Fourth Edition largely unavailable at Amazon.com

[Nemesis Destiny]

It's probably a strategic move on their part to wean people off 4e, and so there is less confusion in the retail channel about which books to buy. Especially if they don't plan to clearly indicate what edition of the game it is on the cover.

Either way it's bad news for me, since there are still some items that I need to complete my hardcopy collection.

 

[tuxgeo]

Received Murder in Baldur's Gate today via UPS from Miniature Market;
they still had some left when I ordered.

 

[Jester David]

so what is going on? any speculation? are folks completing their collections?

The obvious really: only so many books were printed and they're running out.

WotC tends to treat books like disposable products. Like sets of Magic cards really. They do a print run and when it sells out they can release a revision. Which works for a lot of products but less so for books, especially game books.
That was one of the things they used as a selling feature for Essentials, it was going to be always in print. Which seems silly as their hardcover rule books should always be in print.

Pair this with lower sales of 4e. There was less incentive to get that second run printed when the first didn't sell out. And the newer products were "premium" reprints, which means fewer copies printed (and a higher price).

 

[jodyjohnson]

At GAMA WotC said they intend to keep 4e in print and Amazon has the Core 3 in stock for this weekend (March 21 and March 22).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

At GAMA WotC said they intend to keep 4e in print and Amazon has the Core 3 in stock for this weekend (March 21 and March 22).

It'd be nice if they could bring Dungeon Tiles back into print.

 

[jodyjohnson]

http://www.amazon.com/Dungeon-Tiles...d_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=143N8VS8MAKGDB2GQAVG

Says they'll be in stock Saturday.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

http://www.amazon.com/Dungeon-Tiles...d_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=143N8VS8MAKGDB2GQAVG

Says they'll be in stock Saturday.

The Master Sets aren't the problem; getting the other sets to fill those boxes with is. Many of them are simply out of print, and the ones that are still available take weeks to fulfill for Amazon.

WotC should get back into the business of creating them; they're systemless and one of the few products they can sell to all *D&D players, including OSR and Pathfinder fans.

 

[Anjohl]

I saw that the books were going up in price in the "New and Used" private seller listings, and that most key books, particularly early releases, were only available thusly. I have sold most of my 4th edition books on amazon, many for 2x-5x issue price. All I currently have left is the deluxe slipcase 3-book set and a few odds and ends. I know the slipcase is a collectors item, so I am in no rush to sell it.