Paying for previews... sigh

[Sunderstone]

I cant believe people actually pay for a preview of an unfinished product (like the 4E races preview). Thats like going to a travel agent and paying for the brochure of the resort.

At this point If I were running this stuff, Id pump out sections of the PH monthly (which will total way more than the projected cover price), rabid fans seem to be willing to pay for the slightest hint of whats coming.

Dont you think WotC should be giving us previews (via downloads etc) for free if they want to hype some of us into buying their new edition?

A possible new Dragon Editorial might sound like....
"Sorry folks for the next six months there will be very little content for the existing game, as we are hard at work putting printed previews of stuff that may change without notice that you will all have to pay for.

We are jazzed about 4E, you will be too"


Umm.... ok.


<sigh>

 

[Yair]

What WotC should be doing, is making money for Hasbaro

No, I don't really get it. The preview books aren't just that, they contain designer notes and so on, letting you glimpse into how 4e was made - so they aren't just previews. But still, I won't be willing to pay to get that. And I don't.

I did just place a pre-order on 4e, though.

Yair

 

[EricNoah]

Well believe it or not, there are many gamers who are not as plugged into D&D through online communities as we are. There are some people for whom a printed product like this may be the only clue that a 4th edition is even on its way.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Kicks dead horse.

Squeezes Stone for Water.

Yup. A subject that's had many a moan about it.

I like the art but won't pay what their asking for this book.

 

[megamania]

........ I can't think of anything nice to say so I won't.......

 

[shilsen]

I cant believe people actually pay for a preview of an unfinished product (like the 4E races preview).

I can't believe that people don't get that what works for or makes sense to them might not for everyone else.

Okay, I lied. I do believe it, since clearly what works for me doesn't for everyone else. I wouldn't buy a preview book, but does it surprise me in the least that other people would or that WotC is putting out such books? Hell no!

 

[Aus_Snow]

The books exist. If you don't want to buy them, well then, don't.

There will be others who do, regardless of how you feel about the books, or about those people buying them, or for that matter about the people who created them.

Oh, and to take the OP semi-seriously for a moment, WotC *has* been providing free previews by the bucketload. For quite some time now.

It's all over the place, like say. . . on this very site, and on Wizards of the Coast's site.

 

[megamania]

twitchy man in a trenchcoat hangs out at the schoolyard. Sees a kid with money. "Pssst. Hey kid...got a dollar....? I have a preview for DnD 10th ed. Wanna.... see it?"




I know. That's hitting below the belt but I don't remember WoTC being so opertunistic before to grab players money. Much of what that money will buy is availiable here. That said, the local store I sometimes buy my DnD from didn't know about 4e coming until I said it to him. That was in the end of September.

gawd.... I need a REAL gamestore.

 

[Wolfspider]

It sure seems like a strange tactic for me.

But I'm sure WotC knows what it's doing. If it will make money, they'll do it.

 

[thalmin]

I found the designer notes to be quite worthwhile. Not for crunch about 4E, especially because said crunch could change, but the fluff was interesting. I liked reading about the evolution of the game. For me there is more to understanding the game than just knowing the rules. I want to understand why the changes are being made, and why they are choosing which changes to make.
I think the book is worth its price, but it isn't for everyone. The book is a good read, but low on rules and hard info which may change before the final product comes out. And that is what I tell my customers, too
But then I also liked 40 Years of Gen Con.