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

[Oofta]

So, how do you think you make people stop buying DnD physical books AND maintain the market penetration of being able to sell them in major retailers like Wal-mart? What is the step WoTC takes?

Make their VTT super super good? That doesn't expand their reach into the general populace via sales in Wal-mart and other major Retailers. And even if you tripled the profits they made digitally... well those digital profits come from fans, and a sale to a wal-mart customer is a potential to make up to 5 to 6 new fans, which may end up buying those digital products as well, making them even more profit.

I just don't see a coherent argument for this until all brick-and-mortar stores across the country go out of business.

Even if they sold books at a loss, a lot of businesses do it. They sell something they don't make profit on because they know the long term profit makes up for it.

 

[mamba]

So, how do you think you make people stop buying DnD physical books

I am not sure they do need to take a step, they can just bide their time.

AND maintain the market penetration of being able to sell them in major retailers like Wal-mart?

not sure that Walmart sales are all that large to begin with. I doubt they carry more than the starter set and the core books,.

As to how to do it, continue printing the starter set and core for now, have digital-only content on DDB (we have that already) and slowly phase out the adventures, eventually drop the corer as well and finally even the starter set.

 

[Joshua Randall]

These models proliferate because they work. Vote with your wallet.

 

[mamba]

Physical media is how WotC makes most of their money, you are assuming too hard.

do you have numbers for that, because I doubt it, maybe a slight majority, but most.... give it a few more years

Nothing is even suggesting they want to get rid of their physical books.

I disagree, WotC says they are under-monetized, I consider that part of their strategy to increase monetization

 

[Hussar]

do you have numbers for that, because I doubt it, maybe a slight majority, but most.... give it a few more years


I disagree, WotC says they are under-monetized, I consider that part of their strategy to increase monetization

I've seen 2014 PHB sales estimates at around 5 million copies. That's 500 000 copies per year. That's MASSIVE and only one book. Never minding the others.

I get that D&D Beyond is a big deal, but, it wasn't D&D Beyond that was doubling, doubling and then doubling again the size of the RPG market in the last ten years.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I'd be interested in seeing how physical books have increased/deceased over the years. Amazon pulling weight?

My local Wal-mart's book section is a shadow of what it used to be. The 3 major book stores are gone, though Half-Priced Books which is mainly used books has risen.

2 of the 3 malls within driving distance are dead or dying. I really need to visit the 3rd see how many stores are open/closed in it.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I've seen 2014 PHB sales estimates at around 5 million copies. That's 500 000 copies per year. That's MASSIVE and only one book. Never minding the others.

I get that D&D Beyond is a big deal, but, it wasn't D&D Beyond that was doubling, doubling and then doubling again the size of the RPG market in the last ten years.

Notably Wizards only obtained ownership of Beyond a little over 2 years ago.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

do you have numbers for that, because I doubt it, maybe a slight majority, but most.... give it a few more years


I disagree, WotC says they are under-monetized, I consider that part of their strategy to increase monetization

They own Magic, Magic is physical cards, this makes them lots of money.

When they said D&D was undermonetized that was in reference to merch, movies, video games and other media as this was before the movie and BG III came out, it was never about the actual game. Getting rid of books also makes no sense even considering that comment as books make them money.

 

[mamba]

I've seen 2014 PHB sales estimates at around 5 million copies. That's 500 000 copies per year. That's MASSIVE and only one book. Never minding the others.

agreed, 5e grew, but so did DDB

I get that D&D Beyond is a big deal, but, it wasn't D&D Beyond that was doubling, doubling and then doubling again the size of the RPG market in the last ten years.

WotC paid $150M for DDB. That is more than they made from all those PHBs, that should tell you something... also, didn't they say they already made that money back? That too should tell you something

 

[mamba]

They own Magic, Magic is physical cards, this makes them lots of money.

they also have Magic Arena

When they said D&D was undermonetized that was in reference to merch, movies, video games and other media as this was before the movie and BG III came out, it was never about the actual game.

sure it is not limited to DDB, but DDB subscriptions and the VTT certainly are a part of this too

Getting rid of books also makes no sense even considering that comment as books make them money.

for now it does not make sense, I am not saying they will do so in 2025