EN World Game Store poll

[Psion]

Other sites have earned my business, and I see no reason to stop now, whether or not ENWorld is my second home. But I'll look around, maybe grab a pick-n-mix or two.

 

[Samuel Leming]

None of the options on the poll really match me feelings on this.

I'm happy with RPGNow. They've yet to do me wrong.

I'm interested in the Blackmoor PDF, but I really can't pick that up right now. Things are a little tight due to some realworld activities. When I finally do pick up Blackmoor I'll probably pick up another cheap PDF or two even if they're available over on RPGNow. The same thing will cut against E.N.World when I buy from RPGNow. I guess I'm just not a very loyal customer.

I like both RPGNow and E.N.World. It's a tough choice.

Now DrivethruRPG is a different matter. I'll only buy there if it's the only source for a product. If I can get it elsewhere, I'll go elsewhere. When they were DRM only I didn't buy there at all.

Sam

 

[Nellisir]

post removed.

 

[Vigilance]

Although I like the portability of PDF's, I believe my money should go to a good FLGS.

Electronic has its advantages, but a brick-n-mortar place is much more essential to keep role-playing thriving.

I have no idea why people think this, and I think it is becoming less and less true everyday.

Everything a hobby store can do an online store, coupled with a chat room for people to meet and learn about new games or learn how to play (including places like ENW) can already be accomplished online.

As the technology improves that will only increase over time- as will people's willingness to let go of the B&M store as the ONLY place where they can browse and discuss games and learn about what's new.

When you combine the fact that selling online (especially if you are buying direct from the publisher) means MORE MONEY goes to the writers of the books you love- Id argue the opposite.

The less this small hobby has to support the dinosaur that is the traditional distribution system the more it will thrive.

Chuck

 

[Samuel Leming]

The less this small hobby has to support the dinosaur that is the traditional distribution system the more it will thrive.

Chuck

I agree.

There's not a single local game shop within 50 miles of where I live. There are four within a 70 mile radius though, but a two hour round trip is not something I'm willing to do every week. Ordering online is the way to go.

Sam

 

[madelf]

I think they have already lowered it to $5 according to this thread.

And RPGnow lowered their minimum to $4.95 back when they did the site split, so the two places are on a pretty equal footing there.

 

[The Black Kestrel]

The only time I'll consider buying from the ENGS is if they have a product I cannot get from RPGNow. This is the same stance I took regarding DTRPG (once they went to watermark versus DRM) and Paizo vice RPGNow. I've been shopping at RPGNow for something like 5 years and I'm unlikely to change me habits.

I have the feeling that ENGS will be viable, but most of its business will come from people new to the pdf market and people buying products that can only be found on ENGS.

 

[wingsandsword]

Although I like the portability of PDF's, I believe my money should go to a good FLGS.

Electronic has its advantages, but a brick-n-mortar place is much more essential to keep role-playing thriving.

I hope the ENWorld Store goes well, because I like ENWorld, but I won't be shopping there (but I won't be shopping at RPGNow or Drivethru RPG either).

I also believe that the FLGS is the real heart of the Industry, and I go out of my way to support mine. There is an excellent gaming store in my city, where I make probably 95% of my gaming purchases.

I already hate shopping online, and generally only buy from an online source if there is absolutely no way to get it locally. I like an actual, physical store where I can examine the merchandise firsthand, browse, see something I might not have known about, talk to a knowledgeable sales clerk, maybe meet another gamer and have a nice conversation. There isn't a single online store that is anything other than a pale, sad imitation of these things.

I also hate buying .pdf files for gaming, for two reasons. First, pdf's are poor for actually using at a game, since it's inconvenient as all heck to take a laptop to a game (it's awkward with a DM screen there, then you have to find a plug since no battery will last the 4 to 6 hours of a session), and printing a .pdf is a nightmare since printer ink is so expensive that it's much more expensive to buy a .pdf and print it than to just buy the hardcopy (especially since often the .pdf costs the same). If it's only available as a paid .pdf, well I guess I won't be reading it. Second, I'm generally opposed to paid downloads, just don't like them and don't feel comfortable with the concept, I like to spend my money to get an actual physical book or at least a physical media, instead of a file, call it my one place I've got the Old Grognard thing going on. If my FLGS had a CD-ROM on the shelf for $20 or $30 with a group of very popular and successful .pdf's that were not available in hardcopy, I'd consider it (still don't like using .pdf's for actual gaming, but they'd be okay as references).

 

[philreed]

I also believe that the FLGS is the real heart of the Industry, and I go out of my way to support mine.

Could you explain why you feel it's the heart of the industry? It has been many, many years since I considered a game store key to a local gaming scene. In my opinion few game stores these days are friendly gathering places; sure there will be CMG and CCG tournaments but they're not exactly friendly gatherings.

 

[RangerWickett]

like an actual, physical store where I can examine the merchandise firsthand, browse, see something I might not have known about, talk to a knowledgeable sales clerk, maybe meet another gamer and have a nice conversation. There isn't a single online store that is anything other than a pale, sad imitation of these things.

EN World has thousands of gamers to talk to for opinions about products, and at RPGNow at least (and hopefully at the EN Store in the future), you can buy print copies of the pdf products, and they cost pretty much the same that they'd cost in a retail store. Most of E.N. Publishing's major releases are available in print, and I know a lot of companies do the same. We just don't have the same level of retail distribution. You can probably get a print copy of something you're interested in, though, if you hear about a book and want to take a look.