AD&D Commemorative Core 3: I Haz 'Em!

[IronWolf]

Yikes. It's a sad day indeed when a company that offers to donate some if its profits to charity is viewed with suspicion.

Eh, there is some pretty decent controversy behind certain advertising/raising awareness campaigns in the US that involve charities that not all should avoid question.

Not saying this one is an example of that though.

 

[mach1.9pants]

[nerdy]I still haven't decided whether to unwrap mine...[/nerdy]

This is my 6th attempt to post (#&$%*%* go slow on ENW):

Unwrap and tell me, does it have the authentic 1st Edition Hard cover smell?

 

[Stormonu]

I've had my copies for over 30 years. So, your acquisition does not impress me.

Mine are even colored

 

[Dragonhelm]

Not suspicion; I recognisie it for what it is -- a marketing ploy. A company can feel free to donate part of its profit or support a worthy cause in other ways. Just don't tie people's custom to that support.

So I look more favourably on companies that make donations to causes without tying it to marketing campaigns (for example, making a single donation to the memorial fund AFTER the books are sold) and/or promote the cause to their customers without forcing every customer to become an involuntary donor.

Consider, though, that such a marketing ploy may generate more revenue than a simple donation. Companies are constrained by a budget and don't just have thousands of dollars to hand out to charities, whether they are owned by Hasbro or not.

Is there a marketing benefit? Sure. That's all part of public relations. Businesses do this all the time. And really, who cares? This is going to a good cause, to honor one of the founders of the RPG hobby.

The books also have two added bonuses for WotC. First, it's an olive branch to 1e fans as they head into 5e. Second, it's a revenue stream in the interim between editions.

I find no fault in this approach. To me, it seems they are doing the most they can for the Gygax Memorial Fund while also doing good public relations and generating a little revenue. Sounds like a win-win to me.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The books also have two added bonuses for WotC. First, it's an olive branch to 1e fans as they head into 5e. Second, it's a revenue stream in the interim between editions.

Which will make Hasbro happier.

 

[Agamon]

The books are awesome! Bring back a lot of memories. The binding is good, the bookmarks and gold foil page edges are a nice touch. I haven't read these since I was kid, looking forward to it!

 

[jefgorbach]

Yikes. It's a sad day indeed when a company that offers to donate some if its profits to charity is viewed with suspicion.

Not suspicion, merely fact.
Send your donation directly to the Gygax Fund and they receive 100%. Donate via purchasing the book(s) and the Fund gets (100-X)% because it requires time and effort on someone's part to collect, track, and ultimately pass-along that partial donation ... business costs that are reflected in the percentage.

Secondly, does anyone know the Fund's taxation status??
Depending on the circumstances/arrangement, donating directly might qualify as an itemizable tax deduction whereas donating via WOTC would not.

 

[dagger]

From this thread:

Dragonsfoot • View topic - [WotC] Reprinting AD&D 1E

The binding

The endpaper

Cover comparison

original interior

reprint interior

back cover

 

[IronWolf]

Okay - the pics are not helping me resist purchasing this...

 

[TerraDave]

the pics are awesome!

anyways, you can also get them online at

Noble Knight Games Role Playing Games - Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition) - Gary Gygax Memorial Premium Reprints

http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/w/...Type/roleplayingGames/dungeonsDragons/aDAndD1