GC 2006 - Ptolus Hardback $120!?!

[IronWolf]

I think the initial reaction to a $120 book is bound to make one think a little. But if you really look at what the book is, is it really that bad? Say it falls into the 640 page mark, that is about 4 WotC books with their recent release of 160 page books (thinking the Waterdeep sourcebook here). The WotC book went for $29.95 at full retail. So $120 what four such sized books from WotC would go for at full retail. Now throw in an embossed cover, poster map, 24 handout pages, a CD, built-in bookmarks and 300 pieces of art and you are really getting quite a lot in that book.

That's not to say I will be rushing out to buy it right away. But I certainly plan to read the reviews, see what it looks like as it comes closer to release and make the decision then. If the book seems good then I just might pick it up. After all I am one of the ones always wishing the WotC books (expecially the Waterdeep book) were longer and more in-depth. Sometimes that means I have to pay for those longer books (whether its from WotC or another publishing company).

 

[Psychic Warrior]

Holy crapola, Batman! I had intended to buy the book until I saw that price. That is ridiculous! I did not buy WLD because of the price gouging.

How do you determine that it is price gouging? At 800 pages and some dozen full colour maps WLD seems reasonably priced. I can't afford it but I see it as a high end product with an appropriate price. Not gouging in the least.

I am a Monte fan, but there is no way I could ever afford a book that pricey. Heck, I had trouble with the price for Shackled City and I get a hefty discount. My gamestore still cannot sell their other copy of Shackled City. There is no way I could ask them to stock Monte's book.

The publishers may be pricing higher because of Amazon, but these prices are going to kill retail stores and then they loose the distributors!

I highly doubt we are going to see prices spike upwards on the vast majority of products. This is simply another high end product with an appropriate price. You can't buy the Mercedes are the same price as the Hyundai (depite my experience in retail in which everyone wants to).

 

[Lobo Lurker]

Wow....thats definately way too much. Monte can keep my copy (though I wasnt going to buy one anyway). If this is true, then Im done with Malhavoc entirely.

Seriously? That doesn't make any sense at all. A company puts out one ultra-deluxe expensive product and you write off thier entire product line?

That's like saying that you won't buy a Scion because Toyota, who owns Scion, also owns Lexus. Makes no sense at all.

If it's a quality product, I'll think about picking it up. But I generally like what I see from Monte's workshops.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Wow....thats definately way too much. Monte can keep my copy (though I wasnt going to buy one anyway). If this is true, then Im done with Malhavoc entirely.

WTF?

 

[Khairn]

I was so-so on buying Ptolus to being with.

But now I'm re-thinking and considering it.

If the quality of the book, the maps, the support and the content is outstanding, then I'm leaning towards it. But its flavor would have to be a very good fit for my style of play. At the end of the day it will have to make me want Ptolus to be the cornerstone of my campaign.

If Ptolus doesn't make me feel that way , then nope.

 

[Piratecat]

For some reason I thought the normal edition of this book was set for $60-odd as well. I could be wrong.

Folks, please cease and desist with the furry discussion. This isn't the place.

 

[mythusmage]

Fact: Gnolls are dog men.
Fact: Rakshasha (sp?) are cat men
Fact: Illithid are squid men
Fact: Mongrelmen are beast men
Fact: Kobolds are lizard men
Fact: Bulliwugs are frog men
Fact: Lizardmen are lizard men
(all of the above have been listed as playable species)
Does this make Plain Vanilla D&D a Furry game as well?

More a scaly game, what with all the reptiles.

 

[DaveMage]

Monte has a long tradition of releasing books as PDFs.

$120 for a top-end product sounds fair. The RPG Police aren't busting my door down making me buy the thing.

If nothing else, this book will ensure a dogfight for the privlige to be an ENnies judge next year in the hopes of scoring the book for free. I doubt I'll qualify, which is why I am taking the first setp and nominating my Mom as a judge. I'm sure she'll be impartial. Please send all products to my place and I'll be sure that Mom gets them. I promise.

-BG

Actually, BG, if it's a Gen*Con 2006 release, then it won't be up for an ENNie until Gen*Con 2007, which means the book will have been out for 8-9 months by the time the ENnies judging process begins.

However, I hereby support your mom as an ENnies judge for 2007.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I think the initial reaction to a $120 book is bound to make one think a little. But if you really look at what the book is, is it really that bad? Say it falls into the 640 page mark, that is about 4 WotC books with their recent release of 160 page books (thinking the Waterdeep sourcebook here). The WotC book went for $29.95 at full retail. So $120 what four such sized books from WotC would go for at full retail. Now throw in an embossed cover, poster map, 24 handout pages, a CD, built-in bookmarks and 300 pieces of art and you are really getting quite a lot in that book.

And what if you went with the 224 page full color books at $34.95? Then it's three books for $104.85 no?

 

[JoeGKushner]

WTF?

What? You're shocked at the outrage? When I was younger and worked at a gas station, when cigs went from $2.00 to $2.25 I had people cursing me out as if I were the cause of the problem.

People are emotional and see strange signs in the entrails of their pray.