Dragon Editorial: Fearless

[delericho]

Given that kids today have no trouble buying 50 dollar video games, I don't see it. A movie ticket, popcorn, and soda can easily come to 20 dollars -- for 2 hours entertainment. Spending nine dollars more to buy a book which can provide years of play? A no-brainer.

I have to agree with this. Kids will have no problem finding the $35 for the new PHB (or even $105 for the three core rulebooks). The major problem WotC will have selling the new edition to kids will be in making them want it.

The thing is, that new $50 video game is that it is an instant gratification. Those $105 core rulebooks represent hours of reading, further hours of preparing an adventure, a bunch of time creating characters, and then they get to start playing. And a PnP RPG is not the same visceral experience as a video game.

 

[Lizard]

Savage Worlds, Explorer's Edition?

Is that a full color, 230 page book?

 

[The Little Raven]

Is that a full color, 230 page book?

Savage World, Explorer Edition is a 160-page 6"x9" trade paperback full-color (haven't seen the interior, so I can't actually verify what full-color means in this case). However, it was written by a single person (which I find bad for game design, since a "daddy" has trouble seeing flaws in his "baby boy" that are readily apparent to other designers... I've learned this myself with systems I've written for video games), and I see no indication that it employed reputable, high quality professional artists. And then, of course, there's the lack of mainstream marketing and all that.

So, it sounds like the reason it sells for so much less is because it cost them way less to produce.

 

[Imaro]

Savage World, Explorer Edition is a 160-page 6"x9" trade paperback full-color (haven't seen the interior, so I can't actually verify what full-color means in this case). However, it was written by a single person (which I find bad for game design, since a "daddy" has trouble seeing flaws in his "baby boy" that are readily apparent to other designers... I've learned this myself with systems I've written for video games), and I see no indication that it employed reputable, high quality professional artists. And then, of course, there's the lack of mainstream marketing and all that.

So, it sounds like the reason it sells for so much less is because it cost them way less to produce.

First let me say, way to slam a game without really having any facts about it.

Emphasis mine, where did you find this information, as I have found three "authors listed for Savage Worlds...Shane Lacy Hensley, John Hopler and Zeke Sparkes...but I could be wrong so I'm asking. You realize this is a condensed version of the hardback.

Second question...what does mainstream marketing have to do with it, what roleplaying game (including D&D and White Wolf is actually "mainstream nowadays? D&D relies on word of mouth more than any "mainstream" marketing.

You haven't seen the inside, but "full color" may be something else...besides "full color". I'm not even understanding why this was stated. It's like saying 3.5 is listed as hardcover...but as I haven't verified it personally hardcover may actually mean no cover at all.

The only thing I agree with are that it's production costs may have been less because of it's format...but again it doesn't get the type of discount WotC gets on print runs, so...even this may be a fallacy.

 

[The Little Raven]

First let me say, way to slam a game without really having any facts about it.

Slamming it would be "This game sucks

Emphasis mine, where did you find this information, as I have found three "authors listed for Savage Worlds...Shane Lacy Hensley, John Hopler and Zeke Sparkes...but I could be wrong so I'm asking. You realize this is a condensed version of the hardback.

Allow me to rephrase.

It had one designer: Shane Lacy Hensley.

Second question...what does mainstream marketing have to do with it, what roleplaying game (including D&D and White Wolf is actually "mainstream nowadays? D&D relies on word of mouth more than any "mainstream" marketing.

It's a cost associated with producing a product. D&D spends mucho dinero on marketing, while this game does not.

You haven't seen the inside, but "full color" may be something else...besides "full color". I'm not even understanding why this was stated. It's like saying 3.5 is listed as hardcover...but as I haven't verified it personally hardcover may actually mean no cover at all.

I've seen books listed as full-color, and then they have a full color page thrown in occasionally with some artwork. I've seen books listed as full-color because they use a colored ink instead of simple black and white (so, instead, it's red and white, or blue and white).

The only thing I agree with are that it's production costs may have been less because of it's format...but again it doesn't get the type of discount WotC gets on print runs, so...even this may be a fallacy.

I think it's production costs are less because WotC spends more money on development and production than pretty much everyone else in the industry.