D&D (2024) The 2024 Core D&D Rulebooks Are Coming In May

21st May 2024 is the official release date!

Update--WotC has taken down the promo image and replaced it with one without a release date. See more here.

 

[Horwath]

Of course there would be. You'd be paying about the same price as two books of 450. Plus two more books the same price. A whole lot of people would view it as a money grab.

just depends on the price then.

If we can expect PHB for $60 and page count of 400-450, or if we get two books of 350 pages for a total of $100, that would not be that bad.

 

[Echohawk]

Cute facts, sincerely. However, I was talking about now and referring to how much they'd pass on to the consumer if they made boxed sets now. (Barring loss leaders like the Starter Sets, of course.)

I know. It's much harder to figure out current numbers, since we only really have the Starter Sets and Essentials Kit as guidance. Those make it seem as if boxes are cheaper than hardcover, but we know they are loss leaders. Comparing Essentials with two of the lower page count hardcovers:

2015
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide (160 page hardcover): $39.95

2018
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist (224 page hardcover with a map): $49.95

2019
Essentials Kit (64/64 page books in a box*): $24.99
* also includes nine card sheets, a (thin) screen, six character sheets, a map and eleven dice

 

[mamba]

Well no they were not forced into it. It was their choice to change the game away from the OGL out of fear it would change, which didn't end up happening, but they still didn't wish to risk it in the future.

That is like saying you are not forced to hand over your wallet when someone points a gun at you and says ‘your money or your life’… Circumstances outside their control triggered this, and they did what they thought was right given those circumstances. It was a prudent move to do so, esp. since they are based on the 3.5 SRD, which is still not under CC.

 

[Krachek]

In may? So we may have now the last UA.
i wonder how they make a UA in 2024, if they want official release in may.

 

[Remathilis]

That is like saying you are not forced to hand over your wallet when someone points a gun at you and says ‘your money or your life’… Circumstances outside their control triggered this, and they did what they thought was right given those circumstances. It was a prudent move to do so, esp. since they are based on the 3.5 SRD, which is still not under CC.

Last I checked, the OGL is still in place and there is less incentive for WotC to muck with it because of the CC. Paizo has opted to remove the OGL for three reasons:

1. It invested a lot of resources into ORC and it would look bad if they didn't use it.
2. They have positioned themselves as the anti-WotC and this is viewed as another Up Yours to WotC by its fans.
3. They don't want to get sucked into any more WotC drama with the OGL and they feel they are popular enough to stand on their own without being "D&D with the serial numbers filed off" anymore.

It's not like WotC would be mailing a C&D or Paizo couldn't sell the Core Rules after 2023. They have chosen this moment to make a public divorce from WotC and create it's own.5 edition four years into the lifecycle.

 

[Maxperson]

just depends on the price then.

If we can expect PHB for $60 and page count of 400-450, or if we get two books of 350 pages for a total of $100, that would not be that bad.

That's a 67% increase, which will raise a lot of outcry. Especially since it's not necessary.

 

[Parmandur]

In may? So we may have now the last UA.
i wonder how they make a UA in 2024, if they want official release in may.

We almost certainly have the last PHB UA on hand, bit they have said there will be some MM and DMG tests, and those are going to be staggered

 

[Horwath]

That's a 67% increase, which will raise a lot of outcry. Especially since it's not necessary.

depending on page count increase I guess.

 

[Parmandur]

depending on page count increase I guess.

No, splitting tjw PHB in any fashion qould go over like a lead balloon.

 

[MockingBird]

Last I checked, the OGL is still in place and there is less incentive for WotC to muck with it because of the CC. Paizo has opted to remove the OGL for three reasons:

1. It invested a lot of resources into ORC and it would look bad if they didn't use it.
2. They have positioned themselves as the anti-WotC and this is viewed as another Up Yours to WotC by its fans.
3. They don't want to get sucked into any more WotC drama with the OGL and they feel they are popular enough to stand on their own without being "D&D with the serial numbers filed off" anymore.

It's not like WotC would be mailing a C&D or Paizo couldn't sell the Core Rules after 2023. They have chosen this moment to make a public divorce from WotC and create it's own.5 edition four years into the lifecycle.

Can't help but to think they might have pulled the trigger a little too soon. Especially given how well the 2e core rule book sold during the drama. I would think some 2e investors might have felt bad hearing a revision was coming right after deciding to buy the book. That's life I guess.