New products?

[Aegeri]

Were there monster building rules in the Essentials DM Kit Book?

No. Hopefully the advanced Dungeon Masters Kit goes over epic campaigns and has all the new rules for creature creation. A chapter on improving solos, with power additions like Action Recovery would be super as well.

 

[VictorC]

I know what it is, Neverfate, it's money before love of the game.

What's that company that prints our books, you don't accept payment in the form of "love of the game?" Well that's got to be the craziest thing I've ever heard.

Honestly DMZ2112, you do know how the world works, right?

 

[DMZ2112]

What's that company that prints our books, you don't accept payment in the form of "love of the game?" Well that's got to be the craziest thing I've ever heard.

Honestly DMZ2112, you do know how the world works, right?

Don't patronize me, Victor.

This industry has never been profit-driven. The numbers are clear. We barely have enough support out there to keep three major publishers and a handful of cottage studios afloat. You don't go into RPG design because you want to make the big bucks.

Yes, RPG books cost money to produce, and yes, companies have a right to charge a premium for them to finance further development. I don't pirate game materials, because I believe in supporting publishers, especially small ones. I understand commerce.

That is not what is happening here.

What is happening here is a desperate attempt at making Dungeons & Dragons draw in real money. Monopoly money. XBox Live money. World of Warcraft money. Shareholders-with-cigars-and-brandy money.

Which on its face would not be a bad thing, if it was driving them to improve the game, but it's not. They've discovered what a lot of video game companies have also discovered recently, and that is that a funny-looking costume will sell more preorders than an extra level of gameplay, if you'll excuse the metaphor.

It's not their fault. They are trying to keep something wonderful alive against all odds, and I understand that. But it doesn't change the fact that it is what they are doing, and call me an idealist if you must -- I can't help that I find it distasteful.