D&D (2024) D&D Pre-orders; this is sad

[FitzTheRuke]

This is not really true. Bookstores saw a downturn in the early 2000s and some consolidation and bankruptcies. But more recently Barnes and Nobles has been quite profitable and independent book stores are doing pretty well too.

This reminds me of how people always say that Comics stores are dying. Comics have been "dying" since the '70s! How long does something need to be "dying" for before people realize that it's doing fine? I mean, don't get me wrong - the Comic industry, and the bookstore industry to a lesser degree, has been terribly shepherded - and actively attacked - for decades. But it's not dying. People who are both inside and outside the industry have been trying to kill it, but it's STILL not dying.

The same thing is happening here. People can decry "print is dying" until they're blue in the face, but the truth is - far too many people prefer print books. On top of that, we're beginning to learn that it's not even medically healthy for us to spend as much time on screens as we do. Digital and print are going to be at war for quite some time to come.

 

[ECMO3]

This reminds me of how people always say that Comics stores are dying. Comics have been "dying" since the '70s! How long does something need to be "dying" for before people realize that it's doing fine? I mean, don't get me wrong - the Comic industry, and the bookstore industry to a lesser degree, has been terribly shepherded - and actively attacked - for decades. But it's not dying. People who are both inside and outside the industry have been trying to kill it, but it's STILL not dying.

The same thing is happening here. People can decry "print is dying" until they're blue in the face, but the truth is - far too many people prefer print books. On top of that, we're beginning to learn that it's not even medically healthy for us to spend as much time on screens as we do. Digital and print are going to be at war for quite some time to come.

Most of the bookstores near me are not dying, they are already dead.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Most of the bookstores near me are not dying, they are already dead.

Meanwhile we still have many around here.
Of course today there are fewer stores. But going to a lower level != dying.

This is where math comes in handy. You can draw a curve and then you can project into the future. Does jt twn do zero or towards a different low but constant value? Or is it even a cyclic process?

Of course that is only an estimate and new factors can change that, but at least it is not just wild guessing.

You might have a look into biology. One cyclic process is the predator - prey cycle.
Even though one of those population looks like it is dying out, it is soon followed by the other one nearly dying out and the former one growing again.

(for those follwing the other thread: one reason why math helps being optimistic at times)

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Most of the bookstores near me are not dying, they are already dead.

I now have an account with the world's largest bookstore distributor - Penguin Random House - and they are so terrible at their job (IMO) that I like to make the joke, "If bookstores gotta deal with THIS, then how do they stay in business?"

(Answer) "They don't!" dabumpbump

There's a lot of factors working against bookstores (and comic and game stores for that matter) but the industry itself isn't dying. Even with people (both inside and out) trying to murder it.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

I now have an account with the world's largest bookstore distributor - Penguin Random House - and they are so terrible at their job

So are the vendors libraries use, at least the big dog in the book side of things (and also the next biggest dog last I looked, which was a while ago). The big media vendor is actually not that bad.

 

[Chaltab]

You don’t think every publisher wants to monetize their game if the opportunity exists? Critical Role monetizes everything, would you buy from them? Pathfinder as well but with lesser success but not for lack of effort. For most business it is grow or die so monetization is critical.

I hear that you don’t like WoTC. But they are also made up of people. Talented authors and designers who it would be a shame not to support if you like what they develop/write.

I donut understand why people here care so much about my purchase.
D&D is the biggest fish already and they have put together a very appealing product. I think they'll be fine without me.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I donut understand why people here care so much about my purchase.
D&D is the biggest fish already and they have put together a very appealing product. I think they'll be fine without me.

I don't think that it's so much that anyone cares about your purchase. They care about the community here on ENWorld. It is a vague, not particularly strong, emotional response.

It causes people to try to convince you because they want you to be happy, for the community to be happy, and hope that you will find happiness in the game.

It's both more about you (in that they vaguely want you to be happy) and less about you (in that they don't really care what you do) than you might think.

Everyone agrees that the game will be fine without you - but it seems sad (and unnecessary) for you to boycott it (and tell us about it). Ultimately, you can do whatever you like. But if you just want to quit and not talk about it, there's no point in posting. (So clearly that's not the case).

 

[Belen]

Book stores have been dying for awhile. Same with most print media.

The second it becomes more profitable to release things digitally over printing books you can bet they will do it.

I would hope they might still have like print to order books like on Drivethrurpg etc

I hope there is always a POD option. The fact that Amazon erases your Kindle library of side loaded books if you reconnect to the WiFi shows how poor digital only would be.

I always buy preservation copies of my content.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I donut understand why people here care so much about my purchase.
D&D is the biggest fish already and they have put together a very appealing product. I think they'll be fine without me.

Yup. WotC doesn't need anyone at this site, and a heck of a lot more besides, to "keep the lights on" (as some posters like to hyperbolicly state).

 

[Chaltab]

But if you just want to quit and not talk about it, there's no point in posting.

Bro I never suggested anything of the sort. I love D&D, talking about it and playing. I have games today & tomorrow and I've been generally positive on the revision, especially the art. But between the o5e content I have, A5E & TOTV, I've got more stuff than I know what to do with. I don't need new books.