[3.5] WotC motivation revealed!

[kenjib]

Re: Re: [3.5] WotC motivation revealed!

And the exsistance of the SRD and its update in conjunction with the release of 3.5 renders the rest of your point moot.

You don't have to buy the books. If you try and say the WotC is 'making' you buy new books I will have to gouge out your heart with an oyster fork

WotC does not release the SRD as an alternative to purchasing the books. In fact, I'm fairly certain that WotC only released the SRD based on the wager that almost everyone would buy the books instead. Otherwise they wouldn't have released it. It just so happens to be a bet that they've won too.

You can argue that individuals can use the SRD, but I don't think it's fair to argue that release of the SRD indicates the WotC is not trying to make profit from releasing the books first and foremost.

 

[Anubis the Doomseer]

I have trouble with this theory, simply because they are also taking a very big risk. If 3.5 bombs, then what? Printing costs are up front. Development costs are up front. Design costs are up front. They could lose their shirts if no one wanted this product.

That's what marketing is for.

Slow leak of popular changes, ramp up the artwork in the ads (if not the product) - just remember how many people were psyched for the new edition after that 3-page spread in Dragon with the new iconics and the pit fiend.

Put it out throu major distributors and big box websites, with their hefty discounts it becomes a number 1 bestseller, that in and of itself will generate more sales.

Then, let's not forget the fact that they hold the SRD and the OGL - anyone wanting to be compatible will have to have a copy, that generates more sales. And when you see your favourite 3rd party saying all products will be 3.5 compat. then you find yourself faced with the prospect of either upgrading as well or trying to reverse engineer everything yourself.

In other words, in many ways 3.5 is to the 3.0 crowd what d20OGL was for non-d20 fans, only without the option of parallel-systeming/dual-statting. Update, support and thrive or stay behind, abandon and suffer - it's a false dichotomy but it is the dichotomy that the Hasbro marketing engine (and Monte Cook, and Sean Reynolds, and others) have been putting forth.

- Ma'at

 

[Trickstergod]

You know what, that's just a bad business practice.

It's not good for WotC, and not good for Enworld, or the gaming community in general.

If Wizards keep publishing new Core books with the main motivation of profit, as opposed to fixing problems from previous editions, eventually, people will wise up and stop buying their books. I'm not shelling out my cash just to keep Wizards afloat. If the new books are worthwhile to purchase, I'll purchase them. On the other hand, if I don't think they're necessary, Wizards can go soak their heads if they think I'm going to waste my money on an unnecessary revision.

RPG's are not Magic. Nor are they cars. I'll buy something that's an improvement, not a "revitalization." Quality is what grabs my interest and money, not some zombie-like need to support a company which begins churning out crap, even if their previous products have been good. I want something new, not a rehashing of an old, third edition product. Put out third edition Planescape. Give me a guide on running a low-magic game. Churn out something different, that's never been seen before, something original, creative. Don't make me repurchase the same, essential product every three-four years, because I'm not going to do it unless I felt the original one was clearly inferior and needed revamping. That manner of marketing certainly isn't good for us; it's a waste of our money to support.

Thankfully, they're offering the SRD up for free. But it still stands that their motivation is bull, and shouldn't be encouraged.

I want D&D to make money, but I'm not going to mindlessly throw it away for them. An unnecessary revision isn't going to win me over. If the plan is to put out "3.5" now, then 4th edition a few years down the line, then that's a bad plan, not a good one.

 

[Anubis the Doomseer]

Originally posted by Trickstergod
If Wizards keep publishing new Core books with the main motivation of profit, as opposed to fixing problems from previous editions, eventually, people will wise up and stop buying their books.

Hasn't happened yet in the auto industry, the defense/weapons industry, politics, the stock market, miniture games, CCGs, etc.

Never discount the power of telling people to suck it up... and for people to whine and complain...and comply anyway.

- Ma'at

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

*SHOCK*

The primary motivation of a for-profit corporation is to, *gasp*, make a profit? Run for the hills!

Boy, I'm glad you figured that out. Now I just hope it's not too late to put on my tinfoil hat and resist the WoTC mind-control-sattelites.

 

[WinnipegDragon]

That's what marketing is for.

Slow leak of popular changes, ramp up the artwork in the ads (if not the product) - just remember how many people were psyched for the new edition after that 3-page spread in Dragon with the new iconics and the pit fiend.

Put it out throu major distributors and big box websites, with their hefty discounts it becomes a number 1 bestseller, that in and of itself will generate more sales.

So basically, as I said, it's a successful product.

I guess I just can't understand the furor that arises from this. 3.0 splatbooks and third party books are going to be highly, if not completely, compatible. NPCs might change according to the new rules, but if your prime villian is a 20th level 3.0 cleric, do you really need to change it? Is anyone going to look at the villian and start ranting that it doesn't comform to 3.5 standards?

The anti-3.5 camp's arguments can basically be summed up thusly:

- How dare they make a new version that I have the option of buying!
- How dare they make money to stay in business!

Bottom line, you don't HAVE to buy 3.5. If it succeeds how are you personally affected?

 

[Arnwyn]

And the exsistance of the SRD and its update in conjunction with the release of 3.5 renders the rest of your point moot.

Nice try, but a fallacy. The SRD is woefully incomplete, available to a lesser audience (ie. internet users), and for the most part not sufficient to run a satisfying game (exceptions exist, of course, but they are, IMNSHO, clearly exceptions). kenjib makes a very good argument, above - the sales of the 3.0 hardcovers pretty much proves that (again, IMO).

But agreed, they are not "making" you buy anything.

so, no possibility oin the interest of game evolution?

improvement?

quality product?

remember, the vast majority of people in "the field" aren't exactly raking it in. money is a consideration, but to hold it out as the only motivating factor is, imho, a gross oversimplification.

An "oversimplification" that fits rather well. The motivating factor for WotC (not the "majority of people in 'the field'") is, without a doubt, profit. (And good for them - it'd be a pretty lousy business if it were anything else.) Now, if improvement and quality will lead to the increased profit, then excellent. But that is, in fact, not a necessity (just making it "different" is sometimes enough). Thankfully, though, improvement is usually the case... but certainly not in any way, shape, or form the motivating factor.

 

[spacecrime.com]

If 3.5 bombs, then what? Printing costs are up front.

Keep in mind that even if they never did another update, they'd still have to print more of the old books.

And it's not like they're going to sell *less* of 3.5 than they would of 3.0. Even if nobody at all bought an upgrade copy, the kid who walks into my store in two weeks needing a PHB is going to buy it. He doesn't care if it's 3.0, 3.5 or the Dead Sheep Edition as long as he can sit down and roll up Badaxe the Fighter with it.

cheers,

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

. Looks like I'm switching to Hackmaster.

I'm just going to stick with 3.0 or go back to my 1e books when the current game is over, which I pefer stylewise as it is. I'm not buying into the Games Workshopization of D&D. Don't like it, won't support it. And since I don't want to do conversion work I'll be skipping the 3rd party books I may have bought for 3.0 that come out.

Every 2-3 years I'll have a new huge pile of hardcover WOTC & D20 books that are now out of date with the new version? If gamers are content to buy into that fine, but I'm not.

 

[Ysgarran]

Re: Re: [3.5] WotC motivation revealed!

You don't have to buy the books. If you try and say the WotC is 'making' you buy new books I will have to gouge out your heart with an oyster fork

Just of curiosity has anyone actually said this?

Ysgarran.