D&D 5E The Printers Can't Handle WotC's One D&D Print Runs!

One of the reasons why the three new core rulebooks next year will not be released together is because D&D is such a juggernaut that the printers can't actually handle the size of the print runs!

Jeremy Crawford told Polygon "Our print runs are pretty darn big and printers are telling us you can’t give us these three books at the same time.” And Chris Perkins added that "The print runs we’re talking about are massive. That’s been not only true of the core books, but also Tasha’s Cauldron. It’s what we call a high-end problem."

 

[Oofta]

Never said every product is supposed to be for me, but I still stand by what I have said about the quality of lore in 5e.

They will never replicate 2E's volume of lore. It wasn't a good business model for TSR. In addition with all the resources available on DmsGuild or for free with a simple google search it's no longer necessary.

 

[Parmandur]

Oh, I KNOW it was a good seller in its day!

It's not just how it might sell that they've decided not to make it, though. I think if their decision was just on potential sales, we'd have seen a FRCG by now. But we know that they've chosen not to do it, for whatever reason.

I think their reasoning is this: Unless they choose to reprint most of the 3e one unchanged, it's a LOT of time out of their writing staff to recreate the wheel. They'd want new art, too - of course - and their artists are working on other projects. They'd have to make it a luxury price-point (or at least close to), not because they'd need to do it to make it profitable, but because it would make their other books look thin by comparison.

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think they should just do it, really. But then, I've ALWAYS wondered why WotC didn't do more spit-polish reprints. The closest they've ever come was Tales from the Yawning Portal, and it was a success.

I thinknthe main reason is that SCAG is still in print and selling well, by the charts (which means that SCAG has had a longer shelf life than all of 3E!).

I wouldn't be surprised to see a new FRCS in the not too distant future, but maybe something like a premium box set?

 

[pogre]

Well, made it through the thread.

I have a confession to make: The first time I read this headline my thought was that this will dovetail nicely with their strategy for pushing folks to go with the electronic version of the new game.

Conspiracy theory nonsense? Perhaps, but you have to admit Hasbro has earned this initial distrust.

 

[Azzy]

Well, made it through the thread.

I have a confession to make: The first time I read this headline my thought was that this will dovetail nicely with their strategy for pushing folks to go with the electronic version of the new game.

Conspiracy theory nonsense? Perhaps, but you have to admit Hasbro has earned this initial distrust.

Considering that they're starting to bundle the digital version with the print version, it looks like they are pushing the digital experience. However,it doesn't seem to be at the expense of the print version.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Considering that they're starting to bundle the digital version with the print version, it looks like they are pushing the digital experience. However,it doesn't seem to be at the expense of the print version.

Well, they are raising the price of the print version while keeping the digital price the same, so they literally  are pushing the digital at the expense of the physical.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

Well, they are raising the price of the print version while keeping the digital price the same, so they literally  are pushing the digital at the expense of the physical.

Pushing the digital at the expense of the physical? Your words suggest premeditated purpose for that reason.

So the reason provided that they are increasing costs for physical printings because of the physical print industry, and they are not increasing the cost of the digital because it is not affected by the physical print industry, is a lie?

Or would you just rather they increase the costs of digital as well, so the two price points are the same, and one is not given special treatment over the other? I can't imagine that being your position because I don't know who would be OK with that kind of needless gouging to preserve the illusion that they need to be the same/equal.

Is everything an angle? Is everything just another conspiracy theory?

 

[Oofta]

Pushing the digital at the expense of the physical? Your words suggest premeditated purpose for that reason.

So the reason provided that they are increasing costs for physical printings because of the physical print industry, and they are not increasing the cost of the digital because it is not affected by the physical print industry, is a lie?

Or would you just rather they increase the costs of digital as well, so the two price points are the same, and one is not given special treatment over the other? I can't imagine that being your position because I don't know who would be OK with that kind of needless gouging to preserve the illusion that they need to be the same/equal.

Is everything an angle? Is everything just another conspiracy theory?

I think that last bit is the correct one. Not only do they not have to pay for materials, storage and shipping of the digital products the dust is probably finally settling from the purchase of DDB. Being able to consolidate the two businesses should hopefully lead to some cost savings not increases.

But none of that supports the evil corporation raising prices for the first time in a decade so that can't be the answer.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think that last bit is the correct one. Not only do they not have to pay for materials, storage and shipping of the digital products the dust is probably finally settling from the purchase of DDB. Being able to consolidate the two businesses should hopefully lead to some cost savings not increases.

But none of that supports the evil corporation raising prices for the first time in a decade so that can't be the answer.

I don't really care. I was trying to make a bad joke and it was even worse than I intended. Sorry.

 

[Mistwell]

No, to be honest I don't think they can win. Too many misteps at this point, though it might be a while yet before it affects what the corporation cares about the most.

So are you saying no matter what WOTC says or does, you will bash them?
Because that sounds like something you should walk away from, for your own sake. If they bother you so much that you'd do that, why wouldn't you walk away and stop even reading threads about them?

 

[Azzy]

Well, they are raising the price of the print version while keeping the digital price the same, so they literally  are pushing the digital at the expense of the physical.

I'm sure the price increases have nothing to do with everything else increasing in price. No, certainly can't be that. It requires some serious mental gymnastics to say that bundling digital with the print is pushing digital at the expense of print. You really need to stop inserting your anti-WotC agenda into to everything if you want to be taken seriously. At this point it's just comical.