GC 2006 - Ptolus Hardback $120!?!

Status
Not open for further replies.
DaveMage said:
Whoever put together the pre-order incentive did an impressive job (IMO).
Click to expand...

Like it or not (and I do), you gotta admit Monte is really pushing the envelope. I'm not a mindless fan-boy of his (if there really is such a thing), but I do like a lot of what he creates. But consider where he is going with this one book (plus extras):

1. Moving past the $100 mark for a setting book

2. Pre-selling the product a full YEAR before it is released

3. Offering an installment plan

Earlier, or in the pre-orders thread, someone mentioned that Monte seems to have a great grasp of economics, and this certainly seems to be true. Consider too that he was at the forefront of the gaming PDF industry, and you realize that watching Malhavoc might be watching the future of the gaming industry as a whole.

I don't consider that a bad thing, since Malhavoc still produces "normal" range products. I doubt any gaming company could live off of only high-end products, and I'm sure Monte is aware of that. Consider too that he has tried some things that did not work out (such as DRM-only PDF sales). But he tries different things, and our hobby grows.

The sale of high-end, high-profit products also gives a company resources and stability, which allows them to try new things and to produce a wide variety of products.

I think I've talked myself into buying Ptolus, if only to tip my hat to Monte for his inovative efforts.
 

log in or register to remove this ad




JoeBlank said:
I don't consider that a bad thing, since Malhavoc still produces "normal" range products. I doubt any gaming company could live off of only high-end products, and I'm sure Monte is aware of that. Consider too that he has tried some things that did not work out (such as DRM-only PDF sales). But he tries different things, and our hobby grows.
Click to expand...
Like I mentioned though, what if producing these types of books removes that material from buyers accessibility? Even if it's profitable, is that really in the best interests of the fans?

For instance, if someone has been salivating over Ptolus since the first ever mention of the setting, and now there's a book coming for it, but he can't foot the bill, he loses out. The book can still make enough money to be a success, while leaving fans out in the cold.

And, yeah, Malhavok is a For Profit company, but it's not like a smaller, $40 book wouldn't have also made money, so I'm not taking some AntiCorp line, just wondering if this book will serve the needs of the fanbase.
 

philreed said:
Isn't it a record for any single RPG product?
Click to expand...


Not sure. Maybe. Although I've tried a few other systems over the years I've never been a big follower of non-D&D games. I would imagine only a boxed-set or special edition (ala the leather bound PH, which I know was $75ish) might come close. Has WW ever tried anything along those lines or SJG? Since this new one will contain more than just the book (DVD?) I guess it would be fair to include any big bundles in answer to my question, provided they were all focused on the same thing and not a bundle of disparate products.
 

Vocenoctum said:
For instance, if someone has been salivating over Ptolus since the first ever mention of the setting, and now there's a book coming for it, but he can't foot the bill, he loses out.
Click to expand...
He can't foot the $2 bill for the 32 page Player's Guide to Ptolus?

He can't foot the bill for the eight PDFs the full book is split up into? Malhavoc sells PDFs for half the cost of the hardback book. So all eight PDFs will run $60, or approximately $7.50 each.

And, again, some of the content, specifically the content above the city, is quite high level. Very few people will need that content for quite some time if they're starting fresh with Ptolus.

The book can still make enough money to be a success, while leaving fans out in the cold.
Click to expand...
Any fan who can't afford the series of nine low cost alternatives ($2 player's guide, and then eight PDFs approximately $7.50 each) is someone who is unlikely to have been able to afford a $40 hardback instead.
 

Mark CMG said:
Not sure. Maybe. Although I've tried a few other systems over the years I've never been a big follower of non-D&D games. I would imagine only a boxed-set or special edition (ala the leather bound PH, which I know was $75ish) might come close. Has WW ever tried anything along those lines or SJG? Since this new one will contain more than just the book (DVD?) I guess it would be fair to include any big bundles in answer to my question, provided they were all focused on the same thing and not a bundle of disparate products.
Click to expand...

For a single product it is the most expenisive I've seen. WW, SJG, Eden; they've all put out special edition books but I've never seen any of them top 75. I've seen collection of books go for much mor ethen this the most expensive beeing GoO who had (and may still offer it) a special price for one of everything basically.
 



Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar Threads

Morrus
Pathfinder 2E Pathfinder 2nd Edition Compiled Info
2 3 4
Replies
31
Views
138K
Rachel Ventura
R
Remove ads

Top