D&D 5E Update, see latest post: Players Handbook is #3 out of ALL books on Amazon

[Jer]

Maybe Paizo opted out of showing their ranking entirely.

Given the online discourse, that wouldn't surprise me.

Some Paizo books are ranked though - the preorder for Dark Archive is listed as #119,966 in Books. So it's a bit inconsistent.

 

[Retreater]

Everyone knows that you don't buy PF2 books on Amazon - you make them yourself with the improved crafting mechanics.

 

[Parmandur]

Everyone knows that you don't buy PF2 books on Amazon - you make them yourself with the improved crafting mechanics.

Well, I mean, 5E books also sell like hotcakes at traditional stores, as well as Target and WalMart.

 

[darjr]

I dint think it’s anything nefarious, except Amazon playing around maybe. For instance it’s weird that the one WotC book is in a different category.

 

[Jer]

Also the prices they're asking for some of those books are ridiculous. A used 2e PHB in "good" condition for $75? I can see paying a premium for a collectable (but "used good" is not really a collectible deserving a premium), but I wish there were a way to point anyone who just wants to buy one to use in a game over to the POD copy at DriveThru softcover for just $23 bucks plus shipping.

 

[Parmandur]

I dint think it’s anything nefarious, except Amazon playing around maybe. For instance it’s weird that the one WotC book is in a different category.

I wouldn't say nefarious, but probably intentional somewhere along the line, most likely with Paizo.

 

[Parmandur]

Also the prices they're asking for some of those books are ridiculous. A used 2e PHB in "good" condition for $75? I can see paying a premium for a collectable (but "used good" is not really a collectible deserving a premium), but I wish there were a way to point anyone who just wants to buy one to use in a game over to the POD copy at DriveThru softcover for just $23 bucks plus shipping.

It doesn't get the bulk sales benefit like the 5E books do, I suppose.

 

[CleverNickName]

Given that it's going to be replaced in 2024 that is much better then expected.

"Replaced"

 

[Jer]

I wouldn't say nefarious, but probably intentional somewhere along the line, most likely with Paizo.

I'm thinking Paizo having their own store and putting things into Toys and Games has at least something to do with it, but also Amazon's algorithms are weird. If you look at the "Pathfinder Game" list the top 26 books are not Pathfinder or Paizo books at all, and #27 is the used 1e core rulebook. You have to get to #29 before you get an in print Pathfinder book (and Zweihander shows up ranked at #40 in "Pathfinder Game").

That isn't just Pathfinder either - of the non-D&D games that they have lists for only Call of Cthulhu seems to have a top 10 full of their actual books. The first Savage Worlds book shows up at #24 on the "Savage Worlds Game" list, and even for Warhammer RPG the first actual Warhammer product shows up at #7 and the next one doesn't come in until #31. I suspect that once you get a product that is sufficiently niche Amazon's just not the place where people are buying it. (And let's face it - other than D&D roleplaying games are super niche. I'm actually surprised that Call of Cthulhu's Keepers Rulebook ranks in at #18,998 in Books and the Investigator Handbook at #26,406 in Books. That might make CoC the second highest ranked RPG at Amazon after D&D right now in sales if I'm looking at the numbers correctly.)

 

[Parmandur]

I'm thinking Paizo having their own store and putting things into Toys and Games has at least something to do with it, but also Amazon's algorithms are weird. If you look at the "Pathfinder Game" list the top 26 books are not Pathfinder or Paizo books at all, and #27 is the used 1e core rulebook. You have to get to #29 before you get an in print Pathfinder book (and Zweihander shows up ranked at #40 in "Pathfinder Game").

That isn't just Pathfinder either - of the non-D&D games that they have lists for only Call of Cthulhu seems to have a top 10 full of their actual books. The first Savage Worlds book shows up at #24 on the "Savage Worlds Game" list, and even for Warhammer RPG the first actual Warhammer product shows up at #7 and the next one doesn't come in until #31. I suspect that once you get a product that is sufficiently niche Amazon's just not the place where people are buying it. (And let's face it - other than D&D roleplaying games are super niche. I'm actually surprised that Call of Cthulhu's Keepers Rulebook ranks in at #18,998 in Books and the Investigator Handbook at #26,406 in Books. That might make CoC the second highest ranked RPG at Amazon right now in sales if I'm looking at the numbers correctly.)

Call of Cthulu has long been one of the most popular and generally accessible RPGs, particularly now in the age of Stranger Things and since Critical Roel covered Call of Cthulu in livestream.