Boxed set versus Hardcover - FIGHT!

[Nebten]

I am going to have to go with the OP's poll answer:
Always liked opening a boxed set...It's like Xmas every day!

Maybe its more nostalgia more then anything, but the packaging was better presented. Most of the time 3 mini-booklets, excellent maps among other goodies. I have the same problem Alzruis with tearing out maps, even out of the Star Wars SAGA books. Great maps, but I just hate tearing them out. I feel that when I am buying a box set, I am buying something epic: Night Below, Dragon Mountain, Forgotten Realms, Dark Sun, etc, etc. Hell even the mini boxes of Spell jammer seemed mythic. I honestly turned away from Red Hand of Doom because it didn't have that feel (not until later when I heard how good a mod it was).

On another note, I would wish they would make the "Power" books softcover. The page count isn't that great and I'm sure it would reduce the cost enough to make the more causal gamer pick one up. I know I would instead of thumbing through one and thinking, do I really want to pay $30+ for this?

 

[Markn]

I like hardcovers in just about every way except one - a box set is just so much more cooler to open up. It really is like Xmas! So I'm split but voted for Boxed Sets.

In fact, when I read that the Giants adventure was a boxed set I was pumped. When I read it was actually a hardcover (earlier today) I was bummed.

I mean, after 9 years of no boxed sets, who was the idiot who put boxed set into the product description? I mean really, c'mon, use your frackin brain!

 

[DaveMage]

Box set all the way - no contest.

 

[Quantarum]

I like hardcovers, but box sets stir strong feelings of nostalgia. All my favorite old games came in boxes. There's no cure for a broken heart or a crushed corner.

-Q.

 

[Treebore]

Depends.

Is it an adventure?

Is it an adventure with a lot of maps and tiles that will need a place to store it?

Is it a campaign setitng broken up into different parts that go into different bookks?

If it's just an info dump like Martial Power, then no, hardcover is great.

If it's supposed to be a mega adventure with books broken up by purpose and several huge maps, and tokens, then no, a boxed set is the way to go.

Pretty much covers my thoughts. Plus boxed sets are usually much cooler.

 

[malraux]

If it is an adventure, and the box set includes player handout, props, fold out maps, set of relevant minis, etc, then I'd be willing to pay above and beyond the cost of a hardback. If the box just holds a bunch of different books/booklets, then not so much.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

hardcovers are fine, but there's nothing in the current market that even comes close to the old boxed sets from tsr.

Cheers,

qft!

 

[JeffB]

I grew up on gazillions of boxed sets (D&D as well as a plethora of other RPGs) so def that is my preference- Love the fun factor of multiple books, maps, monster sheets, adventures, etc In a way it's more convenient for me to use as well

No doubt though practically the hardcover beats the boxed set. Take up less space, everything in one place, and no busted up box corners. But they definitely have far less "excitement factor"

 

[delericho]

In general, I would divide it based on purpose. For rules, I prefer hardcover. For settings, I generally prefer a box.

That said, I did wonder if there was scope for doing a "Starter" boxed set that included the hardcover core rulebook (also available separately) as one of the components. (That is, the same hardcover core rulebook as the 'main' game uses.)

In any case...

Boxed sets +17.5% VAT sales tax.

Books +0% VAT sales tax.

This is a very compelling argument against the boxed set.

 

[Deset Gled]

Boxed sets are much more crushable than books. When stored properly (and manufactured well), I believe books are a better long term investment. Of course, poorly printed/bound books destroy this theory.