40 Dollar Cap?

[Ruined]

I still involuntarily cringe when I pick up a book I'm interested in and see a $40.00 price tag. It takes me a moment, but usually if there's something worthwhile inside, I'll pick it up anyway. There have been good threads by people like Andy Collins who remind us how much goes into a book like that, and how the price is justifiable. Purchasing one of these just means that I'll only grab one book from the store, as opposed to a few books by different publishers.

And then of course, there's that one moment about four years back when I said 'Sure, I'll spend $75.00 on a limited edition Vampire hardback.' I still don't know what I was thinking. =)
*hides eyes*

 

[Enkhidu]

One of the local sores refuses to sale any RPG books over the price of 30$. Not that they don't carry the high priced books, they just only charge 30$ for them.

Hey Crothian,

Which shop is that? It might be worth the hour trip if I plan on making a lot of large purchases at one time...

 

[Holy Bovine]

I thought of this while recalling Ryan Dancey saying that in the future, the industry just might see books that are upward of 50 dollars.

If you are thinking of the same thread I am (which devolved into an all out flamefest against Dancey and others) Ryan Dancey actually said he could see some future gaming products (not just a single book but an entire 'package'" that would hit $100 or more.

The example I remember being discussed was an entire campaign in a box including miniatures, calenders for the game world, timelines for what actions take place when and by whom etc.

I thought is sounded very interesting and only time will tell if we ever see any of these 'elite' products.

Would I buy it? That, of course, depends on what my needs are and exactly what the product would deliver on.

 

[Storminator]

I still involuntarily cringe when I pick up a book I'm interested in and see a $40.00 price tag. It takes me a moment, but usually if there's something worthwhile inside, I'll pick it up anyway. There have been good threads by people like Andy Collins who remind us how much goes into a book like that, and how the price is justifiable. Purchasing one of these just means that I'll only grab one book from the store, as opposed to a few books by different publishers.

I've cringed at some book prices as well, but you know what? I regret the products I don't have more than the money I would have spent anyway. When I look at my checkbook and decide not to go out to dinner this week I don't say "damn! if I hadn't bought Magic of Faerun, I'd be eating steak right now!"

But I often start working on an NPC and think, "hey wouldn't Path of Swords be great for this guy? Why didn't I buy that again?"

One thing I will say, if people will buy the product, that's all the justification the price needs. Any other philosophy just isn't capitalism.

PS

 

[thundershot]

*cringes at the term 'boxed set'*

Now if were in a sturdy CASE with a hardcover book or two inside, with some specialized dice, and all kinds of goodies, it would ALL depend on the publisher and author.

Which is why now is prime time for publishers to make a name for themselves. It looks like Bastion, Green Ronin, Mongoose, SSS, Fantasy Flight Games, and AEG are the top contenders... at least on my gaming shelf.

I don't think we're ready YET for expensive items, but it should be an interesting road to walk....


Chris

 

[MulhorandSage]

I think it's just human nature to worry about being gouged. I suspect if the average book were $15 and publishers charged $20 for our current $40 book, we'd have just as many complaints.

I'd love to pick up _Nobilis_, _Book of the Righteous_, and _Oathbound_ right now, but my pocketbook won't let me. I won't complain though; I can wait.

Scott Bennie

 

[jgbrowning]

d20 stuff

the only things i buy full price are "must get" for me. (not a lot, i have enough money to buy everything that is quality, but most of it just doesn't intrest me)

other than that i get everything else at a discount. take time, but you have longer to get everyone's opinion about an item.

dont want $50 books. honestly, much of the cost would be art (and the color printing art requires) and i dont like art that much. If i want an art book i'll buy one from an artist.

just me .002$

joe b.

 

[Crothian]

Hey Crothian,

Which shop is that? It might be worth the hour trip if I plan on making a lot of large purchases at one time...

It's called Ravenstone, and I think they are still doing this. The last expensive book I boiught from them was the ELH and I got it for 30$. At the time I thought they were doing a special prmotion, but last week a friend said they do that will all the expensive books. Usually I buy a bunch at a time, so I may have gotten this discount before and not noticed.

If you want you can e-mail me and I can get your their exact address and give you directions if you are unfamiliar with Columbus. You should also stop at the Gaurdtower if you come to Columbus. It'll be on your way and it is by far the best gaming store in terms of selection I've ever seen.

 

[Graf]

moderately OT

(everything else has already been said so...)

As prices rise people will start really utilizing the SRD.

once you have the majority of good stuff out and availible to people there will be a big market for giving people access to that data at a low cost.

 

[cybertalus]

The higher the price goes, the less likely I am to buy a product right after it comes out. The longer I wait the more likely I am to read a review giving it a bad or mediocre rating, which may be enough to make me never get the product.