AZRogue said:
This is my opinion completely.
I never, EVER, bought a 3.5 book. Why? Because I already bought 3rd Edition. I was, actually, pretty insulted over 3.5 and my group boycotted it completely. I don't understand why anyone would ever buy something they already own, with just some minor tweaks.
I have lurked for years but don't generally post. The righteous indignation over spending money gets to me a bit, though.
I spend around 14 to 21 hours a month (5:00 to midnight; two or three Sundays a month) with my friends having a good time. I spend additional time reading message boards, discussing the game with friends in person or in email or twiddling with characters.
D&D is one of the greatest bangs for the buck you will get out of any hobby, even assuming you buy pretty much everything they put out. You can pre-order the core collection for around $67. The Player’s Handbook is about $25. Let’s assume you are a fan and you spend $200 a year in books.
You cannot buy Warhammer FB army for $200. I just bought $90 in paint alone.
If you are into video gaming, the “core” costs you $300-ish rather than $70-ish. Each “supplement” costs you $50-ish rather than $30-ish. And you can play for years and years with three D&D books. Try that with $60 worth of Final Fantasy.
If you are into woodworking the table taw is easily two years of your D&D budget. You still don’t have a carpenter’s square, chisels or even wood.
Pity those guys who trick out Honda Civics as a hobby.
My girlfriend spends well over the cost of a PH each month on yoga.
My cigarette bill is greater than one brand new Player’s Handbook a week. The average bar bill is a PH and a DMG.
A movie for two with popcorn and soda is more than the PH.
Know anyone who makes stained glass, collects action figures, refinishes furniture, takes karate lessons or has a subscription to premium cable?
D&D is, in the worst case, very cheap. And that is assuming you buy products as a hobby rather than simply three books for the DM and one book for the players.
Best of all D&D is social unlike most hobbies. Working on the Vespa is fine but I am willing to spend $67 to have some time with my friends, read enworld and look forward to complaining about the next rule’s change.