Get Rid of Splatbooks Altogether

[Incenjucar]

Don't be obtuse.

A player can just as easily look at a monster manual or DMG or published adventure and do the same thing.

And, easily solved by having an index of the new stuff at the end for the players to view. Lots of RPGs have DM's section and player's section.

Yes, but that is the player actively seeking to purchase DM-specific material.

There is a huge difference between the two.

 

[P1NBACK]

Yes, but that is the player actively seeking to purchase DM-specific material.

There is a huge difference between the two.

Except, if that player is also a DM...

 

[BeholderBurger]

The major problem is the audience generally prefers buying splatbooks to adventures.

Look at the OGL days. The vast majority of 3rd party products were splatbooks,

WotC doesn't sell splatbooks because they hate us. They sell splatbooks because that's what we buy.

One could easily say that we buy splatbooks because thats what they sell. I have many splatbooks of varying quality for several editions but stopped a while back because they became boring and essentially replaced the production of quality fluff so to speak. This was due to decisions made beyond any of our control. Eventually I just felt like some balance should return to the marketplace and I stopped indulging in their splat wares. I am thankful at least that some others also see it this way.

 

[Incenjucar]

Except, if that player is also a DM...

When DMs are also players, there are unfortunate issues like this which cannot be avoided. I don't see a reason to compound the problem by making DMs purchase player material and making players purchase DM material.

 

[P1NBACK]

One could easeily say that we buy splatbooks because thats what they sell. I have many splatbooks of varying quality for several editions but stopped a while back because they became boring and essentially replaced the production of quality fluff so to speak. This was due to decisions made beyond any of our control. Eventually I just felt like some balance should return to the marketplace and I stopped indulging in their splat wares. I am thankful at least that some others also see it this way.

I agree. But, I think we are in the minority (based on the reception of this idea).

I personally never buy splatbooks. The only reason I had access to 4E splat was because of DDI (which also had my DM tools).

 

[Incenjucar]

One could easily say that we buy splatbooks because thats what they sell.

This argument applies equally to any method of releasing material.

"One could easily say that we buy Forgotten Realms because that's what they sell."

 

[BeholderBurger]

This argument applies equally to any method of releasing material.

"One could easily say that we buy Forgotten Realms because that's what they sell."

Your point being?

 

[Incenjucar]

Your point being?

My point being that it is a fruitless avenue of discussion unless we have some numbers, even bad numbers, to show what people would buy if they had a choice.

 

[Greg K]

No thanks. I will take good splatbooks for tailoring my campaign. I will not buy adventures.

For races and classes, I consider the 2e race and class splats dedicated to single race or class to be a good format and I will support them. If the format is either a) the 3e Complete [x] or Races of [Y] or b) 4e PHB2 or Power Books, I will skip them. This assumes that I buy into 5e.

 

[BeholderBurger]

I think fundementally my problem with splatbooks, as a player as well a DM, is that they are full of rather pointless feats and abilities that are rarely inspiring. That is why I eventually stopped buying them. Well thought out spells and equipment I can dig but expanding forever the feats and abilities is rubbish as far as I'm concerned.