Frostburn at DriveThruRPG

[Darth K'Trava]

Last time I checked, anyone with the internet connection to register the product could look up how to defeat the DRM, and still make copies for his 6 other buddies.

You might be tempted to say, "but most users wouldn't do that!". You are correct. Only the unethical ones who then would put the high-quality non-DRM pdf on file-sharing services would do that! Just for spite!

So, with DRM, you probably get the same result.

Or figure out how to change it to a standard .pdf file, then offer it on file-sharing services.

 

[smetzger]

What I would like to see is hard copy manuals coming with software license keys like some video games. Those keys can be used to download a DRM copy from the vendor for free at one copy per license. This would encourage legal sales of hard copy manuals while still allowing for DRM style digital documents.

I would also like to see this.

 

[Felon]

Personally, I think the search and copy-paste capabilities of PDF's are being sold short by a lot of folks.

I don't think presenting a book in the exact same format as the print version is a great way to go though, at least not if it's the only format to offer it in. It really squanders the flexible nature of an online store. I'd like to see some stripped-down PDF's, packaging a book like FrostBurn in chunks that cater to a sepcific interest in the product. Maybe somebody would pay $10 for the 53 page monster section so they could keep it stored online, searching for monsters of a specific type, or possessing a specific special ability. Maybe someone just wants spells, or prestige classes. Online vending allows for that.

For that matter, the material from various different books could be compiled in a similar manner. Imagine getting all of the feats from the various "Complete" books in a single PDF, or all of the PrC's. Might work, might not--why not give it a shot?

 

[Crothian]

Personally, I think the search and copy-paste capabilities of PDF's are being sold short by a lot of folks.

I don't. It can be useful, but usually not. The copy paste is the best, but usually that's to print it out and that's another drain on resources.

 

[cjdc1973]

Any of the other DTRPG files? Or have you only been keeping track of WotC books? The freebies they're putting up might be a target for pirating (they've got Sovereign Stone: Codex Mysterium up for free right now). How about Vampire: The Requiem?

I was referring specifically to the DRM for Frostburn which was the
original source of this discussion thread.

A quick check of the IRC channels reveals that there are multiple versions of Sovereign Stone: Codex Mysterium available as bootlegs. I can't be sure if these are DRM or scans without downloading them all. The bootlegged versions of Vampire: The Reqiuem are both scans and based on their sheer size (146MB undistilled) version 36 MB (OCR).

Jester

 

[Staffan]

Personally, I think the search and copy-paste capabilities of PDF's are being sold short by a lot of folks.

Though Drivethru's PDFs have limited copy-paste capabilities - by default, you're limited to ten of them in a ten-day period, or something like that (though I'm told that Malhavoc's PDFs don't have that limitation - though I can't see why anyone would buy them at Drivethru when they can get non-crippled ones at WW's online catalog). So that argument in favor of PDFs kind of goes away when talking about Frostburn.

 

[Dark Psion]

A quick check of the IRC channels reveals that there are multiple versions of Sovereign Stone: Codex Mysterium available as bootlegs. I can't be sure if these are DRM or scans without downloading them all.

Jester

Considering that that is the free download this week, It kind of kills the bootleggers at the moment. Get it while you can!


If Wizards is going to get in the pdf market, They need to provide new material in pdf form.

There are many ideas that just arn't worth doing in traditional print format, but could be great sellers as pdfs.

Consider a 3.5 update to the 3.0 books with errata as well. I don't want to buy an another print copy, but a pdf, I could go for.

How about an Appendix series? With a new setting like Eberron, create pdfs that are Eberron appendicies to previous books like the Expanded Psionics Handbook, Vile Darkness, and Exalted Deeds. How do these fit in Eberron and how does Eberron fit within them?

Also consider the "spat books", as a print book they are a waste of money, but as a $5-$10 pdf, I would be more interested. And they could do some "niche products" like a Living Spells Monster Manual, A Sorcerer collection ( stuff drawn from different books) or even something like a straight conversion of 2e products (The Illithiad would be #1 on my list).

I do agree that Frostburn is a strange choice for a test run, Monster Manual 3 would have been a better selection, that and the new Eberron adventure module. It would be interesting to see if it as a pdf adventure would outsell the the print version.

 

[was]

pdf's are usually a great alternative to overpriced books.....usually......

 

[Papewaio]

I think it is totally understandable why they went with DRM. Without DRM you go buy the pdf and then share it with your other 6 gaming buddies. And WotC will never see a penny for those shared copies.

The DRM does not avoid that in any way. At all.

 

[Rasyr]

So what's Drivethru's take?

Their standard contract is 30% of sale price. However, I am confident that not all companies have the same rate.