Dragon 427 posted and Upcoming Hiatus

[MerricB]

Far be it from me to question the integrity of your posterior, but . . .

Suppose the new PHB sells for $35 at a book or game shop.

In general, about a quarter of that goes to the publisher, or about $9. From that money they need to get printing and shipping costs (plus all the other things that a pdf would also require).

 

[MerricB]

I find this to be a sad endpoint for the magazines. A hiatus might mean they really are getting their house in order, and will return with a new strategy and a stronger magazine. I fear that the hiatus really means they will really allow the magazine to wither away internally. As a corporate initiative, unless there is backing for it, the latter is almost guaranteed.

I consider it extremely unlikely that they'll not bring back the magazines. The main reason is this: Dungeon magazine is the most cost-effective way that Wizards have of providing adventures, and having adventures available helps drive play of D&D.

 

[pemerton]

In general, about a quarter of that goes to the publisher, or about $9. From that money they need to get printing and shipping costs (plus all the other things that a pdf would also require).

That would tend to support my analysis, wouldn't it, that a migration of 30% of DDI subscribers to purchasing a Next PHB would not be very profitable for WotC unless that 30% were going to buy a lot of other stuff also.

 

[silverblade56]

Given WotC's track record with alienating business decisions, I wouldn't doubt that DDI will be history right after Next is released, giving 4E fans as much reason to despise WotC as 3.5 fans did with the release of 4E.

 

[Zardnaar]

Smart money will have D&DN material on DDI but if you want access to the 4th ed stuff you will have to pay for both so in effect you may get some D&DN for free or 4E for free.

 

[dd.stevenson]

I consider it extremely unlikely that they'll not bring back the magazines. The main reason is this: Dungeon magazine is the most cost-effective way that Wizards have of providing adventures, and having adventures available helps drive play of D&D.

What are the odds that the mags will be brought back as AP offerings?

 

[billd91]

I consider it extremely unlikely that they'll not bring back the magazines. The main reason is this: Dungeon magazine is the most cost-effective way that Wizards have of providing adventures, and having adventures available helps drive play of D&D.

One would hope they're thinking along those lines, but with months to go until Next is released, you'd think they'd be trying to milk some more value out of 4e players with ongoing adventures in Dungeon. Did the pool of contributors and material dry up that quickly that they can't ride it out? I can't help but think, based on the hiatus decision, that the magazines were a priority for pretty much nobody at WotC. And if that's the case, it's hard for me to be optimistic they'd be back once Next is released.

 

[Stormonu]

What are the odds that the mags will be brought back as AP offerings?

Moderate. WotC did publish several 4E convention mini-delves into a single book (Dungeon Delves, I think it was called), and there's Dragon Compendium I from the 3E days, so they're not against compiling material for sale. However, we probably won't see it until a couple of years into 5E, once they've gotten a lull in their 5E splat schedule.

 

[pemerton]

Smart money will have D&DN material on DDI but if you want access to the 4th ed stuff you will have to pay for both so in effect you may get some D&DN for free or 4E for free.

Yes. I'd be pretty surprised if subscribers could elect to subscribe to only half the database for a discount.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

That would tend to support my analysis, wouldn't it, that a migration of 30% of DDI subscribers to purchasing a Next PHB would not be very profitable for WotC unless that 30% were going to buy a lot of other stuff also.

You're thinking too short term. The point is to lock those people into the new ecosystem. It starts with the PHB, yes, but they want to sell other 5E products ... and potentially get them to subscribe to whatever the 5E DDI-equivalent will be. WOTC won't get that if they can't wean them off of 4E without losing them in the process.