D&D 5E L&L - D&D Next Goals, Part One

[fjw70]

Do these retailers have anything in the board game isle now that is $50-100? From my memory most things in that isle are under $40. A $50-100 D&D box wwould really standout at that price.

 

[am181d]

Do these retailers have anything in the board game isle now that is $50-100? From my memory most things in that isle are under $40. A $50-100 D&D box wwould really standout at that price.

Yes, they do. The D&D board games (Castle Ravenloft, etc.) are all in that range. But I suspect that D&D will probably eschew maps and tokens (and tactical rules) in the core game, and try to keep the price under $50.

 

[am181d]

Duplicate post.

 

[TwoSix]

Do these retailers have anything in the board game isle now that is $50-100? From my memory most things in that isle are under $40. A $50-100 D&D box wwould really standout at that price.

That's a good question for Next: bargain price or premium price?

Each would draw a different audience. And you can certainly argue that premium pricing will draw the type of customer who is both willing and able to pay for future product down the line. Obviously there would be less ability to draw a larger, new audience, but considering the core D&D audience is aging (and presumably has more spending power), it might be viewed as worthwhile to attempt to upsell to the audience they already have.

 

[fjw70]

Yes, they do. The D&D board games (Castle Ravenloft, etc.) are all in that range. But I suspect that D&D will probably eschew maps and tokens (and tactical rules) in the core game, and try to keep the price under $50.

I was thinking of major retialers such as Target and Walmart. I have never seen any of those board games at any of those retailers. Maybe some carry them but my guess even if some do it isn't a a majoe driver in the sales of those game.

Barnes & Noble is probably the only retialer I would consider majoe that does carry those types of games on a regular basis.

 

[fjw70]

That's a good question for Next: bargain price or premium price?

Each would draw a different audience. And you can certainly argue that premium pricing will draw the type of customer who is both willing and able to pay for future product down the line. Obviously there would be less ability to draw a larger, new audience, but considering the core D&D audience is aging (and presumably has more spending power), it might be viewed as worthwhile to attempt to upsell to the audience they already have.

I don't think it would be a good long-term decsion to focus just on the aging gamer population. I say go low price in the major retailers and then suck the aging gamers dry through the game stores.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

Yes, they do. The D&D board games (Castle Ravenloft, etc.) are all in that range. But I suspect that D&D will probably eschew maps and tokens (and tactical rules) in the core game, and try to keep the price under $50.

I would bet you money that those board games don't sell very well. Just going by my local FLGS and the conventions nearby, not a single one has been sold since they first came out.

I can also tell you that normal Joe shoppers won't pick up a $100 boardgame.

 

[Hussar]

I'm frankly baffled. Do none of you actually do any shopping?

Magic basic sets were mentioned. A Magic basic set clocks in at 50 bucks. 100 bucks for a box of boosters - probably not something the casual gamer is going to start with, but, it's there. Heck, I picked up six Pokemon boosters at Toys R Us this Christmas for my daughters and it was 25 bucks. A blister pack of 3 with a foil card was 12 bucks.

A full sized boardgame box is 50 bucks easily. Heck, video games regularly clock in higher than that. Do people not think that video games sell?

Sure, it's not Monopoly, but then again, D&D will never get sales of that scale to be able to drop the price point that low.

Settlers of Catan starts at about 45 bucks. Number one best selling game for quite a while. Never mind the expansions.

Hundred bucks might be a bit much, but, then again, the D&D name carries a fair bit of weight as well. It's not like it's an unknown name. I could easily see a D&D Game that runs in around 75 bucks though.

 

[Nellisir]

I would bet you money that those board games don't sell very well. Just going by my local FLGS and the conventions nearby, not a single one has been sold since they first came out.
I can also tell you that normal Joe shoppers won't pick up a $100 boardgame.

OK, I don't think anyone except you is harping on the $100 price tag. I said $50. Hussar said $75. For comparison, here are some "basic" board games that you should be able to find in Target, Wal-Mart, Barnes & Nobles, etc. (Except for Lords of Waterdeep)


Settlers of Catan, $42.
Carcassonne, $30
Ticket to Ride, $50
Dominion, $45
Smallworld $50
Lords of Waterdeep, $50
Forbidden Island, $17
Dungeon, $20
Monopoly, $18-$25
Risk, $30-$60

Of these, Forbidden Island is a wee little tin box with a bunch of cards, four plastic treasures, and some little people things. Dungeon is 30 years old and while it's been well-reviewed, I've also seen commentary on the low/cheap production. Monopoly is boring as all get-out. Risk - I don't know about you, but B&N only seems to carry the licensed Risk boxes, like Risk: Halo, and are usually in the $50 range. Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, and Dominion are all "basic" entry level euro-games that are widely popular.

I think WotC is going to make a strong push into board games, btw, so expect them to keep mining D&D for material. And expect a D&D game that will sit on the shelf next to them.

 

[Sunseeker]

[MENTION=22779]Hussar[/MENTION], I have purchased MTG products for years, and its biggest asset is its ability to cater price-wise to both upper and lower incomes. WOTC has even in recent years made it easier for people to get in on the fun as incomes drop and prices rise.A single pack runs roughly 5 bucks.A "fat pack" will run you between 35 and 40.A precon deck is somewhere between 10 and 12.A commander set runs you about 30 bucks(2 decks of generally higher end cards and some bonus goodies.)Other products range from a few dollars to hundreds for those folks buying booster cases.A D&D core book generally rings up between 35 and 50 dollars, putting us pretty far up on the comparative ladder to MTG products. You cannot purchase individual classes, races, powers or anything WOTC could even hope to price closer to MTGs lower end. Asking people to pay upwards of $50 for an introductory D&D product will not interest casual gamers or people hesitant about the product.The basic issue, and the reason why D&D and MTG are incomparable when it comes to pricing is that MTG asks almost nothing of a new player. $10-15 and you're in. If you enjoy the game, the choice to invest is there, but investment amounts are variable and fit many levels of dedication and a variety of budgets and playstyles. Heck "pauper" is a new legal format where you can't play with more than one rare!D&D on the other hand demands massive investment. Spending a hundred dollars on MTG cards will net you a great deal, spending $100 on D&D will get you what, 2 books? Typically you need 3 to run even a simple game! D&D cannot hope to appeal to casual crowds, limited budget players or interest new people when the basic, introductory, and core products DEMAND a hundred dollar and more initial investment.