I rarely complain about the price of an RPG product but . . .

[philreed]

While at the FLGS today I almost bought the new Star Wars Miniatures scenario book. I _really_ wanted that book.

At least, until I saw the price. $29.95 for a 96-page book -- softcover and with a bound in map and counter sheet -- is too much for me. Especially when it's sitting beside Complete Arcane.

The book looked good but not $30 good.

 

[trancejeremy]

Youch! Though really, I know Spycraft had some $25 96 page books. Add in the cost of the SW License (about $2-3) and the pull out map and counter sheet, and it's about in line.

Still, things are just getting too pricey for me, which is why after spending 'round $500-600 a year on RPG books since the dawn of d20, I haven't bought a single one since late July.

 

[velm]

I have seen a HUGE increase in cost. Just about everything is in the $20 (U.S.) price range or higher. The 'core' books for DND will run $90. So, it is a tough call, spend that $90 to upgrade to 3.5 or stay with 3.
Then there are some of the other things out there, like:
Book of Challenges: Dungeon Rooms, Puzzles, and Traps at $22
Complete Adventurer (due out in 05) $30 (when I read the description, I was stunned. Complete Adventurer serves primarily as a player resource focused on adventuring skills for characters of any class. As adventuring is the foundation for the entire D&D experience, nearly every aspect of the D&D game benefits from the material in this product. will this REALLY be worth $30?)

Characters have access to new combat options, spells, equipment, and prestige classes, as well as exciting new character classes such as ninja and scout. Complete Adventurer also provides new information on several organizations and guilds, and Dungeon Masters will find material for creating or optimizing single creatures or even entire campaign worlds


The list just on and on. I read some of the descriptions for these products and I am just stunned at how outragous the cost is compared to what is inside. I look at the nice large font size, the standard items in each thing: feats, skills, prestige classes. It seems like each and every supplement HAS to contain them. Is that a bad thing? eh, just seems like too many resources to get to if you are trying to remember where you saw a particular skill or prestige class. I am sure, one of these days, they will be publishing a book with ALL the skills, feats, and prestige classes.
With all the high prices, the last time I got anything was at a WOTC store that was going out of business and got some nice deals.

 

[Maliki]

I agree, I used to buy at least 1-2 books per month, just about everything that came out, but after upgrading to 3.5 I havn't bought much. I would like to get MM3 but 35$ is too much for me.

 

[Krieg]

With all the high prices, the last time I got anything was at a WOTC store that was going out of business and got some nice deals.

Which begs the question...What percentage of games are paying full retail price for their books?

With Amazon, Wal Mart, Buy.com, Overstock & the plethora of gaming specific online retailers all battling to provide RPG products at a massive discount how often do we pay "full" price anymore?

I haven't purchased a single book for the list price in over a year. I still spend a good bit at a couple of local stores, but that is primarily on used, out of print or discounted books.

The rest of the time I use sites like Priceowl, scour eBay and keep an eye on the RPG sales forums to find the best price possible.

How much of the recent price jumps is meant to counter massive price discounts at the retailer level?

 

[velm]

You know what, I love the game, I wish I could find some gamers in my area. If I want to throw some new monsters at them, I will just go here, at ENWORD, and get some of the monsters that have been made/or converted or stick with the resources that I have and use the ones from my current stock, or make my own.
I doubt I will pick up anymore MM's unless it is at a substantial discount. As much as I would like to pick up some of the other items, I just do not see it. I think the core books are all that are needed. I still have 3e. I have not upgraded to 3.5. It looks good, heard some great things about it. But that $90 price tag is killing me, at least from the standpoint of a DM, without any players .

(Man, I hate being out here in the middle of no where!)

 

[velm]

Which begs the question...What percentage of games are paying full retail price for their books?

With Amazon, Wal Mart, Buy.com, Overstock & the plethora of gaming specific online retailers all battling to provide RPG products at a massive discount how often do we pay "full" price anymore?

I haven't purchased a single book for the list price in over a year. I still spend a good bit at a couple of local stores, but that is primarily on used, out of print or discounted books.

The rest of the time I use sites like Priceowl, scour eBay and keep an eye on the RPG sales forums to find the best price possible.

How much of the recent price jumps is meant to counter massive price discounts at the retailer level?

That is very true, Amazon and other resources can greatly impact it. But, I still do not like the principle of it. Is it necessary to charge such high prices, not everyone should go to Amazon and other online places? I have often considered going to Amazon, but whenever I do, I just stop for some reason.
Most of the places I have been, there have been very few places to get 2nd hand stuff. There were a few places, then they closed down. I know when I was in Hawaii, there was a place called Jellies, great 2nd hand selection, went there a few years ago, and it was closed down.

 

[Glyfair]

The book looked good but not $30 good.

That was the opinion of my brother & I. I'll wager the cost difference is mostly the cost of the license. The map might be a minor issue, but when some recent D&D products have had similiar things included without a major price jump, I doubt it's major.

I'm very much an advocate of soft cover vs. hard cover products. I hate the tendancy of publishers to release most things in hard cover. For all but the books that get the most use (campaign settings and core books, mostly), I'd much rather have the less expensive soft cover. The extra price for more durability isn't worth it to me.

In this case, however, it's soft cover and just as expensive as equivalent products put out in hard cover. I'd hate to see how much it would have been if it had been released in hard cover.

 

[scourger]

too steep for me, too

I probably would have done it if more than 1 of my gaming buddies was into SW minis. Plus, I want to encourage him to run the SWRPG, not a minis campaign.

 

[Glyfair]

That is very true, Amazon and other resources can greatly impact it. But, I still do not like the principle of it. Is it necessary to charge such high prices, not everyone should go to Amazon and other online places?

The only real reason to raise prices because of discount outlets would be to stop a devaluing of a product. I don't see that being an issue here, not much anyway.

The biggest example of something like happened a few years ago in the video industry. The flood of previewed tapes on the market at low tapes was causing a devaluation of the product. When customers saw they could get "almost new" tapes for $5-$10, why should they buy it at $20? Sales suffered. The industry has mostly dealt with the flood.