D&D 5E (2024) Lorwyn: First Light Released on D&D Beyond

The D&D/Magic The Gathering crossover book Lorywn: First Light has been released over on D&D Beyond.

Lorwyn-Shadowmoor is a MtG plane which switches between its night and day aspects ever 300 years. Lorwyn is the 'day' aspect and has strong fey influences and does not feature humans.

The digital-only release includes the Lorwyn Changeling (which differs from Eberron Changeling in interesting ways) and Rimekin (an ice-person) species, and two new elven lineages: Lorwyn elf and Shadowmoor elf. Feats are Shadowmoor Hexer and Child of the Sun (tied to Lorwyn Expert and Shadowmoor Expert backgrounds).

You can grab Lorwyn: First Light on D&D Beyond for $14.99.

Travel from the Forgotten Realms into an all-new fey realm with this Magic: The Gathering crossover!

Journey beyond the Forgotten Realms to the beloved plane of Lorwyn-Shadowmoor, where eternal sun shifts into eerie moonlight. Here, you’ll discover new Fey-inspired character options, a rich gazetteer of mystical locales, monstrous incarnations of nature, and ready-to-run adventures.

 

[Parmandur]

We were talking about 5 pages per dollar for a physical book.

If the only way to get the book is as a digital pdf, what would you consider a fair price per dollar in comparison?

Nothing. They go digital only, that's their problem.

For market value, $15 seems fair for the content given the economy of scale for a smaller product, and $25 for a physical book would makd sense historically (and Beyond is deaigned to not undercut thw book prices for WotC side). But I won't buy digital for any format.

 

[Parmandur]

For context on how "predatory" $15 is for a hobby item thst could lead to many play sessions of enjoyment, here is how much lunch is going for in these parts these days (and neighborhood sandwhich shops in Southwest Ohio ain't the Rtiz-Carlton):

 

[Reynard]

I seriously doubt it.

I think if WotC sold PDFs of 5E material it would easily outsell everything else on PDF combined.

PDF is not the best possible digital format, but it has become the standard.

 

[Parmandur]

I think if WotC sold PDFs of 5E material it would easily outsell everything else on PDF combined.

PDF is not the best possible digital format, but it has become the standard.

I mean, right now HTML readers like Beyond are the industry standard for digital RPG stuff: even OneBookShelf has moved that direction with DemiPlane.

 

[Reynard]

I mean, right now HTML readers like Beyond are the industry standard for digital RPG stuff: even OneBookShelf has moved that direction with DemiPlane.

I would be interested to know how you have come to that conclusion.

 

[mamba]

I doubt they would bother for less, nor would I expect them to try.

given that literally any other publisher manages to do so for 50% or less, that just shows how comfortable and complacent WotC can afford to be

I do somewhat hope they find "Beyond only" a failed experiment, but thst effectively also means the death knell of small D&D products, which I am also fine with.

at that price point I am perfectly fine with this experiment failing. WotC can take away whatever lesson they want

 

[Parmandur]

I would be interested to know how you have come to that conclusion.

It's pretty straightforward: D&D is sold on Beyond, not in PDF. Ergo, by volume it is the industry standard.

 

[Reynard]

It's pretty straightforward: D&D is sold on Beyond, not in PDF. Ergo, by volume it is the industry standard.

Oh my.

Okay, well, next time just say you aren't interested in discussing the ssubject.

 

[Parmandur]

given that literally any other publisher manages to do so for 50% or less, that just shows how comfortable and complacent WotC can afford to be

The point of bringing up Paizo's price changes is to show unsustainable those lower prices are increasingly becoming, for everyone and everything.

at that price point I am perfectly fine with this experiment failing. WotC can take away whatever lesson they want

Right, if it fails it is because the market won't bear it.

 

[Parmandur]

Oh my.

Okay, well, next time just say you aren't interested in discussing the ssubject.

I didn't say I wasn't interested in discussing the subject. D&D is the majority of the market, and now more and more third party content is on Beyond. PDF is not the dominant electronic format in the RPG industry at this point, between Beyond and Demiplane.