D&D 5E [Merged] D&D Next/5E Release Schedule Threads

[Mistwell]

I don't disagree with any of this.

I think the mostly natural and likely way to read his comment is that the chargen rules are in the boxed set itself. Might not be, but I think you're read of it seems less likely. Regardless I asked him on twitter, let's see if he clarifies.

 

[Callahan09]

For the 5e PHB/DMG/MM from amazon you will now have to pay 3x40$ = 120$, while the 4e Core rulebook set for 4e PHB/DMG/MM cost 67$. That's quite a jump in price if you ask me. Earlier I haven't really been too worried about the 5e pricing, because it's the discounted price I will end up paying, but a 80% price hike between editions is a lot. It might be worth it if the quality is good.

I agree it's a big jump, and frankly, I just don't get it.

In 2003, the 320pp Player's Handbook for 3.5 came out at $30.
In 2008, the 320pp Player's Handbook for 4e came out at $35.

Both of those come out to right around $38.50 in today's dollars.

Presently, the 320pp Advanced Player's Guide for Pathfinder is priced at $40. That's right there in line with the prices in 2008 and 2003.

So why now is Wizards up-jumping this price to $50? In all seriousness, this is the first major price increase in the cost of RPG books that we've seen, perhaps ever, when adjusting for inflation.

For more reflection:

In 1989, the 255pp AD&D 2e Player's Handbook was released for $20, which is about $38 in today's dollars. That makes it actually more expensive than later editions considering it was a smaller book.

And in 1978, the 128pp AD&D 1e Player's Handbook had it's first printing at a price of $12, which is over $43 in today's dollars, which makes it by far the most expensive era to enter into D&D when you consider the page count.

We had pretty steadily dropping prices (inflation adjusted) until 3rd edition came out, and then we have retained about equal prices (inflation adjusted again, of course) for nearly a decade and a half since then, and finally we're having our first major price increase in the barrier to entry for starting D&D, just after the 40th anniversary of the franchise. Does this concern anyone else that Wizards is raising the price now? Is there any good reason to do so? Don't they fear a tough time competing in the space with a more expensive barrier to entry than the competition?

Am I just looking at this the wrong way?

(For me, a $50 price tag on a beautiful hardbound book in the D&D series, which I collect, is something I'm personally willing to pay... it just seems like a bad precedent to me, though, regardless of the fact that I'm going to buy it. Maybe everyone else is sort of like me... don't care for the price, but will buy it anyway, in which case, I guess that makes Wizards look like geniuses!)

 

[Callahan09]

Loving the art on all the books, loving the new logo, loving the ampersand.

 

[Mistwell]

Am I just looking at this the wrong way?

I think the relative low number of responses you are getting is because we've kinda discussed the price topic to death (or at least a bloody lot) to this point, since Barnes and Noble leaked the price months ago. We've had price comparison and inflation adjusted charts on every edition already, and comparison to other products, and analysis of the price increases in the publishing and printing industry, and considerations of industry leader pricing, and comparison to other entertainment prices, and comparison to PDFs and other online offerings, and pretty much the whole kit and kaboodle in comparisons and analysis.

Some people agree with you that it's an unreasonable jump in price, others do not, but most have expressed their opinion on it a lot already. So, it's not that you're looking at it the wrong way, just that everyone is sort of already adjusted to the fact one way or the other by now.

 

[I'm A Banana]

(Yeah, I'm late to the party this morning. . . .)

Obligatory spelling nitpick: The first listed product, "Icons of the Realms: Starter Set" lists an included "halfling rouge" [sic].
Does WotC still not know the difference between "rogue" and "rouge?"

Probably more likely that characters in 5e are really into aesthetics.

Halfling Rouge. Dwarven Hair Extensions. Elven Natural Avacado Masque. Drow Moisturizing Body Cream. Beholder's Tears Eye Drops.

Screw movies and videogames, the D&D Beauty Kit will get pseudo-medieval on your wrinkles and leave your face looking fresher than that of an Expensive Doxy! Let no Reaction Roll on a Random Encounter with other people go un-adjusted! The D&D Beauty Kit: Give Your Comeliness a +5 Bonus!

 

[delericho]

I agree it's a big jump, and frankly, I just don't get it.

In 2003, the 320pp Player's Handbook for 3.5 came out at $30.
In 2008, the 320pp Player's Handbook for 4e came out at $35.

I put together a list of the editions with their prices at release and adjusted for inflation. It can be found here.

And in 1978, the 128pp AD&D 1e Player's Handbook had it's first printing at a price of $12, which is over $43 in today's dollars, which makes it by far the most expensive era to enter into D&D when you consider the page count.

Do you have a source for that? I ask because that was the one price I couldn't get a definitive answer on - I can find the $12 price for a couple of years later, but nothing from 1978 itself. (The adverts in The Dragon didn't give a price.) So, being able to put an actual source to that number would be great.

We had pretty steadily dropping prices (inflation adjusted) until 3rd edition came out, and then we have retained about equal prices (inflation adjusted again, of course) for nearly a decade and a half since then, and finally we're having our first major price increase in the barrier to entry for starting D&D, just after the 40th anniversary of the franchise. Does this concern anyone else that Wizards is raising the price now? Is there any good reason to do so? Don't they fear a tough time competing in the space with a more expensive barrier to entry than the competition?

Am I just looking at this the wrong way?

Possibly. They obviously feel that the market will bear this price point, and they're probably correct. It's also possible that 5e will be less reliant on supplements (and, indeed, less supported with supplements) than any WotC edition, and so they want a bigger markup on the core rules to make up for that. Or it could just be a mandate from on high that they price it at that level.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Am I just looking at this the wrong way?

(For me, a $50 price tag on a beautiful hardbound book in the D&D series, which I collect, is something I'm personally willing to pay... it just seems like a bad precedent to me, though, regardless of the fact that I'm going to buy it. Maybe everyone else is sort of like me... don't care for the price, but will buy it anyway, in which case, I guess that makes Wizards look like geniuses!)

My guess is that they are looking at the physical books as "deluxe" or "luxury" items and pdfs (which they haven't announced, but I am speculating the existence of) will be the "standard" or "base" rules items.

I also think in a world where 300 $150 tickets to a D&D event at GenCon evaporated in a moment, people are signaling a willingness to pay.

I understand the pain of gamers who think the price is too high. I am buying a spare PHB for table use by the guys at my table who are in more difficult financial straits. I just think their are fewer dollars lost than gained at the $50 price point.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I'm happy to have dates for it all, and for the most part think the prices are pretty much where we expected them to be.

Though they're not core products, the only real surprise for me in the announced prices is with the miniatures.

2 miniature products
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/iconsstarter

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/iconsbooster

$4 for each randomized miniature -- $16 for a box of four (higher in Canada) -- seems ridiculously extravagant. There's also no mention of accompanying cards with stats (boo!).

That may be a price for adult collectors, but not for younger and new players, which is exactly the market best served by the miniatures in 3.5.

 

[Callahan09]

I'm happy to have dates for it all, and for the most part think the prices are pretty much where we expected them to be.

Though they're not core products, the only real surprise for me in the announced prices is with the miniatures.



$4 for each randomized miniature -- $16 for a box of four (higher in Canada) -- seems ridiculously extravagant. There's also no mention of accompanying cards with stats (boo!).

That may be a price for adult collectors, but not for younger and new players, which is exactly the market best served by the miniatures in 3.5.

This price doesn't bother me much... The current Pathfinder miniatures sold in blind-boxes of 4 figures are $15 MSRP, so the price is pretty much in line with that, I think.

I've never bought one of those boosters though, do those include stat cards of any card, or just the minis?

 

[Zaukrie]

Yup, minis prices are way too high, imo.