are editing mistakes fixed in new print runs?

[Gotterdammerung]

I've had this question in the back of my mind for a while now. I'm considering picking up Monster Manual III, but after reading the reviews I'm a bit turned off by the editing mistakes.

Does anyone know if subsequent printings of the book would fix these errors? Are new print runs ever officially announced? Or do we just have to download the erratta found at Wizards' site and never see those changes reflected in the printed books?


thanks for any insight,


-eric

 

[diaglo]

DaMage .... (a 2edADnD mistake T$R never lived down)

 

[Henry]

I've had this question in the back of my mind for a while now. I'm considering picking up Monster Manual III, but after reading the reviews I'm a bit turned off by the editing mistakes.

Does anyone know if subsequent printings of the book would fix these errors? Are new print runs ever officially announced? Or do we just have to download the erratta found at Wizards' site and never see those changes reflected in the printed books?


thanks for any insight,


-eric

The best thing to do is e-mail WotC's customer service and find out if (1) there has yet been a second run of MM3, and (2) if the errata was included. Then find out from whoever you're buying it what print run it is.

Two other problems:

1) Their Errata STILL didn't have all the Errata that John Cooper pointed out, if I recall correctly.

2) Unless that book sold SPECTACULARLY well, there won't BE a second print run.

I do believe however that WotC's policy is to incorporate errata in later print runs.

 

[smootrk]

I seem to remember a thread that said that there is a PHB second run that includes errata and how to spot the edition in stores... I do not know of another case, but that does not mean that it doesn't exist.

 

[diaglo]

I seem to remember a thread that said that there is a PHB second run that includes errata and how to spot the edition in stores... I do not know of another case, but that does not mean that it doesn't exist.

yes there was. look for a post by thalmin on the matter.

the leather bound special PHB had the corrections included in the errata.

 

[Ranes]

The core books are reprinted from time to time. Errata are incorporated into this process. These reprints are not announced. I suspect the reason is that WotC wants people to buy books that are still circulating in retail outlets and not opt instead to wait for corrected versions.

Non-core books and other printed products are also reprinted from time to time and the inclusion of errata - where any have been collated - is more commonplace now than ever before, thanks entirely to electronic publishing and pre-print practices. However, MMIII is still fairly new. Unless its sales have been exceptional, I doubt a reprint is imminent. Just buy yourself a 'collector's edition' first print run and dig up errata from here and/or WotC. In ten years or so, when your copy's spine disintegrates off from over-use, you won't feel too bad about shelling out again for a corrected copy.

 

[thalmin]

It was a long-standing policy of TSR to make some corrections in each printing, if needed.
As for the 3.5 PHB, nearly all the books in stores should now be the "corrected" printing. Check the title page. Just under the WotC logo, it should say

First Printing July 2003, Special Edition October 2004

This is the printing of the leather-bound book, and the same used in the reprints that came out in January.
There was a scheduled reprint of the DMG, but I haven't seen that one yet.
BTW, TSR never said what they changed per printing. You had to either compare, or just use the latest.

 

[Ranes]

Right. With a special DMG on the horizon, a reprint incorporating errata is inevitable, at some point. Same goes for the MM, though that may be more than a year away. Even if an optional book sells well enough to warrant a reprint, I'd guess it'll be a while before it happens.

 

[trancejeremy]

DaMage .... (a 2edADnD mistake T$R never lived down)

Dawizard, I think it actually was. (They replaced all instances of "Mage" with "Wizard" )

 

[PatrickLawinger]

reprints

I've had this question in the back of my mind for a while now. I'm considering picking up Monster Manual III, but after reading the reviews I'm a bit turned off by the editing mistakes.

Does anyone know if subsequent printings of the book would fix these errors? Are new print runs ever officially announced? Or do we just have to download the erratta found at Wizards' site and never see those changes reflected in the printed books?


thanks for any insight,


-eric

As people have said above, this is going to depend on how well the first print run sold/is selling. WotC has done some pretty huge print runs for rules books and monster books, partly to avoid having to reprint. When they do reprint, they generally do incorporate errata, (and usually make new mistakes doing it, but we all do that ).

Reprints like this essentially mean going through layout again, but WotC doesn't want to change the overall look of a simple reprint. This means that the layout guys have to incorporate the changes without moving tables or artwork. This might sound easy to some, but it is NOT trivial.

I have no idea how MM3 has sold, I don't know what sort of response WotC would give you if you ask them about a reprint. I don't think MM1 (revised) has needed a reprint so wouldn't really expect anything soon for MM3. Personally, I like MM3. Not excited about some of the warforged based material but I have found a lot of stuff in it pretty usable for my home campaign.

Patrick
edit: 2 hours of karate and I lose the ability to spell, sigh ...