D&D 5E Dragons of Stormwreck Isle: New D&D Starter Set Is Coming This Year

Hasbro has posted a short video which highlights its 2022 portfolio of brands, including toys and games, and in it can be seen images of a D&D Starter Set called Dragons of Stormwreck Isle. The cover feature a blue dragon breathing lightning.

Critical Role's Call of the Netherdeep also appears briefly.

In this press release, Hasbro lists the boxed set with a retail price of $49.99, which seems very high for a starter set.

 

[Rabulias]

Many thanks, @Parmandur ! Looking at it I agree with others that it is a copy-and-paste error from the immediately prior entry for Call of the Netherdeep.

Also, looking at other prices on that release, I would guess that the true MSRP for this new starter set might be $21.99 or $27.99, depending on its size.

 

[darjr]

Gamestadar+ said they have confirmation from WotC that it’s real but no other new info.

A brand new Dungeons and Dragons starter set is on the way

"Dragons of Stormwreck Isle" is the new Dungeons and Dragons starter set

www.gamesradar.com

 

[Mark Craddock]

$50 for the starter set? I wonder if that's a typo?

Anyone know of a Stormwreck Isle?

Material and logistics might have forced the price increases.

 

[darjr]

Material and logistics might have forced the price increases.

The more I think about it the more I think it’s a typo.

 

[Zaukrie]

Material and logistics might have forced the price increases.

No business needs to double their prices due to these issues.

I'm hoping typo. I agree with those that think a starter set should be a loss leader (though, really, they are making money at the current price).

 

[Jer]

The more I think about it the more I think it’s a typo.

If that picture is all of the contents I'd believe $30 given rising costs, but not $50. And I'd think they'd still like to keep it in the $25 or so price range.

I wonder if this is meant to replace the original Start Set on shelves. They're still selling the Starter Set at the local big box stores right next to the Essentials Kit. Instead of there being 3 boxes on the shelf I wonder if they're end-of-lifing the original Starter Set and replacing it with this one?

 

[Sacrosanct]

While that figure can be a typo, I think we should be prepared to see an increase in costs across the board. Over the past year especially, the costs have increased significantly, especially with more publishers going to local book printing shops rather than China.

For sake of illustration (not real $ numbers):

Book cost to manufacture, China: $5 per book, $2 for shipping per book, $1 customs per book = $8
Book cost to manufacture, US: $8 per book, $2 for shipping = $10.

So everyone used Chinese manufacture

Now, price to ship from China increased from $2 to $5, and added a month or two to ship time. Both manufacturers increased base cost by $1 due to rising costs. So now it's:
China: $12, US: $11.

Real cost difference from $8 (previously used China) to $11 (current US) is $3 increase per book.

Those few dollars per book might not seem like much, but if your profit margin after all costs is $2 a book, it becomes a no brainer that you have to increase costs as well.

*Again, these aren't real numbers. I suspect the % of cost increase is more than $3 per book (6% for a $50 book) based on what I've seen. In some cases, I've seen cost of manufacturing increase by up to 20%.

 

[Weiley31]

Despite the term "Dragon" being in the name of the roleplaying game itself, it's interesting that the Essential Starter Kit and now this one both have "Dragon" in the title. Dragon of Icespire Peak and now Dragons of Stormwreck. And then we had Venomfang before but that lacks it being in the title and not being a main focus of the set.

So still find it interesting how there is a dragon theme going on in these Starter kit/sets. I wonder if this new Starter kit will introduce additional classes alongside the ones as a bit of an expanded class range for players, starting out, to choose. Also, if they choose to add Sidekick rules in, then they could have the Tasha's expanded Sidekick Rules in.

 

[Weiley31]

Also: this came to mind when I read the title at first:

Stormwrack - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Morrus]

I still don't see where folks are getting $50 from. If it's a press release is there a link to it?

Cunningly hidden in plain sight in the article you’re replying to.