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

[jayoungr]

Not sure why we're debating whether WotC will stop printing physical books. During the OGL fiasco, didn't Cao come right out and say they plan for books to be "treasured collectibles" in future? That suggests that they will continue to print physical books but likely in extremely reduced numbers (and they'll quite possibly raise the prices as well).

I can't seem to track down the primary source for that statement, but it was widely quoted in fan discussions of the debacle. Is that statement in doubt, or do people think it will be walked back in the wake of the backlash?

 

[mamba]

Why would they go at all? Why would WoTC stop selling the product that is most likely to lead new customers to their other content?

they won’t stop it while it is that product

Their VTT could revolutionize the world of gaming as we know it... and it would be worthless in getting a 13 yr old interested in playing Dungeons and Dragons because the kid isn't going to go and buy a subscription to a VTT for a game they don't play.

tell that to computer games, also, you won’t need a subscription immediately, just like you do not need one for DDB to buy books there

 

[mamba]

By doing what? What is WoTC doing, right now, to reduce the revelance of the Core Rulebooks?

get people to see digital as the primary go-to. As I said, have exclusive digital content and increase the print prices but not the digital prices. They have been doing the former for a while, I’d expect that to increase, and they just did the latter for books going forward.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

DND Beyond has way, way higher margins than physical books. WotC would love it if everyone would stop buying physical books (plus they can basically become like Steam by selling more and more 3rd party content).
I imagine DND will slowly continue to transition more towards digital only. They'll probably offer more and more digital exclusives or goodies over time to push things in that direction. Eventually books will probably become more of a collectors edition type of thing. That's still probably a ways off though.

The maps integration is what makes me think about buying adventures digital again.
So now I am torn between German books or dndbeyond.

They could hook me with German books on dndbeyond...

So it does not need goodies. Which I never use. I need functionality.

 

[Maxperson]

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.

It really depends on where you are. I have 11 Barnes & Noble locations within 30 miles of me, 8 of those within 20 miles.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

By doing what? What is WoTC doing, right now, to reduce the revelance of the Core Rulebooks?

Increasing them, by making it easier to get the physical versions early again.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Not sure why we're debating whether WotC will stop printing physical books. During the OGL fiasco, didn't Cao come right out and say they plan for books to be "treasured collectibles" in future? That suggests that they will continue to print physical books but likely in extremely reduced numbers (and they'll quite possibly raise the prices as well).

I can't seem to track down the primary source for that statement, but it was widely quoted in fan discussions of the debacle. Is that statement in doubt, or do people think it will be walked back in the wake of the backlash?

No, a youtuber that was later shown to be unreputable if not plain lying said a source told him that Cao said that.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

they won’t stop it while it is that product


tell that to computer games, also, you won’t need a subscription immediately, just like you do not need one for DDB to buy books there

They probably won't stop in your lifetime.

Computer Games are a completely different thing than D&D.

 

[Hussar]

they won’t stop it while it is that product


tell that to computer games, also, you won’t need a subscription immediately, just like you do not need one for DDB to buy books there

But there is a significant element you keep ignoring here.

Computer games were ALWAYS digital. The only difference between a video game today and a video game in 1982 is that I can now get my video game directly downloaded to my computer. But, at the base level, there's no difference. I needed a computer, a monitor of some sort and the game in 1982. I need EXACTLY the same thing today.

TTRPG's have never been primarily a digital format. You don't need a computer or a D&D Beyond account to play D&D. You certainly don't need anything digital to play most TTRPG's. If you did, then TTRPG's couldn't have existed when they did. Despite there being ZERO digital offerings to speak of, Warhammer Fantasy is still around and kicking.

The comparisons between video games and TTRPG's just seem pretty spurious. Years ago it was "WotC" wants us all to play Tabletop Diablo!" Then it was, "WotC is turning D&D into an MMO!" Now it's, "Look out! WotC is going to go all Electronic Arts on us and start charging subscriptions to play D&D!"

Don't people get tired of being wrong all the time?

 

[mamba]

They probably won't stop in your lifetime.

guess we will see, I would not be surprised to see them phasing books out in my lifetime / the next 20 years