Holy sheepdip - wotc to republish old editions

[GreyLord]

Hmm.

The most important factors, for me are:

1. The older the material is, the more likely I am to be interested in a re-issued/new publication of it. That's not just because I prefer the older editions, but also because used 3e material is mostly cheap and easy to find, but used original D&D rules, or early AD&D modules, are increasingly difficult to find and increasingly expensive.
2. I'm absolutely uninterested in an ongoing subscription to access D&D content. If I have to keep paying to access the content, then I won't. However, if it's a case of subscribe, download content (e.g. PDFs) and keep it forever, then I might.
3. Print is better than PDF, but PDF is better than nothing.

So if WotC releases a bunch of 3e stuff, I'll take no notice. If they set up a subscription model that lets you access earlier edition material, but only while you're an active subscriber, then I'll take no notice. If they release original D&D and 1e AD&D material in a manner where I can pay for it and it's mine, then I'll be interested.

How about a small time fee (let's say $12) to have ALL THE MATERIAL of something every published for a period of 12 months...access anywhere anytime via computer? You can even print it off if you so desire.

Or perhaps instead buy it forever via Amazon for a Kindle, or B&N for a Nook, or otherwise? Limited to one download however (so one kindle or one nook), or maybe two or three.

How about instead maybe to a program that you can install on one computer. You can print, you can save, but you can only install once on one computer. It's yours to keep however.

There's more than simply making someone subscribe to DDi in the limited access arena...are they all equal in how much people hate them?

 

[IronWolf]

How about a small time fee (let's say $12) to have ALL THE MATERIAL of something every published for a period of 12 months...access anywhere anytime via computer? You can even print it off if you so desire.

Or perhaps instead buy it forever via Amazon for a Kindle, or B&N for a Nook, or otherwise? Limited to one download however (so one kindle or one nook), or maybe two or three.

How about instead maybe to a program that you can install on one computer. You can print, you can save, but you can only install once on one computer. It's yours to keep however.

There's more than simply making someone subscribe to DDi in the limited access arena...are they all equal in how much people hate them?

There are certainly other options to provide conent that people might like. And some people would be happy with content accessible via DDI while you have an active sub.

For me, downloadable PDFs would be fine.

Looking at your suggestions above, subs of any sort where I lose access probably isn't what I would consider a viable option. That's just me, I am aware others have no issue with this option.

I dislike proprietary applications to access my content as I cannot be assured it will continue to exist in 2, 3 or 5 years. Whereas with a PDF I have my choice of apps to use to use the content and if PDFs do fall to the wayside in the future I suspect a conversion tool to the latest file format will surface.

Maybe there is a middle Ground in there somewhere....

 

[JeffB]

Another voicing for "no subscription and/or rental service will be tolerated for OOP materials"

I hate PDFs but I bought a bunch of them before for OOP D^D materials, and I will again, if the price is reasonable.

Of course I would prefer print, or the POD option. But I'm not holding my breath.

Actually, I'm not holding my breath for any of the OOP materials, because so far all we have is basically "we are looking into it"..which in corporate speak amounts to nothing.

 

[TheYeti1775]

Thinking on this a little bit, there might be another solution for both sides.

WotC has a need for a continous revenue stream - correct?
There is a segment of the gaming population that wants old OOP material - correct?

Most of that segment seems (IMHO) to agree that a 'rental' option is a no go.
However they are open to the idea of being allowed to download/print on demand behind DDI.

Now rather than full on release of everything and WotC getting a one time influx.

Would the majority of us that want OOP products, be open to the following:

Limited Release each month for download.
This is where say in month one they only offer the PHB/DMG/MM1.
The following month they aren't available but all the A-Series Modules are.

This would offer a many-fold solution in my opinion for WotC.
1. How many of us would purchase that DDI subscription that WotC wants us to be in? I would.
2. The Limited Release would prevent what happened with the Character Builder single month downloader subscribers.
3. With the monthly change, the OOP crowd is continuing to come to the site each month to do a Print On Demand or Download.
That leads them to continue to look around and see what else is available.
4. DDI Articles, a whole new line of material opens up. Recommendations for converting that month's offerings to the current edition. Because we know deep down WotC would love us on the current edition no matter if it's 4th or if it's 8th edition at the time.

Really the only negatives from my prespective as a former WotC product purchaser(RPG/Minis), is that I would have to subscribe for a length of time to see all my old beloved games.
And that's not even that big of a negative.

 

[Umbran]

However they are open to the idea of being allowed to download/print on demand behind DDI.

Now rather than full on release of everything and WotC getting a one time influx.

Would the majority of us that want OOP products, be open to the following:

Limited Release each month for download.
This is where say in month one they only offer the PHB/DMG/MM1.
The following month they aren't available but all the A-Series Modules are.

I was just thinking this, too. "Subscription" doesn't mean "rental". You used to "subscribe" to Dragon in print form, but you didn't rent it. Paizo was using a subscription model for AP distribution, but no rental was involved. I could easily see a "Retro-edition subscription" in this sense.

 

[the Jester]

If they're looking at re-issuing 1e - particularly the adventure modules - in hard-copy print that I can buy in a store, I'm all in!

Yeah, there are a goodly number of old modules I'd love to reacquire. I still have most of the 1e hardbacks, though my Oriental Adventures and Unearthed Arcana are the two books in by far the worst condition that I own. Anything else in that condition I would throw away.

Any format that requires me to do my own printing (e.g. pdf), pretty much count me out; but I can accept that it might have to go this way due to cost concerns.

I'm not interested in paying per pdf, but if WotC put downloadable pdfs up on DDI or something, I would eat that like a nice cut of tri-tip.

Any format where I have to pay more than once for the same material (e.g. rental) and-or can only be accessed online will put me in the pitchforks-and-torches brigade.

I won't go that far, but I will say that it would be insulting and I'd have no motivation to jump at that; in fact, it would be a HUGE disincentive for me to buy back in to DDI (although once the Monster Builder can actually, you know, build monsters again and we're back to where we were a year or two ago in functionality, I'm probably going to buy back in anyhow).

I don't use a computer behind the screen...

Yeah, I don't either. I tried it out for a while, but the screen is somehow too much of a distraction from the group at the table.

 

[Silverblade The Ench]

They do have a new campaign setting they aren't ready to announce. Supposed to introduce a twist on traditional play. Not useful, but I understand not announcing until you're ready

Hoping it's Spelljammer!! And rules for ship to ship combat (ships as single creatures as 4th ed brought in, simplifying the combat thereby, were a damn good idea)

Would kill for bunch of Spelljammer minis/ship decks boards, and pdfs of some classic Dark Sun and other stuff, like the first Undermountain boxed set.

"Give me Spelljammer, or give me flumphs!"

 

[Dark Mistress]

How about a small time fee (let's say $12) to have ALL THE MATERIAL of something every published for a period of 12 months...access anywhere anytime via computer? You can even print it off if you so desire.

Or perhaps instead buy it forever via Amazon for a Kindle, or B&N for a Nook, or otherwise? Limited to one download however (so one kindle or one nook), or maybe two or three.

How about instead maybe to a program that you can install on one computer. You can print, you can save, but you can only install once on one computer. It's yours to keep however.

There's more than simply making someone subscribe to DDi in the limited access arena...are they all equal in how much people hate them?

I know this wasn't directed at me, but since I am interesting in older stuff myself I will reply.

No

no - number two is the only one I would consider and if it was 5 or more DL's I might consider it.

and

no

The other two I wouldn't even consider, unless they was dirt and I mean dirt cheap.

 

[JeffB]

Limited Release each month for download.
This is where say in month one they only offer the PHB/DMG/MM1.
The following month they aren't available but all the A-Series Modules are.
.

what happens if I really want to buy the phb/mm/dmg, but won't have the cha-ching until next month?

What about people who want it 6 months or a year down the road and they are screwed because they didn't happen to even know about "PHB/MM/DMG" month, 6 months to a year ago?

Unless I am misunderstanding you, that model of sale is horrible.

 

[TheYeti1775]

what happens if I really want to buy the phb/mm/dmg, but won't have the cha-ching until next month?

What about people who want it 6 months or a year down the road and they are screwed because they didn't happen to even know about "PHB/MM/DMG" month, 6 months to a year ago?

Unless I am misunderstanding you, that model of sale is horrible.

Yeah it has issues, but that is pretty much throne sitting thinking on it coming up with it as an outsider looking in.
The majority of the crowd that WotC would be targeting with releasing, would be an older more mature crowd who already budget and have expendable income.

But also my model was it was free behind the DDI as part of your subscription fee. I would keep it available if it was on a paid for basis.
I only offered that model (as free limited downloads) for keeping subscribers each month subscribed and not doing like many did with the Character Builder and simply subscribing for one month than canceling once they got it.

So your cha-ching would only be needed for your subscription to the DDI. Unless you were doing a Print on Demand of Course.