Dual cover runs?

[Umbran]

Here's a question for dual covers: Do you think WotC is wasting their money making both softbook and hardbook PHB?

No. In the past, WotC defined a regular rpg player as someone who played at least once per month. If you're only getting your book out for a few hours each month, you don't need the durability fo a hardcover. I suspect that such infrequent players might well choose to borrow the book of fellow players if they only had a hardcover choice, but might actually buy their own softcover.

And I, as a DM, might well choose to buy a softcover to use as a spare or "loaner" PHB, rather than pay full price for a second hardcover.

 

[Nellisir]

Here's a question for dual covers: Do you think WotC is wasting their money making both softbook and hardbook PHB?

No. I'm probably going to buy the box for the softcover plus stuff. I've had more trouble with hardcovers breaking than softcovers.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

The D&D PHB is probably one of the only products that you could print in both hardcover and softcover without too much effect on profit margins.

Almost all other books just wouldn't have large enough print runs that they could effectively have 2 print runs of the same product and print 50% hardcover and 50% softcover. This would result in the increased costs,and therefore likely increased prices, for both the hardcover and softcover options. This would eliminate a lot of the supposed $5 saving as the softcover would cost almost as much as the hardcover only option would have.

Just my 2 cents.

And personally I prefer hardcover over softcover in most cases. Obviously once the book is below 100 pages then a softcover may be a better option in order to keep the price down. I also don't mind modules in softcover.

Olaf the Stout