Has the RPG market crashed the $40 product price ceiling?

[johnsemlak]

One of the first RPG products I remember to be priced over $40 was the CONAN RPG from Mongoose. But in general, for much of the 3e/d20 era $40, (US List price) has been sort of a glass ceiling for RPG products, certainly pertaining to that segment of the RPG market. There've been the occasional $44.95 items but the 40 dollar mark seemed to have some psychological meaning to it.

Some recent RPG prices I've come across:

World's Largest Dungeon: $100
Ptolus: $120
Wilderlands of High Fantasy Boxed Set: $70
Shackled City HC: $60.

(I've bought two of the above and will probably buy the other two eventually)

Anyone care to add more?

Questions:

Will this be a sustained, and growing, trend in the RPG market?

Is it a good thing? Why? (The bad thing is obvious--too expensive for some players).

 

[Angel Tarragon]

A Game of Thrones Deluxe Limited Edition - $100.

 

[johnsemlak]

Yeah, I thought of that. I wasn't including 'Deluxe' editions, which are equivelents of products more in line with standard market prices.

Ther'es also the Deluxe PHB at $70.

 

[MonsterMash]

I suspect that publishers will do these high end products if the ones produced to date are successful. If the costs of production don't rise that quickly as page count increases then a larger more expensive product can be more profitable than a few smallish (128 page) books and they do bring publicity bonuses at least currently - after all there is plenty of talk about Ptolus in part because of the price tag.

 

[johnsemlak]

I suspect that publishers will do these high end products if the ones produced to date are successful..

That's anohter question obviously--have the higher-price products been successful to date? I've only seen anecdotal evidence, but the WLD does seem to be a smash hit.

 

[JoeGKushner]

I don't think it's crashed the ceiling yet as far as day to day products go. When the WoTC books at 224 pages at $34.95 hit $39.95, we still won't be over it but closer.

I could be misremembering, but even Warhammer wasn't over the $39.95 price mark no? Nor from what I recall, Mutants & Masterminds 2nd ed.

It seems that the price mark is breeched for larger books like those mentioned as opposed to standard product line ups. Dragon Compendium and Spell Compendium are also going to be $39.95 right?

 

[Henry]

It's not crashed, but it is "holed" in a few places.

 

[Drkfathr1]

It's becoming too rich for my blood. With gas prices up, and the threat of ridiculous heating bills this winter, there's no way I can think of dropping $60+ on multiple gaming products a year. Deluxe or not. I'm afraid that's going to be the sentiment of a lot of gamers. The industry needs to be careful that it doesn't get carried away with this kind of stuff...

But, so long as the regular stuff stays around $30 I'm good. Still not going to be buying three or four books a month, not even going to be buying one book a month, but I can at least stay in the hobby!

 

[Warbringer]

Rant on

With the exception of the mega-productions, it is interesting how prices blew through $19.95 to 29.95 to $39.95, without, in my opinion, no substantive change in production quality.

Now, artwork, binding and layout have improved for many 3rd party producers, but I do not consider this a substantive change in production quality (rather post production).

I know that many want the glitz of full color, well executed artwork, and if a publisher can commit to a production run of 10,000 then those initial costs can be amortized to give a reasonable price point. With production runs in the 1,000s, as opposed 10,000s, increases in
post production quality lead directly to increased pricing.

Why the gripe? Well, the game designer, the primary reason for purchasing the book, is still being paid 3c a word, with increasing downward pressure on that amount. I don't want contnent costing more because fixed price art is increasing the cost of an imaginatitive product. I want more content; I don;t want to see small publishing houses fail because of failed over-produced products.

In short, I don't think that higher prices for "prettier" books is doing anything for the hobby except move the accepted pain threshold for new products.

Rant Off

 

[freebfrost]

This isn't really a *new* trend.

I seem to recall paying a hefty price for one of the 300 copies of the Call of Cthulhu 'Miskatonic University Library' editions during their 20th anniversary celebration back in 2001.

I don't remember the exact figure, but I believe it was $120.