Book Prices...

[JDJblatherings]

If someone is making that little in the states, IMHO they really need to rethink buying a gaming book.

A gaming book would provide a lot of bang for the buck in the field of entertainment. A lot healthier and longer lasting then a carton or two of smokes and some beer.

 

[Umbran]

Folks, let's leave the politics/Labor Department stuff out of this, please.

 

[Mistwell]

He wasn't talking about 2008. He clearly stated 2007. And you aren't even trying to account for deductions.

Yes, except 2007 is not relevant. Who cares about 2007? He cherry picked a prior year for no good reason. Right now, it is 2008, and right now, we are looking at current prices, and right now, the minimum wage is not what he stated. Going forward is also relevant. Picking a prior year and saying "back then it took longer to earn $20" isn't relevant to this discussion unless you are looking at prior editions (which people have).

I did account for deductions, and I mentioned it pretty extensively. Most DO NOT APPLY to a minimum wage job. You pay NO Fed taxes for a minimum wage job. You pay some SS and other deductions, but it is very low at those levels (and I spelled out how low earlier).

Come on guys, I am a business owner who has some minimum wage people working for him and I run payroll every week. I know what I am talking about. It's not 5-6 hours for $20 in take home pay from a minimum wage job. It's around 3-4 hours, and will be solidly 3 hours next year. That is half the time he's talking about, which is a significant difference.

 

[Darkwolf71]

He picked it for a very good reason. (at least I assume so.) 2008 is not yet over. 'Right now' as you put it, is still happening. 2007 is over and the data is ripe for analysis, it is the most recent 'complete' year.

 

[DaveyJones]

Anyone good with economics/ inflation math?

Were the books back in the 1e/2e era pretty much the same cost as they are now (adjusted for inflation?)

the mm cost $10 in 1977, the phb cost $10 in 1978, and the dmg cost $12 in 1979.

the ddg with the 2 mythos that eventually got removed cost $10 in 1980 at Toys R Us.

 

[DaveyJones]

I thought $20 was expensive back in 1979, I still do.

good thing none of them cost that much then.

 

[DaveyJones]

I distinctly (and fondly) remember heading to the "hobby shop" to grab modules at $6 a pop. Walked in the store with mom and then had to think long and hard to determine just which module I should get - as I'd only get one.

Opening and reading those modules (I rarely played any of them) was...enthralling.

WP

i paid $4.50 for G1 Steading of the Hill Giant Chief that was the cheapest module.

they were $5 until 1982 and then they went up to $5.50

by 1984 they climbed to $6

1985 saw the release of the first mega module T1-4...

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

I beg to differ! I really like a lot of those evocative black and white pictures. Some of the stuff in the 1e PHB is fantastic.

And those pages were dense with material! I'm still getting use out of my 1e DMG to this day (and I'm not playing 1e).

Whereas I don't like the texture of glossy pages, I don't like WAR's art at all (or any dungeonpunk or associated stuff) and find the text about as interesting as washing machine instructions.

"Everything new is bad!"

I loathed 1st edition art. It was frequently on par with the doodles I made in my junior high notebooks.

At least the bindings beat 2nd edition's. I still have a fiend folio somewhere in good shape, but the individual page Monstrous Compendium editions, flimsy boxed sets etc were doomed the moment they entered my gaming circle.

I'll take a 3rd edition book any day of the week.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

You're right, some of it WAS fantastic...
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And some of it wasn't.
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Even the paladin in hell is pretty mediocre. The devils look goofy to say the least.

The macho man mugger is pretty typical of 1e art. Maybe this is what others mean when they say it evokes a story. Why is he on his tip toes? Who knows.

 

[Scribble]

"Everything new is bad!"

I loathed the old art of earlier editions. It was frequently on par with the doodles I made in my junior high notebooks.

At least the bindings beat 2nd edition's. I still have a fiend folio somewhere in good shape, but the individual page Monstrous Compendium editions, flimsy boxed sets etc were doomed the moment they entered my gaming circle.

I'll take a 3rd edition book any day of the week.

The Monsterous Compendium is a mixed bag for me...

I think the concept was a great one, but it failed because of me.

The idea of "mixing" the different sets instead of keeping them as seperate "collectible treasures" rubbed me the wrong way, so I never mixed them.

The idea of taking individual pages out also grated on my nerves... I could bend a page! Or loose one!!! Ohhh noooooo...

But the idea itself was sort of akin to the current online compendium... which is great.