D&D 4E Opinions on the 4E preview books...

[Dannyalcatraz]

Can you point me to a 96-page free advertisement full of details on the timeline, philosophy, process, and evolution of a product-line in a creative field, like roleplaying?

Nope...most companies (regardless of field) don't do that.

Instead, they'll do things like pay for 2-24page advertising sections in trade (or other relevant) magazines, or for billboards & commercials on media outlets. And they'll do that over time.

Or they'll post periodic updates in their house organs. Remember how many 3Ed and 3.5Ed updates appeared in Dragon? Most of those issues were extra-sized, as I recall, for no increased cost.

Given the state of technology, they could have even done it as freebies on their website.

I've almost never seen someone make their consumers pay for advertising.

Exceptions are things like the clothing business: some companies have gone from small logos to plastering their corporate identity all over their products- you know, like Sean John, FUBU, Aeropostale, etc.

Another exception would be sports teams, in which the memoribilia is inescapably intertwined with the logo and corporate service marks.

Its a money grab.

 

[The Little Raven]

Nope...most companies (regardless of field) don't do that.

So, advertisements then don't contain a detailed summary of the design process.

Instead, they'll do things like pay for 2-24page advertising sections in trade (or other relevant) magazines, or for billboards & commercials on media outlets. And they'll do that over time.

Oh, so movies, and TV shows never do books/documentaries about the making of their creative projects? Serenity Visual Companion, and the DVD documentary Done the Impossible are prime examples that this happens in written form. The Matrix Revisited (all about the development of the first movie) is a prime example on DVD (sold separately from the films).

I've almost never seen someone make their consumers pay for advertising.

Well, if making-of material is an advertisement, then I guess you haven't been paying attention to the amount of advertisements people pay for.

 

[Mishihari Lord]

Its a money grab.

I disagree. I think it's just an unusual way of getting their advertising out. I would guess that they're not really intended to be bought. They're supposed to sit in the store and serve as ads for 4E. It worked for me, and I can't think of any other kind of ad I would have even looked at. And a few people that want them will buy them.

 

[PoeticJustice]

I've almost never seen someone make their consumers pay for advertising...
Its a money grab.

I may be taking these out of context, but despite what I said earlier, perhaps we're both being a bit too cynical.

I wasn't around for 3.0's advertising campaign and I only caught the tail end of 3.5, so I don't know how they handled either of those campiagns.

I now believe that Wizards tried this as a different was of marketing, not a money grab. The art obviously wasn't cheap and the books are printed pretty well. Plus, the releases schedule is pretty thin so maybe they thought this would give the community their fix.

Was it successful? My FLGS sold 0 copies of Races and Classes and bought only one copy (store owner kept it for himself) of Worlds and Monsters. I'd be curious to see how it sold elsewhere.

 

[Stormtalon]

The FLGS I go to ran out of R&C about 3 days after it came out. I know -- I bought one the day of release, then went back that same week to buy another copy -- as a Christmas gift for one of the people I play D&D with.

I expect much the same for W&M, at least in this neck of the woods.

 

[Agamon]

Got R&C, not expecting much, but it was a good read with awesome art. I'm planning on picking up W&M on the strength of R&C.

 

[~Johnny~]

I do think it's a pretty ridiculous money grab, but I am a total preview whore. Of the two books, I would potentially recommend Worlds & Monsters to a normal DM fan trying to get ready for 4th edition. I suspect the information in Races & Classes is going to end up being more redundant.

 

[thalmin]

I like both books, but then I go for the commentaries and other extra stuff on DVDs too.

As to how they are selling, we initially got in about two dozen of R&C, and I just reordered some more. Too early to say about W&M.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I would guess that they're not really intended to be bought.

Hmmm...that is an interesting suggestion.

I know we have game store owners on this site- I wonder if they paid to stock it.

Even if they didn't, though, it takes up space that could be used for products that might actually sell- that means at the very least, your game store is incurring an opportunity cost by stocking it.

 

[Vael]

I'm not a fan of 4E and I don't plan on switching, but I will say this for Worlds and Monsters...

It has hands-down the best collection of landscapes I've ever seen in any D&D ever.

Agreed. I was flipping through the book, not planning to actually buy it, but the art was enough that I said, "why not?" so I bought it.

Heck, I want the Underdark cavern and the Elemental Chaos landscapes as posters for my walls.