind of accessory, and 2) can afford it. It's not meant for everybody, not even everybody with the cash to spend. And that's okay.

This holds a lot of play value . . . it's a freakin' tavern for Ao's sake! If you use a tavern as your campaign's home base or a frequent location, the actual Yawning Portal or your own tavern, this can see a lot of table use. And it also would look good as a display model on the shelf, and if that's all somebody wants it for, that's cool too.

Sorry, but I just get so tired of gamers conflating "This isn't to my tastes" with "This holds no real value".

But it's value is not based entirely on being a pre-made D&D tavern terrain, is it? You can build a tavern with a very similar layout with existing 3d terrain products for significantly less than this. It's clearly meant as a gucci piece of D&D ephemera. Which is fine, but saying this is actually $300+ worth of 3d terrain on the merits is, to me, not really based in any kind of reality.

Also, I don't think it's condescending at all to say something is not fairly priced. Determining value is inherently a subjective value judgement informed by all kinds of external factors that are different for almost everybody. To say it's condescending is just really wild to me and I don't get that at all.

 

[Burnside]

No need to be condescending about it. This doesn't hold value for you, we get it.

This is definitely a high-end item for gamers who, 1) appreciate this kind of accessory, and 2) can afford it. It's not meant for everybody, not even everybody with the cash to spend. And that's okay.

This holds a lot of play value . . . it's a freakin' tavern for Ao's sake! If you use a tavern as your campaign's home base or a frequent location, the actual Yawning Portal or your own tavern, this can see a lot of table use. And it also would look good as a display model on the shelf, and if that's all somebody wants it for, that's cool too.

Sorry, but I just get so tired of gamers conflating "This isn't to my tastes" with "This holds no real value".

I wasn't trying to be condescending and I'm sorry if it came off that way. I literally did mean "buy it if it makes you happy, but personally I wouldn't get much use out of it."

I've certainly spent money on dumber D&D things than this.

 

[HammerMan]

I spend money on dumb things all the time

Don't tell my SO how much I spend on 'free to play' games on my phone, but this seems like the price is set so high BECUSE they know not that many people will buy it... Priced at $40 most people who use minis (already a subset even if it is the majority) wouldn't see much use to it, and it would sell low (and I am sure it cost $40 or more to make) so they increase the price... but as the price goes up, so too does the number of people who can buy it go down. (Maybe 90 people would buy it for $150, but 73 people will buy it for $200) It is a dance and an art setting prices for things like this, agree or disagree they think the balance point is $367.49

ironically I think they missed the bus here... if they had made a tile set that came together to MAKE this, but could also make a handful of other bar lay outs they could get much more replayability... but I am not in marketing maybe they figure FR collectors are the ones that it is for.

 

[pukunui]

It's a giant pit. That leads to the Underdark. Very Health and Safety.

It leads to level 1 of Undermountain, to be more specific.

 

[darjr]

@HammerMan from what I know it completely comes apart at the individual tile set so someone could build other, different, things out if it.

 

[Fenris-77]

It leads to level 1 of Undermountain, to be more specific.

Factually correct. Undermountain. From the bar. Personally, I find plain ol' stairs in a bar are dangerous past a certain point, but hey...

 

[pukunui]

Factually correct. Undermountain. From the bar. Personally, I find plain ol' stairs in a bar are dangerous past a certain point, but hey...

The idea is that the shaft is all that remains of Halaster's tower. Durnan, the seemingly ageless proprietor of the Yawning Portal, built the inn around the shaft so he could have a modicum of control over who comes and goes. Also because he's become "attached" to the knot in the Weave deep beneath the earth and so can't bring himself to leave the area.

 

[Fenris-77]

The idea is that the shaft is all that remains of Halaster's tower. Durnan, the seemingly ageless proprietor of the Yawning Portal, built the inn around the shaft so he could have a modicum of control over who comes and goes. Also because he's become "attached" to the knot in the Weave deep beneath the earth and so can't bring himself to leave the area.

Also correct. I wasn't not going into detail because I didn't know. I just find the idea of there being a pit into Undermountain in the front room of a bar quite hilarious (and not in a mean way, but in a very D&D way)

 

[pukunui]

Also correct. I wasn't not going into detail because I didn't know. I just find the idea of there being a pit into Undermountain in the front room of a bar quite hilarious (and not in a mean way, but in a very D&D way)

I suspect it's intended to be humorous. It is, after all, in the same world as the Bargewright Inn and the Way Inn.

 

[Dire Bare]

But it's value is not based entirely on being a pre-made D&D tavern terrain, is it? You can build a tavern with a very similar layout with existing 3d terrain products for significantly less than this. It's clearly meant as a gucci piece of D&D ephemera. Which is fine, but saying this is actually $300+ worth of 3d terrain on the merits is, to me, not really based in any kind of reality.

Also, I don't think it's condescending at all to say something is not fairly priced. Determining value is inherently a subjective value judgement informed by all kinds of external factors that are different for almost everybody. To say it's condescending is just really wild to me and I don't get that at all.

I don't follow your logic. Could you build a tavern diorama in a different way, with more modular pieces that cost less? Sure. So?

This does model a specific tavern, the Yawning Portal. You can certainly use it to represent your own tavern, albeit one with a giant well in the center. The center well could be a tunnel to your own underdark realm, or could represent a fighting pit . . . put something over the top of it, and it becomes a stage.

Nobody is trying to claim this is something affordable to your average gamer. It's definitely gamer bling. Whether the price tag is fair and offers value is subjective. Purchase enough pre-painted modular terrain to build something similar, and you'll end up with a similar price tag depending on brand and quality. If you're willing to paint things up yourself, or better yet, build your own terrain, you'll spend even less.

This diorama is priced in line with similar sets from WizKids and other companies. It's pricy, but plastic had become more expensive over the years, which pushes up prices on minis and terrain. And it's painted, which adds to the value and cost.

If you don't personally feel the cost equals the value for your own needs & wants, that's fair. But to act like it's some sort of rip-off or scam for foolish D&D whales . . . . that's condescending, IMO.